HARBAUGH EATING KARMA WITH A FORK AND SPOON

    We ALL know that Harbaugh sniped at the Seattle Seahawks last summer when two of their players were suspended due to positive tests for performance enhancing drugs, and Harbaugh added that “you always want to be 'above reproach', especially when you’re good, because you don’t want people to come back and say, ‘They’re winning because they’re cheating.’” Currently, Harbaugh's "above reproach 49ers" own the lead in the National Football League for player arrests and even more players involved in trouble, but managed to avoid prosecution for various reasons.  Last season's  49ers' roster included; WR Vernon Davis, CB Parrish Cox, WR Michael Crabtree, DT Ray McDonald, S Eric Wright and LB Ahmad Brooks, yet all have been labeled players with character issues. Though, curiously, it didn't deter Harbaugh or the 49ers brass from bringing those players on board a team that prided itself on being "Above Reproach".

Harbaugh was speaking specifically about PED use and rule-breaking, and it has been reported that Baalke was not happy with Harbaugh for the grandiosity of that statement.  It put a large bull's-eye on the backs of every 49ers player or employee and you know that every Seahawks fan from Alaska to Florida is "ROTFL their butts off" as Karma is making a long, extended visit on the front porch of every San Francisco 49ers fan, player, coach or anyone else associated with the team.  With Harbaugh's comments, there are going to be backlashes coming from those who don't appreciate the tone of superiority that the 49ers seem to spew every time there is a camera or microphone close by.

Aldon Smith:  (2X arrested for DUI, and arriving at practice drunk), Possession of marihuana, possession of cocaine, possession of illegal weapons, assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, threatening officers at airport, resisting arrest again, threatening security airport with possessing a bomb, suspicion of public intoxication at airport, stabbing at party at his residence.

49ers linebacker, Ahmad Brooks, assaulted his friend and teammate, striking, (49ers nose tackle Lamar Divens), and at least three times in the head with a beer bottle, and then punched him in the face during an argument over car keys outside Brooks' house in San Jose. The alleged attack left Divens bloodied and requiring three stitches, all for trying to prevent his friend and teammate from driving drunk and potentially harming another driver, a pedestrian or himself.  Brooks drove home drunk anyway, but was not apprehended.

49ers Corner, Chris Culliver, has been indicted on felony and misdemeanor charges.  Felony indictments for "hit-and-run,” and "reckless driving" have been filed, after hitting a pedestrian with his car and leaving the scene to avoid prosecution.  A witness and victim stated that Culliver appeared inebriated and smelled of alcohol.  He believes Culliver fled the scene of the accident to avoid DUI charges when police arrived etc. Culliver already had one DUI conviction. He also received a felony charge for (possession of an illegal weapon) threatening a witness with brass knuckles, found in his possession in his vehicle when police apprehended him later at his home.

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick and WR Quinton Patton have been connected somehow in an apparent assault (perhaps sexual) of a woman at Kaepernick's hotel room. The woman reported losing memory of a large block of time and inexplicably winding up in the hospital with no memory of what had happened during that time.  The last thing she remembered was being with; Kaepernick, Patton and former 49ers, current Seahawks WR Ricardo Lockette, (smoking pot and drinking alcohol) at Kaepernick's hotel room, then she fell asleep or passed out and later, woke up in the hospital. Police and hospital laboratory specialists are investigating whether or not the woman ingested a drug or other substance that would cause her to lose track of time and consciousness.  Kaepernick vehemently denies (via Twitter) that he had anything to do with the woman’s claim and denies any of the comments made by TMZ.com that there was any wrongdoing or sexual assault.

The 49ers have got a “fine mess” brewing on by the Bay.  All of these legal problems have created a tangled mess for the 2014 second-place NFC West football team.  Shortly after the 2013 season, the 49ers general manager, Trent Baalke, attempted to trade the 49ers head coach, Harbaugh, to the Cleveland Brown's for an undisclosed player/cash or draft considerations.  Harbaugh had no idea the trade was being prepared and has since been very quiet about his feelings, though he apparently refuses to be in the same room with the 49ers general manager.  This could not be good going forward, particularly with the 2014 NFL draft approaching quickly (May 8).  One would only assume that the franchise CEO, head coach and general manager, would have to work together closely to prepare a draft strategy and go through the entire 7 round event, a process that lasts from dawn until dusk and for three consecutive days.  I'd like to be a fly on the wall to watch that reunion between the players involved, virtually trapped in a room for 12 hours a day.

Add to these problems the fact that Colin Kaepernick is going through contract negotiations (not going well) and that the team will be without their superstar linebacker, Navarro Bowman, after a gruesome knee injury he sustained in the NFC West championship game against the Seattle Seahawks last January.  Now, presumably without their other young defensive standout, Aldon Smith, San Francisco's once vaunted defense is.  The hard-hitting safety, Dante Whitner, also left the 49ers in free agency, and pro-bowl safety, Deshon Goldson, the year prior.  Starting CB, Carlos Rogers was also released, leaving the 49ers extremely thin in the defensive backfield.  Harbaugh still has last year's first-round draft selection, Safety Eric Reid, and Baalke managed to sign Antoine Bethea, the veteran defensive back from Indianapolis as a stopgap solution for all the defections over the last two seasons  However, that will hardly make up for all the strife and discord going on down in Frisco.  The stress and lack of harmony between head coach, Harbaugh, and general manager, Trent Baalke, has got to be palpable throughout the team’s veteran leadership as well as the front office.  The teams "head honcho" CEO, Jed York, cannot be free from judgment regarding the possible trading of Harbaugh to the Brown's.  Decisions (that huge) couldn't have been made without York's stamp of approval, or coming from the CEO, himself… no doubt.  So, the two primary questions beg; How much could (a very proud) Jim Harbaugh trust the 49ers organization after a stealthily attempt to trade him?  And, How safe could he feel as their head coach, going forward?  Jim Harbaugh is largely believed to be one of the top five coaches in the NFL and has had a certain amount of success with the team (three consecutive NFC championship appearances)…  The other four are likely; Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick, Jeff Fisher and Mike McCarthy, and none of those coaches seem to be going anywhere.  Who could Baalke possibly find to replace Harbaugh, if the 49ers "decision-makers" decide to go on without him? The $64,000 question is; WHY?  Harbaugh is (48-15) regular-season, in his four years as the head coach of the 49ers and has led them to three NFC championship games (1-2) and one Super Bowl appearance (0-1).

This is something few analysts or fans thought would be the case for 2014, but the Arizona Cardinals are actually looking more like a formidable opponent to threaten the reigning Champion, Seattle Seahawks , at this point.  In his brief tenure with the Cardinals, Bruce Arians has been quietly building an impressive roster in the desert of Arizona.  The defense is one of the most disruptive in the NFL, and the offense is steadily improving.  So, while the Seahawks, Cardinals and Rams have been building, the 49ers’ roster has been crumbling in the wake of recent success, but without bringing home a Super Bowl trophy.  However, San Francisco does have a bevy of player selections for the upcoming NFL draft, (with 11), and it is a draft class with tons of talent, at least four rounds deep.

The 49ers seemingly appear to be a franchise suffering from a lack of discipline off the field.  Harbaugh has set them up to be torn down after his much publicized press conference criticizing the Seahawks for a few of their player transgressions.  The reality is that there are no NFL franchises without a little dirt in their own backyards.  Frisco seems to have mountains of dirt right now.  The question is; How long will it be before 49ers CEO, Jed York, gets involved and put a stop to all the ongoing bedlam and chaos. The 49ers’ roster is one of the deepest in the NFL, so it's premature to say that their recent string of success has come to an end.  Much will depend on how they deal with their current avalanche of bad PR and lack of team focus.  Also, the organization is going to have to commit to a head coach, Harbaugh or another, before they can begin to build the team back to the respectability that the great Bill Walsh left the team with years ago.

JIM HARBAUGH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT HYPOCRISY -- JUST WIN DRUNK, BABY!

49ers LB Aldon Smith mugshots for 1st and 2nd DUI Arrests

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has never been quiet in his judgment of the Seattle Seahawks' players who have made questionable decisions, or his opinions of Pete Carroll going back to his time coaching the USC Trojans, while Harbaugh coached the Stanford Cardinals. Now, the 49ers coach is looking straight down the barrel of sanctimonious hypocrisy as trouble has become a geyser created by his own players, and it's not looking too pretty for a coach who continues to stand in judgment of the NFL's most high profile team; coaches, players and he has even taken a few aimed shots at the fans around the NFL.

It was reported today (Friday, September 20) that at 7:00 AM 49ers star outside linebacker, Aldon Smith, was arrested in San Jose California, by Santa Clara police officers who found Smith slumped, asleep and with his face and chest draped over the steering wheel and the airbag which had been deployed after Smith crashed his vehicle into a tree on the side of the road. Police reported that Smith was "very impaired" as they woke him and put him through a field sobriety and breathalyzer test. Smith was unable to complete the sobriety test and was reported to have blown a 0.15 blood alcohol level, (twice the legal limit in the state of California). In addition to finding Smith drunk behind the wheel of his automobile, the officers found marijuana on the console of his vehicle.

Smith was also convicted of another DUI in January 8, 2012. He has also violated the NFL's substance abuse policy (SAP) multiple times for illegal Street drugs. Because of the NFL's confidentiality constraints, they will not disclose the specific street drugs that were used, or how many violations the 49ers linebacker has had. Multiple positive tests, or improper tampering of the testing protocol, will result in involuntary drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment. Player suspensions can also be invoked for such violations, which can be either handed down by the player's respective teams or the league office. In special circumstances, both the team and the NFL can implement fines and suspensions. Because this is Aldon Smith's multiple offense of the league's DUI policy, it is almost certain that his punishment will be considerable. Aside from each state's individual legal penalty for driving while intoxicated, the NFL's punishment falls under their "Player Contact Policy" and applies special consequences that will likely include a monetary fine and a player suspension to be determined by the Commissioner and the NFL's legal committee.

Not only is Aldon Smith surrounded by drug and alcohol violations, but there was a stabbing incident in which Smith was stabbed at his own home during a conflict at a party that he hosted. In addition, Smith and a former 49ers player (Delaney Walker) are being implicated in a shooting that occurred at Smith's house also. Weighing Smith's involvement in a collection of crimes and NFL personal conduct violations, the league will  likely take all of this into account when they determine what his punishment will be. Considering his numerous transgressions, it would be highly unusual to see Smith go without a large fine and a multiple game suspension, commensurate to the trouble that he has chosen to involve himself in.

Aldon Smith is a fantastic athlete and one of the major game changing players in Jim Harbaugh's dominant defensive squad. He collected an astounding 19.5 sacks last season, and 14 in his rookie season. Already, in just two games, he has already tallied 3.5 sacks which puts him on a pace to make a record-breaking 24.5 sacks in a season,  but with any substantial time away from the game because of suspension, that number would likely be lower. He is a big time pass rusher in the 49ers' defense and if he is suspended, it could put the 49ers in a tight spot and  in jeopardy of losing their hold on the NFC West. Jim Harbaugh was interviewed shortly after the media became aware of Smith's arrest and he stated, “Aldon Smith arrived at practice on time after the accident, he took part in practice drills, and will be playing this Sunday.

Lawyers for San Francisco 49ers' linebacker Aldon Smith and former teammate, San Francisco, tightend Delaney Walker, have been forced to file a response to a civil suit filed against them relating to a shooting at a party at their home last year. According to the San Jose Mercury news, the lawyers answer to the complaint filed by plaintiff Ronndale Esporlas claim that he "knew of the danger and risk to his undertaking" at the party "but nevertheless, freely and voluntarily exposed himself to all risks of harm." The report detailed the response, including the statement that any compensation sought by the plaintiff be updated, reduced or eliminated to the extent plaintiff's negligence caused or contributed to his own injuries and damages, if any"

Aldon Smith was stabbed at the house party, which police said was crashed by gang members in San Jose. Two people were also shot in the incident according to the initial police report--- none of the injuries life-threatening. Smith and Walker were not charged in the incident. According to the San Jose Mercury news report, Aldon Smith may be charged with a crime stemming from the incident, however. Police found assault rifles in the home belonging to Smith "that were purchased legally in another state (North Carolina, but violating California law.” Troubles are just beginning for Aldon Smith it seems.

Now, I know that each one of us is innocent until proven guilty, but Aldon Smith was tested for his level of inebriation and a breathalyzer and blood alcohol level put him at roughly twice the legal limit of .08, in California. That's pretty drunk and that puts Smith very drunk, or at least extremely hung over, as he arrived at the 49ers practice facility that morning. How a coach could allow his player to take part in practice drills in preparation to play in a game just two days later is mystifying to me at best. Harbaugh is a man who has stood in his ivory tower of self-righteousness, casting down judgment on the Seattle Seahawks for their iniquities and transgressions. Now, he has placed himself in the "Crystal Cathedral" of glass houses, and it's raining hailstones the size of watermelons.

Ahmad Brooks, another 49ers linebacker, was reported to be at one of the clubs in California and drinking alcohol to excess. After leaving the club, he drove drunk to a teammate's house, nose tackle, Lamar Divens. After drinking a lot more alcohol and smoking marijuana at Divens' residence, Brooks decided to drive home in his own vehicle. His teammate, Divens, told him that he would not give him his car keys because he didn't want him to drive home drunk. Brooks proceeded to argue with Divens and after getting agitated, he beat his teammate over the head with a beer bottle several you are in times requiring stitches to close the gashes in Divens' skull. Then, witnesses corroborated the story that Brooks threatened to get his pistol if Divens didn't give him his car keys immediately. Brooks drove home drunk after leaving his teammate in the front lawn bleeding from his head. This story has been confirmed by several people present at Lamar Divens' home. To make this story even more disgusting and pathetic, Brooks offered a monetary settlement to Divens, (reportedly $100,000) and undoubtedly with pressure from the 49ers organization to settle and make this story go away quickly and quietly, Divens chose not to press charges of assault, battery and threat with a lethal weapon on Ahmad Brooks. Brooks recently signed a new contract with the 49ers for $45.5 million.

No surprise----Jim Harbaugh chose not to comment on the events that happened that night. 

Just prior to the 2013 regular season, Harbaugh and the 49ers, made a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for corner Eric Wright. After spending his afternoon in front of the press slamming the Seahawks organization for players testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, Harbaugh proceeded to trade for a player who had already tested positive for a PED. This really does nothing to dispel the fact that Harbaugh isn't above taking players who have questionable character, including a multitude of violations of NFL league's substance and conduct policy as well as state and federal crime violations.

The purpose of this article is that Jim Harbaugh on the 49ers is making decisions for his football team that are not above those of any other coach in the NFL willing to take a chance on players with questionable background history. His highfalutin, holier than thou, we're better than you tone that he uses in his press conferences has created a gigantic bull's-eye on Harbaugh's back and the backs of every player wearing a 49ers uniform.

Nothing in the NFL is settled in September and nothing is settled in November, but the Seahawks will travel to San Francisco at Candlestick Park, where the 49ers play their home games… and on December 8, the Seahawks will obtrude upon that stink hole of a stadium and confirm a "season death sentence" for Jim Harbaugh and the rest of the 49ers team. For it is there, that the Seahawks will clinch and reclaim the NFC West Divisional Championship Title, the No.1 Seed in the NFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

If the 49ers are unlucky enough to squeak out a wildcard berth in the playoffs, and if they happen to advance, they know the Super Bowl goes through CenturyLink Field…Every Forty-Niners; player, coach, assistant coach, and ball boy, knows that the C'Link in Seattle, Washington is the last place on the planet earth that they want to be. If they thought a relatively unimportant second game of the season created a record-breaking 136.6 dB of thunder… What kind of unearthly, seismic event of biblical proportions would Seahawks fans create for an NFC title game that could return the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl?

I say forget the earplugs, it's time to purchase a full-size bodysuit, complete with crash helmet and groin protection. Go Hawks!

*****

GET YOUR BUTT UP TO THE VMAC MARSHAWN!

This is a statement Lynch gave after being arrested on the suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

The Seattle Seahawks 2013 organized team activities (OTA) are in full swing at the VMAC (Virginia Mason Athletic Center) in Renton, where the Seahawks workout facility is located.  First, the Seahawks conducted a mini camp with the veterans that lasted three days, followed by a rookie minicamp, also three days, which is how it's been for the last three years.  The Seahawks are perhaps on the precipice of a season to be remembered and every single veteran and rookie was present for phase 3 of the off-season protocol developed by the recent collective bargaining agreement reached between the NFLPA and the NFL.  Well, every single player was present for phase 3, the first phase where rookies and veterans report at the same time and the first OTA where coaches can also be working with the players on the same field.  Head coach Pete Carroll was delighted to see all of his 90 man roster present for this most recent OTA.  Every player except for Marshawn Lynch.  By league rule, the first three OTA's are considered "voluntary", and Marshawn Lynch utilizes the full extent of the term voluntary as he has never attended any of the voluntary OTA's conducted by the Seattle Seahawks team.

As the Seahawks prepare to answer the critics and put together what could be the best Seahawks football team in its franchise history, you'd like to see every single player on the roster present for all of the team activities, voluntary or required.  Marshawn Lynch has always been a strange cat, marching, not to the beat of his own drum, but to a completely different band.  He rarely takes an interview on a radio or television and simply doesn't involve himself with the media in any way if he can avoid it.  Lynch is more likely to talk to the media after a tough loss than after the Seahawks  trounce their opponent or if he himself has a particularly great game.  The teams starting fullback, Michael Robinson, produces his own behind-the-scenes video montage of the Seahawks players off the field, "The Real Robinson Report", but each time he points the camera or microphone Lynch's way, the halfback turns his back, walks away or sometimes simply pulled the hood of his jacket over his head to avoid being part of the Seahawks effort to personalize the players.  Yes, Lynch is one-of-a-kind, and many people feel like he deserves a pass for some of his idiosyncrasies or his complete oddball way of relating to other people of his same species.  But, the pro-bowl halfback has been with the team long enough to become one of the true leaders and many believe that he should be setting an example, not only on the field, but off as well.  Each of the Seahawks seasons that Lynch has been on the team, he has posted very good to excellent statistics.  He shows up big in big games and always seems to give 100% effort with each carry and with each game.  He catches the ball out of the backfield surprisingly well and is equally difficult to tackle after a reception as he is breaking through the offensinve line and dancing around linebackers and defensive backs. Each of his last two seasons he has eclipsed the 1000 yard marker and last season rushed for nearly 1600 yards.  Lynch is beginning to show signs of wear on his body, however.  He hasn't missed any gametime with Seattle, though they pamper him throughout the week because of a chronic back problem, as he suffers from back spasms that are likely related to his style of relentless, tackle breaking running style.

So, does Lynch deserve a pass for these so-called "voluntary workouts" at the team facility in Renton, Washington?  He's missed the voluntary workouts each of the years he has been in Seattle, and even during the required work out team activities, he is often seen in sweats, standing on the sidelines while the rest of the team goes through walk-throughs and seven on seven drills or real drills with the first team offense.  Years ago, former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson stated that there are some players that produce on the field and it is that every player is evaluated by what they contribute to the team, and those players will obviously be treated in a different manner than those who don't.  Has Marshawn Lynch produced so much on the field that he has carte blanche with Pete Carroll to miss voluntary team workouts and conditioning activities?  Or is it a poor decision to separate himself from the rest of his teammates, back injury or no back injury?  This football team is in better condition, roster wise, than any Seahawks team in the franchises 38 year history.  Having the most accomplished and statistically successful players setting the example for every player on the roster younger or perhaps a rookie seems to be something any coach would encourage, if not outright demand.  Lynch was rewarded with a very lucrative contract extension last year, and no one can argue that he played up to the details of his multimillion dollar, multi-year contract terms.  However, it just seems like Lynch is reluctant or completely antisocial with his fellow Seahawks players when it comes to game preparation or any other kind of organized team activity.

It has been said that; "What makes a champion is;  people who are willing, if not eager, to do the large and small things that losers are not willing to do."(paraphrased). I believe in that notion and that's why I wonder what coach Pete Carroll believes about Marshawn Lynch choosing not to show up with his fellow teammates, especially as they prepare for such a season of hope and expectations.  I've asked myself; Would Barry Sanders skip out because the workouts are voluntary?  How about Earl Campbell, or Jim Brown or the great Walter Payton? Would Dick Butkus, Jack ham, Jack Lambert or Ray Nitchke pass on a team activity just because it was voluntary?  Champions take every opportunity to improve their craft, every moment and every detail to become the best.  When Marshawn Lynch chooses to miss out on an activity with the rest of his entire roster of teammates, rookies and veterans, head coach and all the assistant coaches, that tells me that Marshawn Lynch doesn't desire to be any better than he already is.  He claims he's working out to a personal workout schedule in his hometown of Oakland, but if he can work out in Oakland, why can't he workout in Renton with the rest of his compatriots?  I think it looks bad in Seattle and perhaps one of the problems that seems to be coming out as a symptom, and that is the immaturity of a very young football team without enough strong on and off field veteran leaders.  Russell Wilson is one of the most dynamic and steady leaders in the NFL after just one year in the NFL, but it's the older veterans who have the juice to be able to police the entire team for those selfish enough to violate NFL rules and in turn hurting their team and themselves by using banned substances.  Marshawn Lynch, whether he likes it or not, needs to be in Seattle supporting the team even if he isn't taking full participation in all the drills on the field.  It just looks bad and Marshawn looks bad and he looks more like a guy out for himself, not for his team.  Most players interviewed have said that Lynch is a great teammate and always gives his best for the football team.  However, there are many ways to support your football team and we've seen many different players affect their football team without even stepping onto the field.  Ray Lewis, in Baltimore, while he was out with an injury to his shoulder, was still on the field during practice and on the sidelines during games leading his team.  I know that Lewis and Lynch are two different personalities and I don't expect Lynch to begin behaving like Lewis, but you have to get some sort of leadership from the veteran players on your football team or you end up having the younger players doing things like Seattle is experiencing.  Using performance enhancing drugs is just stupid in the NFL.  All 32 teams are subject to the same drug testing protocols and every player is subject to random drug testing no matter who they are, or whether they are veterans or rookies.  Bruce Irvin was simply playing a game that he could not win.

Should Marshawn Lynch get a pass because he is a superstar, pro-bowl halfback?  I don't think anybody gets a pass, although I do understand that some players will be treated differently based on their production on the football field for their respective team.  Seattle hopes to be one of the few teams who will compete for a Lombardi trophy and you've got to know that head coach Pete Carroll would like to have 100% participation even in the OTA's that are "Voluntary".  That's what good teams do and that's what veteran superstars should be doing.  Come on, Lynch, it's time to start behaving like a veteran on a team that believes it can win its first Super Bowl victory.

Hey Marshawn… Do you really want to wear a Super Bowl ring with the Seahawks, or you content with your ridiculous mouth grills you blew thousand of dollars on after signing your big contract last year?