WOW how things change in a month- looks like Samurai's jobjust got real hot.. and looking pretty bad on lying to players.. Who woulda thunk lovie would be looking alot more secure after Sept?
Michael Lewis leaves - these are desperate times
The image of a desperate team in disarray gained more momentum with the news that strong safety Michael Lewis left the team and now wants his release.
This follows Sunday night's sacking of offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, a blow up by the head coach on regional television, a shuddering 0-3 start and two other players, defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer and running back Glen Coffee, who have unceremoniously bolted from the 49ers' Santa Clara facility during training camp.
What's going on here?
The most disturbing aspect of Lewis's departure is the suggestion of duplicity. Lewis's agent, Rodney Williams, said his client left after the team apparently reversed itself. When a report surfaced that Lewis and Takeo Spikes were going to get benched, Williams told CSN Bay Area and the Sacramento Bee that Lewis was assured his starting job at strong safety was safe. Then, four days later, Lewis was told that rookie Taylor Mays was phasing into the Lewis's starting job. That's when Lewis said, "Later."
What Coach Mike Singletary has always had is the trust of his players and coaches. They always say that Singletary would also tell it to them straight. But Singletary's latest moves calls that into question.
After the flattening by the Chiefs, Singletary said offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye's job was safe. That was Sunday afternoon. By Monday morning, Raye was fired. Now, it appears Lewis was told his job was secure, only to be informed days later that it isn't.
This isn't necessarily an indictment of Singletary's integrity, but rather a commentary on his desperation. He is rapidly pulling levers and hitting panic buttons in an effort to salvage a season that might end by mid-October.
What it also says is that Singletary is on his own. There doesn't seem to be anyone else in the organization to tell this inexperienced head coach to take it easy and quit with the Mr. Toad's wild ride routine.
Sometimes desperate teams can thrive on insecurity. Gary Plummer was a member of the 1992 Chargers, a team that started 0-4 and then made the playoffs. Plummer was asked by his 49ers broadcast partner, Ted Robinson, what happened to turn things around. Plummer said, "Everybody thought they were going to get cut."
That's certainly the case with the 49ers. Singletary has shown the capacity to throw anybody out on their ear.
The 49ers have lurched into hyper-desperation mode. Now let's see Sunday if it works for them.
Originally Posted by BULLITT
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