Offseason Update

With the start of the free agency signing period looming, the Niners have taken care of a couple of their own (Roderick Green and Isaac Sop"onarope"oaga). Don't expect a signing binge like last year but McNolan looks ready to make a play for some key pieces to stock the half-full talent cupboard. Here are some quick hits on the four key guys that may be wearing scarlet and gold at a press conference very soon.

Bernard Berrian - Granted Mike Martz is going to need WRs to help out Alex Hill or Shaun Smith or whoever is playing QB next fall. I'm just not sure that Berrian is the guy. He can definitely stretch the field vertically. But my lasting image of him is dropping a pass and hitting himself in the helmet. We already have enough guys that can do that for cheap. Frankly the draft holds more promise than free agency this year, since it has been touted as one of the deepest WR classes in a long time. Between the 29th and 38th picks, the Niners should be able to pick up some help there. BrownMagic Says: NO.

Justin Smith - Now this is intriguing. The Niners aren't exactly lining up Umeniyora, Strahan, and Tuck, so we need help all across the defensive line, especially pass rushers. Smith only had 2 sacks with the dismal Bengals D last year but that could have been a result of the other 10 guys around him. With a better secondary and linebacking corp, he could face fewer double teams and help out with the "elephant" pass rush position that Tully Banta-Cain never quite grasped. Keep an eye on this one. BrownMagic Says: If the price is right.

Calvin Pace - Although I can't really recall this dude, he actually had a pretty decent year (98 tackles & 6.5 sacks) on what was a surprisingly effective Arizona defense. As an added bonus, this would weaken a division rival. BrownMagic Says: Let's do this.

Lance Briggs - Sounds sexy but we is going to be wayyyyy too expensive for what he provides. Our run stopping is (currently) not as much of a concern as our inability to rush the passer. As sick as it would be to see Willis and Briggs patrolling the middle of the field for the next decade, I think the team's weaknesses on offense need to be addressed first. BrownMagic Says: I'd rather have Antonio Bryant if we're going to pay someone to destroy Lambos.

Free agency is a quick fix for teams that are in contention to make a Super Bowl run - not teams that are trying to get above .500 for the first time in a half decade. Last year's irrational exuberance was tempered by the disastrous 8-game losing streak and general ineptitude on offense. This year, let's let someone else jump in to the empty swimming pool headfirst.