Singletary has control over the 49ers' 53-man roster

jreff22 · 2010-05-20T13:55:12-07:00

With no General Manager in San Francisco and Trent Baalke elevated to the position of V.P. of player personnel, team president and CEO Jed York said Thursday that coach Mike Singletary will have control over the team's 53-man roster. As it turns out, it's not a new development. York explained that Singletary previously has had control over the 53-man roster. Asked how long that's been the case, York said that Singetary has had that power since he became the head coach. But Baalke won't be powerless. York said that the new V.P. of player personnel be in charge of the draft and trade. It gets interesting when it comes to free agency. York said that Baalke and Singletary will work together. Still, York didn't explain what will happen if Baalke and Singletary disagree. Also, York said that Singletary will have the power to hire and fire the members of the coaching staff, as he always has had. Pressed as to the identity of the person who'll have the ability to fire the head coach, York finally said, "The head coach, because he's gonna keep winning." It provoked a laugh, but the bottom line here is that Jed York will now be a key player in the power structure of the football operations. York, Singletary, and V.P. of football operations Paraag Marathe each report to York, and York mentioned at one point that he'll have final say over all coaching staff hires. Presumably, York will be the one to break any ties or resolve any disagreements that may arise among a trio of men who report directly to York. Thus, even though the 49ers don't have a General Manager in the traditional sense, the power ultimately rests with Jed York. Then again, as a practical matter that's the case with every football team or, for that matter, every business. The guy in charge has the power to do whatever he wants. Still, in this case York has created a structure that could result in his employees periodically coming to him in order to help provide some rock-scissors-paper clarity to the situation, since no one beneath York has the clear ability to make the final call. Link

May 20, 2010 at 2:37 PM

SanDiego49er
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I would rather it be Baalke and just have Singletary coach and motivate.

May 20, 2010 at 2:40 PM

SybErkRimInAL
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Dunno if this is a good or bad thing.

May 20, 2010 at 2:42 PM

YungBird
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i want winners

May 20, 2010 at 2:46 PM

PatrickJira411
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Not sure if I like this

May 20, 2010 at 2:50 PM

SybErkRimInAL
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Sing seems like the type of guy that holds grudges, that it's his way or the highway. So IDK about this.

May 20, 2010 at 2:51 PM

SnakePlissken
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LOL This doesn't sound good for the Leroy Vann fan-panel-van.

May 20, 2010 at 2:55 PM

redrathman
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The General Manager over the last decade has become ultimately too powerful. Such responsibility has cost teams like the Detroit Lions years of failure at the expense of incompetence hiring incompetence.

It's essentially the same structure that the New England Patriots had for a decade under Bill Belichcick and Scott Pioli.

Under the 49ers current structure, Singletary and Baalke basically have to perform up to the expectations of Jed York. As a reminder, it took York just seven games into the 2008 season to fire Nolan.

We'll see, won't we.

May 20, 2010 at 2:59 PM

WINiner
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I am sure in regards to who starts and who sits. I do not believe they mean Singletary has final say on roster additions and subtractions per say. Baalke had final say on the draft, and I am sure he does with pro personnel as well.

May 20, 2010 at 3:08 PM

redrathman
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Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
Sing seems like the type of guy that holds grudges, that it's his way or the highway. So IDK about this.

Grudges? Eh, I don't think so.

Singletary is a man of faith. Whether or not you believe doesn't detract from the type of character he has.

Also, how long did it take Singletary to forgive Vernon Davis?

I do however think that the standard that Singletary sets is high, and those players unwilling to play to the standard won't last.

May 20, 2010 at 3:21 PM

#10

PatrickJira411
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Posts: 4,117

Originally posted by redrathman:
Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
Sing seems like the type of guy that holds grudges, that it's his way or the highway. So IDK about this.

Grudges? Eh, I don't think so.

Singletary is a man of faith. Whether or not you believe doesn't detract from the type of character he has.

Also, how long did it take Singletary to forgive Vernon Davis?

I do however think that the standard that Singletary sets is high, and those players unwilling to play to the standard won't last.

Nolan would hold grudges. Singletary has shown a willingess to change and basically he is going to play the best player(s) and that is not a fear I have with Sing. Managing the roster and deciding who and how many guys to dress at each position. Now that worries me a little.