#89 Nathan &quot;NaPalm&quot; Palmer

#89 Nathan "NaPalm" Palmer

global_nomad · 2012-05-13T20:46:56-07:00

Palmer topped the list of the 49ers' 18 undrafted free agents with a $10,000 signing bonus. Tyms was second at $8,000. Owusu, meanwhile, received $3,000. Palmer (listed at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds) caught 47 passes for 695 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior. He was not invited to the NFL scouting combine, but he took pre-draft visits to meet with the 49ers, Seattle and Indianapolis. When he was not among the 253 players drafted, he knew where he wanted to go. "A lot of teams called," he said, "but I don't think there was any competition. I pretty much knew I was going to come here when they first called. The call from coach (Jim) Harbaugh and Mr. (Trent) Baalke felt very genuine about everything -- the offer and everything. They were up front with me about my chances to make this team and what I'd have to do." And what Palmer must do is prove that he deserves to stick around. A spot on the 53-man roster appears to be a long shot, but Palmer has a legitimate chance to earn a spot on the practice squad. "Like anybody else here, I'll get a chance to come out and compete," Palmer said. "Of course, they have Randy Moss, Ted Ginn and (Michael) Crabtree. They have (Mario) Manningham. They got guys who have been here like Kyle Williams. They drafted A.J. Jenkins. "They told me it's a competition and, 'If you're not scared to compete, this is a good place for you.' It's a great place to come and learn. You can learn from one of the best to ever play, Randy Moss, and a guy who just won a Super Bowl ring, Mario Manningham. You learn from coach (John) Morton, who coached Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. It's a good place for me to learn as a young receiver." Palmer, who majored in general studies, graduated in December. After this weekend's minicamp, he is not going anywhere. He will join the 49ers' offseason program on Monday, he said. Palmer has yet to meet Moss, but he said he plans to spend as much time as possible with the 35-year-old veteran. Moss ranks fifth all-time in receiving yards and is tied for second with Terrell Owens, behind Jerry Rice, with 153 touchdown receptions. "He learned from Cris Carter. I met Cris Carter at our bowl game in Mobile, Alabama, and he was telling me some of the things that he and Randy shared," Palmer said. "Now, it's reverse. Randy is that old, mentor guy that knows a lot about the game. I'm hoping to get in his hip pocket and learn as much as I can and as much as he'll teach me." Palmer had an impressive opening day on the practice field, including beating cornerback Mosley deep to catch a pass from Fleming in the morning session. It appears to be a more-talented group of rookie free agents at wide receiver than the 49ers assembled a year ago. http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-san-francisco-niners/niners-talk/Rookie-minicamp-report-Good-looking-grou?blockID=706660&feedID=5936 Now following the #GOAT! @JerryRice looking for the hill they talk about....need it after that rookie minicamp session https://twitter.com/#!/RealNaPalm/status/201868708195479552

May 13, 2012 at 9:02 PM

Dr_Bill_Walsh
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May 13, 2012 at 9:04 PM

Gore_21
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Going to be hard for him and Owusu to beat out Williams if we keep 6 WRs but they still should be heavy favorites for the PS. Hopefully nobody snatches them up if they make the PS. Glad to know even the PS will probably be better off from last year. I'd take those two over Hastings and Matthews.

[ Edited by Gore_21 on May 13, 2012 at 9:05 PM ]

May 13, 2012 at 9:10 PM

DaDivaRecieva15
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May 14, 2012 at 6:52 AM

cools
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Palmer is very fast and elusive, I think he will be return specialist project

With little depth behind Ginn, He has a good chance to make the PS

May 14, 2012 at 8:11 AM

global_nomad
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Originally posted by cools:
Palmer is very fast and elusive, I think he will be return specialist project

With little depth behind Ginn, He has a good chance to make the PS

I found it interesting they give him the biggest signing bonus of any UDFA. All be it $10,000.

May 14, 2012 at 8:36 AM

TheXFactor
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Originally posted by cools:
Palmer is very fast and elusive, I think he will be return specialist project

With little depth behind Ginn, He has a good chance to make the PS

could beat out Kyle Williams maybe

May 14, 2012 at 9:41 AM

pasodoc9er
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More power to our front office, bringing 17 UDFA guys into camp, incl 3 WRs. Sure , odds are long that any of them make it, but remember, Coach is just 1 yr removed from college, and still has a good handle on a lot of talent he saw while at Stanford. I think that is a huge advantage for us over 31 other teams, and if anyone is going to find a pearl, the 49ers have one of the best shots at it. True not much money was expended, but still it was money, and added up, a sizeable chunk...at least for most of us. My hat is off to 49 organization for being willing to spend on a longshot. Still , they did it and who knows, maybe one or two will stick.

May 14, 2012 at 12:02 PM

BOOSKi707
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Originally posted by Frisco69ers:

Originally posted by cools:
Palmer is very fast and elusive, I think he will be return specialist project

With little depth behind Ginn, He has a good chance to make the PS

could beat out Kyle Williams maybe

hopefully. Still not sold on Owusu and his concussions either

May 14, 2012 at 12:25 PM

global_nomad
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Originally posted by Frisco69ers:
could beat out Kyle Williams maybe

I think he would take practice squad. I feel good about building WRs for the future. When is Crabtree's contract up? I say we have a less than 50% chance he will resign with us. Thinking Moss, Crab will be gone in a few years. Need to start building the future now. Remember we are only one of a very few amount of teams that takes our Practice Squad on road trips. They are a part of the family.

May 14, 2012 at 12:26 PM

#10

sincalfaithful
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Originally posted by global_nomad:

Originally posted by Frisco69ers:
could beat out Kyle Williams maybe

I think he would take practice squad. I feel good about building WRs for the future. When is Crabtree's contract up? I say we have a less than 50% chance he will resign with us. Thinking Moss, Crab will be gone in a few years. Need to start building the future now. Remember we are only one of a very few amount of teams that takes our Practice Squad on road trips. They are a part of the family.

Yeah i'm sure this guy will replace Crabtree

May 14, 2012 at 12:35 PM

#11

global_nomad
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Originally posted by sincalfaithful:

Originally posted by global_nomad:

Originally posted by Frisco69ers:
could beat out Kyle Williams maybe

I think he would take practice squad. I feel good about building WRs for the future. When is Crabtree's contract up? I say we have a less than 50% chance he will resign with us. Thinking Moss, Crab will be gone in a few years. Need to start building the future now. Remember we are only one of a very few amount of teams that takes our Practice Squad on road trips. They are a part of the family.

Yeah i'm sure this guy will replace Crabtree

I said I'm glad the organization is planning ahead. Who knows how far he will go. Most people think AJ Jenkins is a piece for the future also.

May 14, 2012 at 12:37 PM

#12

global_nomad
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Originally posted by sincalfaithful:

Originally posted by global_nomad:

Originally posted by Frisco69ers:
could beat out Kyle Williams maybe

I think he would take practice squad. I feel good about building WRs for the future. When is Crabtree's contract up? I say we have a less than 50% chance he will resign with us. Thinking Moss, Crab will be gone in a few years. Need to start building the future now. Remember we are only one of a very few amount of teams that takes our Practice Squad on road trips. They are a part of the family.

Yeah i'm sure this guy will replace Crabtree

He looked a lot like Crabtree here:

May 14, 2012 at 12:43 PM

#13

valrod33
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May 14, 2012 at 1:05 PM

#14

AB81Rules
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It's very interesting. I am surprised we gave Palmer and Tyms that high of bonuses. Also of note, teams are only allowed to spend just over 76K over 3 seasons on rookie free agents per year. So that's about 26K a year, with the 10K for Palmer, 8K for Tyms and 3K for Owusu, that takes up 21K of the 26K, makes me wonder who else would of gotten a bonus. Some or most didn't get bonuses, which isn't a big surprise.

The only guys I can see getting bonuses would be Jewell Hampton, Matthew Masifilo, Tony Jerod-Eddie and Al Netter. Possibly we could of given those players either 1K each or 500 dollars each, allowing to give 4 others 500 dollars.