The San Francisco 49ers will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in their final home game of the regular season. It will also be the first and only Monday Night Football game for the Niners. It is a great match up between two historical franchises. The game will be a hard hitting affair as we got two of the best defenses in the NFL squaring off against one another. Both teams will be without their defensive leaders. LB Patrick Willis is listed as questionable for the second straight game and it is a safe bet that he will not be suited up for the game. LB James Harrison will also be out for the game due to a one game suspension for a helmet to helmet hit on Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy. This is a huge game for both teams when it comes to playoff positioning. The Niners need a win in order to achieve the second seed and get a first round bye in the NFC playoffs. The Steelers are still fighting out with the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title and as well for a possible first round bye in the AFC playoffs. Here are some keys for this great matchup of two Super Bowl contending teams. (more…)

The NFL combine started this past weekend. The 49ers would be wise to draft a wide receiver with their 10^th pick in the draft. Most impressive WR’s so far have been Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey, Mississippi’s Mike Wallace, Abilene Christian’s Johnny Knox and Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin. Michael Crabtree who suffered a stress fracture to his left foot is still considered the top WR in the draft and should be the first receiver taken. Drafting a wide receiver can be risky and borders the bust the territory. But the other option is drafting a QB like Marc Sanchez. I don’t see the 49ers making that mistake again of investing the future of the franchise in a QB who has only been a starter for two years in college. Here are the first WR’s drafted in the first round the last couple of years:

2008: Donnie Avery (Rams): Caught 53 passes last year.

2007: Calvin Johnson (Lions):  Averages 1,000 yards per season with 17 total touchdowns in two seasons.

2006: Santonio Holmes, (Steelers): Big play receiver. Averages over 16 yards per catch…caught the winning TD in the Super Bowl and won the Super Bowl MVP  award.

2005: Braylon Edwards (Browns). Last year was a fluke. I would love to have Edwards on the 49ers…oh, wait we had our chance and drafted Alex Smith instead. Has been to the Pro Bowl.

2004: Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals). Second coming of Jerry Rice.

Of course there are the chances of WR busts in the first round: Charles Rogers (2003), Donte Stallworth (2002) and David Terrell and Koren Robinson (2001). And to say the 49ers should look deeper in the draft for a WR is not the best thing to do. As you get out of the first and second round what you have left are WR’s who are specialized in a certain area and do not have the complete package of a number one receiver who can make an impact each play.

The 49ers must take a chance on a WR. With Crabtree going somewhere in picks 1-9 the 49ers should go with Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin. He can be the big-play receiver the 49ers have not had on the team since the days of T.O. He can make the whole offense better, especially Shaun Hill, just with his presence on the field. He only spent two years at Missouri but his totals for both years are amazing:

Colts Marvin Harrison to be Released

Marvin Harrison who has been the backbone of the Colts organization since he has drafted in 1996 might be released due to contact restructuring differences with the Colts. If this is the case the 49ers should try as hard as they can to sign him. Harrison is 36 years old and last year was one of his least productive years of his career but to have veteran receiver of his caliber on the roster would be a huge asset. Harrison can still get it done and even though the 49ers already have an aging receiver in Isaac Bruce having both of them on the roster will do wonders for the team and for the development of receivers Josh Morgan and Jason Hill. Not to mention if the 49ers do select Maclin 10^th overall the impact both Harrison and Bruce will have on the rookie is endless.

What do you think the 49ers should do with the 10th pick? (Answer in the comments)