BRIEF SPORTS INTERLUDE
Hans Blix disarms the 49ers

What sad times are these, that us poor Bay Area sports fans must go through yet another dismantling of the 49ers.

Jeff Garcia signs a 4-year deal with the Browns.

Free agent quarterback Jeff Garcia agreed to a $25 million, four-year contract with Cleveland, ending Tim Couch’s rocky era with the Browns.

The Browns and Garcia’s agent, Steve Baker, confirmed the deal Tuesday to The Associated Press. The team said it was making plans for a news conference.

Browns president Carmen Policy told WTAM, the team’s radio rights holder, the contract was worth $10 million over the first two years, and there’s an option for the final two years.

The 34-year-old Garcia, a three-time Pro Bowler, was unable to agree on a restructured contract with the San Francisco 49ers, who released him earlier this month.

Great career move there, Jeff. Two problems:

1) You just signed to QB a team with almost no discernable WR talent.
and
2) You just left San Francisco to live in Cleveland. That's... uh... great.

Hope that money's worth it. Though to be fair, with Owens' departure, there isn't much WR talent left here either.

And it gets worse. In one of the great management decisions of all football history, the 49er top brass decided to let go of Garcia, a scrambling quarterback who can make things happen even when he's getting knocked around, while retaining Tim Rattay, a very good pocket passer when he gets protection and time to throw. The problem is that at the same time, they got rid of two of their three best offensive linemen, Derrick Deese (who didn't allow a sack last year) and Ron Stone, a former Pro Bowler. Simply brilliant.

I have seen the future, and it is 6 and 10.

Okay, back to politics and such...