What do you think will most likely happen

[GSWFuture8]

and what is the best decision for the franchise

[Hotstove907]

First id try to trade for Cassel. If that didnt work and we were ready for the **** storm from the media and peta etc. Take Vick. Im sure he can still play football.

[GS Warriors 1]

Hill will be a contender to start for 2009 but I think they get a vet QB via FA that can challenge him.

They cut Alex Smith and draft a QB in the middle rounds.

[Hotstove907]

Ive heard some random things and it would be smart to sign a FA vet i just hope it isnt Garcia

[nykfan757]

Reading what is supposedly a 49ers forum...

The little banter that does come through here is at best idiotic. Some of the things I have read are just plain insane...trade for Cassel??? Are you serious???

First off let me learn you all on how this great game of football works. You dont see a guy who, for probably good reason and probably not, has never started a game before in his life and then try to scheme up all these scenarios where you can work a trade for him. Keep in mind this guy was just franchised and would not only cost heavy dollars but very high draft picks in return.

Now here you have Shaun Hill...who when you think about it is in the same sort of situation Cassel has made into big dollars, struggling to earn any type of respect from fans of his team. Now let's compare the 2 QB's here very briefly. Cassel replaced a 3 time super bowl winner with pretty much a big time supporting cast around him. He sat for 3 years and learned and when he received his shot, he performed. Hill replaced an injured Alex Smith in 2007, a year in which the skill positions were heavily disappointing beyond Gore and Davis and won 2 of 3 games. In 2008 replaced a miserably ineffective O'Sullivan and proceeded to look like the type of QB that matches the skill players on the field. He went 5-3 as a starter and posted a better passer rating than 3 of the 6 pro bowl QB's. Yet not only is he paid about 11 million less than Cassel, he also can't get the permanent vote of confidence (although I completely understand why in the HC's case) and he damn sure cant win with his fanbase.

I mean think about what he brings to this team...

Hill does something that has truly become a lost art in the NFL, he places the ball in a spot where the receiver has a chance to catch, turn and make move. Something that the great QB's did: Aikman, Montana, Young, Marino and so on.

Now PLEASE UNDERSTAND...I AM NOT COMPARING SHAUN HILL TO ANY OF THOSE QUARTERBACKS.

What I am saying is that those QB's were successful because their skill set was favorable to the players that surrounded them. And vice versa. They were able to work in cohesion with their teammates because what Aikman may have lacked, Irvin and Harper could make up for and vice versa. What Montana lacked, Rice/Taylor/Craig/Jones/Rathman and others made up for it. What Duper and Clayton couldnt do...Marino's skill set allowed them to be able to work and vice versa. But you get the point of QB's and skill position players needing to all be on the same page with what the other is capable of.

Now look at Hill's support

Gore is the prototype runner you want in the offense Jimmy Raye has. I actually went back to look at those teams he had with KC from 1998-2000. You should really pay attention to some of the names this man had to work with in the backfield. Kimble Anders??? Donnell Bennett??? Rashaan Shehee??? The "Fat Boy" version of Bam Morris??? Players who werent absolutely terrible, but yet nothing to write home about either. Raye consistently put an offensive threat on the field on sundays and that is all you can ask for in truth. Frank Gore probably looks like a winning powerball ticket to Raye right now. Considering he never had a 1000 yard rusher in his time in KC, he has never been in the bottom third in total offense, that is saying a lot.

The young WRs need to be developed but they fit what Hill can do. Morgan and Hill both look very good after the catch and can provide deep threats. Hill doesnt have the weakest arm around, unlike what you hear so much around football, he actually can be a threat downfield (Josh Morgan's 48yd TD catch vs STL, VD's big catch against Dallas, Johnson's catch at the end of the redskins game). Eddie Kennison was a big time threat in Raye's offense. As a matter of fact if I'm not mistaken, it was Jimmy Raye's offenses in KC that produced a pro bowl WR by the name of Joe Horn. Signed by NO from KC where he got the chance to start after developing under Raye. He made a star out of Grbac for a few years, didnt hurt Tony Gonzalez's career at all and even made Derrick Alexander some money. I think he will do well with those 2 young WR's along with Davis and Walker at TE.

All said I think if given a chance to show he offers more than just the "liability" of not being able to throw 50 yards on a line, he can excel.

The problem with Hill's C+ arm strength is that fans consistently would rather look at what he cant do rather than what he can do. But I really think the 49ers have something with this guy. For one MAJOR reason...and coming from a football coach I can tell you that this matters...his teammates really, really like the guy. That counts for so much more than what shows on the stat sheet that it gets easily overlooked. It shows when guys go out of their way to make that extra block or jump higher for that errant throw or get in a defender's face when they try to cheap shot him.

I rambled but all in all to say that Hill has that respect of his teammates like a lot of those other successful QB's have had. Bringing in a guy like Cassel doesnt necessarily mean instant success because it first doesnt mean instant respect. Maybe on Madden 2009 it does...but not in real life. Sorry

[Bac2Basics]

So much for the Matt Cassel idea........

The Kurt Warner thing is interesting but I'm not sure it's the best possible move.

I was a little surprised to see Denver considering moving Jay Cutler, would be interested to see if we could pry him away for Mile High.

[darkadun]

I'd love to have Cutler. I watched alot of Bronco games last year as my dad is a fan, & I have to say he is pretty awesome. Pairing a good run game with Gore and QB in Cutler could be great.

[Hotstove907]

First off i never said Cassel was the answer. Seriously you think S.Hill could lead this team to the promise land? Doubt it. Anyway summing up what you wrote i agree w/ majority of it. Except you starting the writing as if your were the Swame. Thanks for informing us fans about football. Anyway Darkadun, im with you on Cutler. I just think this teams needs a QB w/ some type leadership and experience.