Hometown OL to be UFA, should we sign him?

[BradK10]

I'm partial to this, but a good friend of mine, Eric Heitmann, starting guard for the last 3 years in San Fransico, can become an urestricted free agent I think after this season.

He was a 4 year starter at Stanford after playing at Katy HS from 1994-1997 with me. He was drafted in the 7th round by SF, only after he was mysteriously red flagged for a injury he didn't even know he had (was projected a 2nd/3rd round guy). He super smart and takes great angles on blocks. He's worked in zone schemes before and has the athleticism to get to the 2nd level in the zone scheme. He probably lacks super strength, but he makes up for it in smarts and athleticism, rarely getting out of position.

Of course, I'm biased, but if we go after any OL help, I'd like to see one of my boys in the red, white and blue!

 

[TexansTrueFan]

well we'd have to see him play before we could decide that, but i'm sure he'll be wanting to RUN out of SF, so maybe the coaches will see him !?!?!?!?

 

[infantrycak]

He only has 3 yrs in the NFL so he will be a RFA. You have to have 4 accrued years to be an UFA.

 

[BradK10]

Thanks, I wasn't sure how that works.

So RFA means that the Niners can match any offer made right?

 

[infantrycak]

Thanks, I wasn't sure how that works.

So RFA means that the Niners can match any offer made right?

RFA means that the Niners have several choices, let him walk, or three levels of qualifying offers. Any qualifying offer gives them the right to match. The big deal is the level of qualifying offer gives them the right to compensation if they choose not to match--top qualifying offer carries a 1st round draft pick, mid gets the original draft pick and low gets a 7th. I may have that slightly goofed up but that is the framework.

 

[Tailgate]

I'm partial to this, but a good friend of mine, Eric Heitmann, starting guard for the last 3 years in San Fransico, can become an urestricted free agent I think after this season.

He was a 4 year starter at Stanford after playing at Katy HS from 1994-1997 with me. He was drafted in the 7th round by SF, only after he was mysteriously red flagged for a injury he didn't even know he had (was projected a 2nd/3rd round guy). He super smart and takes great angles on blocks. He's worked in zone schemes before and has the athleticism to get to the 2nd level in the zone scheme. He probably lacks super strength, but he makes up for it in smarts and athleticism, rarely getting out of position.

Of course, I'm biased, but if we go after any OL help, I'd like to see one of my boys in the red, white and blue!

I know Heitmann as well... and last I heard he does want to play for the Texans next year. It all depends on where we are at the Guard spot in the offseason.

The 49ers did offer him a contract already and have already pulled it from the table due to lack of "team" production which is BS. So I don't look for him to return to SF next year. Who knows though... anyone who dangles anything over 100 k to me and I am movin there that day!

 

[BradK10]

well he still has family in this area, and he's got a house in austin, so i hope we make a push!

 

[Hervoyel]

Hmm. How are we at Guard?

Pitts isn't going anywhere and nobody we have is going to beat him out of a job. I wonder sometimes if Milford Brown is going to beat Weigert out of his job but so far it hasn't come to pass. About the time Weigert is ready to call it a career I think Brown will be ready to come in and put some people on their butts.

Todd Washington can of course play guard but he's a guy waiting for someone to take his spot. I like him better at center than guard but then it doesn't take much to look like an upgrade over McKinney.

Looking at the roster I'm going "Brandon Evans?" Guy's a mountain at 356lbs! What's up with him? Where was I at when he came onboard? Was he on our practice squad? I need to pay more attention.

Heitmann I don't know much about. I've spent so much time thinking the Texans are guard-heavy and tackle-light that I've never even considered the idea of them signing a FA guard.

If he could beat out Weigert and Brown then I'd be good with it. I'd rather they go find an answer to the McKinney problem though.

 

[aj.]

Evans has been around since training camp -- was cut and been on the p.s. for a while. I was watching drills in the endzone at camp one day and I remember asking the quetion "who's the dude with the keg under his jersey?" He makes Nate Newton look svelte. He doesn't look 6' 4" He is definitely not as nimble as Pitts.

Dom was pretty impressed with Milford on Sunday. Who knows when guys like that all of a sudden come into their own. His contract expires after this season but I think he's still an exclusive rights guy.

Wiegert is under contract for three more years so there would be a bit of a cap hit to consider there but I don't think Wiegert is going anywhere next year.

 

[Lucky]

Wiegert is under contract for three more years so there would be a bit of a cap hit to consider there but I don't think Wiegert is going anywhere next year.

Maybe Wiegert will come back, but I think he has competition for his job in camp next year. There's still $2.1 million unamortized on Wiegert's signing bonus. But, Zach will draw a $2.65 million salary next season. So releasing him prior to June 1, 2005 would save the Texans $550K against the cap, $1.95 million after June 1. I vote for releasing him after June 1.

Milford Brown is one of the 4 players out of the '02 draft that will become RFA's this offseason. The Texans will also have to make decisions on whether to tender Faggins, Wells, & Baxter. The minimum offer would be 1 year @ around $700K.

As far as signing Heitmann, I'm for it with one provision. And that's if the Niners don't tender Heitmann with the right of 1st refusal with 1st round compensation offer. That would be around $1.5 million and SF would be foolish not to extend Heitmann that offer.

 

[Tailgate]

Maybe Wiegert will come back, but I think he has competition for his job in camp next year. There's still $2.1 million unamortized on Wiegert's signing bonus. But, Zach will draw a $2.65 million salary next season. So releasing him prior to June 1, 2005 would save the Texans $550K against the cap, $1.95 million after June 1. I vote for releasing him after June 1.

Milford Brown is one of the 4 players out of the '02 draft that will become RFA's this offseason. The Texans will also have to make decisions on whether to tender Faggins, Wells, & Baxter. The minimum offer would be 1 year @ around $700K.

As far as signing Heitmann, I'm for it with one provision. And that's if the Niners don't tender Heitmann with the right of 1st refusal with 1st round compensation offer. That would be around $1.5 million and SF would be foolish not to extend Heitmann that offer.

Agreed. Before they took the original offer off the table... I believe it was right around 12 million for 5-6 years.

 

[aj.]

There's still $2.1 million unamortized on Wiegert's signing bonus. But, Zach will draw a $2.65 million salary next season. So releasing him prior to June 1, 2005 would save the Texans $550K against the cap, $1.95 million after June 1.

Where did you get the bonus info?

If Wiegert's bonus is amortized at 700k per year (if they did a 'standard' proration of his signing bonus) and if there are no other roster/workout etc. bonuses in his contract then his cap figure is $3.35 next year so any "savings" would be based on that number. Cap savings are often exaggerated since you still have to consider the replacement player's cap number. McKinney makes more than Wiegert. If you ask me who's the weaker link between those two and whose contract needs more atteniton, it's McKinney.

Milford does have three accrued seasons. I couldn't remember when he actually joined the team in '02 since I remembered that it was an in-season supplemental draft and the player has to be on full pay status for six games to get credit for the accrued season. I went back and checked and he was signed in Week 6 and was on the 53 the rest of the season - so he was on full pay status for Weeks 7-17 (11 weeks) even though he was inactive for every game.