Is Alex Smith done??

I don't know how I missed that the Mike Nolan had benched this dude for a career journeyman.  CHFF uses that as an opportunity to chronicle the fall of one of the greatest sports franchises of all time. Predictably, as my buddy Brendan Koerner always says, the fish rots from the head:

If you want to pinpoint the day it all fell apart, point to May 23, 2000. It's the day ownership was transferred from Eddie DeBartolo Jr. to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York and her husband, John York. They are the Romulus Augustus in the story of the 49ers empire, ineffective leaders who watched the organization crumble during their brief reign. (The great site, DumpYork.com seems, sadly, to no longer be updated.)

 

In a sport where management means everything, they've destroyed the organization through a series of personnel mistakes.

 

The Yorks made their first critical error when they fired Steve Mariucci after a 10-6 season in 2002 (he went 12-4 in 2001). Mariucci's 49ers had suffered losing seasons in 1999 and 2000, but he had compiled a 57-39 (.594) record in six years at the helm. San Fran fans can only wish they had it so good today.

I think--in the main--owners are way to quick to fire coaches in the NFL. It's pretty insane. Jeff Fisher has never won a Super Bowl, but he is probably the second or third best coach in football. Mooch wasn't nearly as good, but how do you fire him after 10-6? And then hire a coach who'd already failed in the NFL. Dennis Erickson is exhibit A for black folks who want to bitch about coaching hires in the NFL. It doesn't really work anymore, but dude, Dennis Erickson is white privilege.

Also--Is it just generally stupid to draft a quarterback with the number one pick?