For a while, I was merely dismayed with the current status of the 49er franchise, as if it could be considered the natural regression after the success of the 80's and into the 90's.  But I have come to realize that it's much worse than that.

I recently heard that the dollar value of the franchise is now 30th out of 32 NFL teams.  There are the omnipresent (though hopefully unfounded) rumors of the franchise being moved to L.A., taking the history, the franchise records, and the championships with it.  I hope it never comes to this, and I'm not going to run around panicking like the sky is falling.

But know this - this current iteration of the San Francisco 49ers bears no resemblance to any 49er team that I've ever known.  It feels as if this current franchise is an empty shell of its former self and that this organization doesn't even deserve the right to retire Steve Young's number or even observe the passing of Bill Walsh with a patch.  Because, surely, this team reminds no one of a team led by Bill Walsh or healmed by Steve Young.

Gone is the West Coast Offense, replaced by a zero-ring circus.  Gone is any link to arguably the greatest football player of all time, certainly the greatest wide receiver, replaced by those who have no business even starting at the position.  Gone is the working-class tight end who sacrificed his body over the middle of the field, replaced by an Adonis of a man who runs a 4.38 40...and is mostly a blocker.  Gone is the feared, explosive safety who would blow up an unwitting ballcarrier, yet would never miss a hit while trying to make the highlight reels. 

Who on this team could play with Montana's Niners?  Or on any team that had Craig, and Rice, and Lott, or Young, Rathman, Jones, and BY?  Maybe Patrick Willis and Frank Gore could play with those guys; I doubt that many others could.  And Mike Nolan would be no better than a linebackers coach.

In short, this team...is not the 49ers, at least not the 49ers that I knew and could be a fan of.

Yes, this post is long.  But it's from the heart.  I hope you made it all the way through it!