In all the rumors surrounding this Amare deal, it looks like we'll have to give up 3-4 pieces amongst the Beans/Wright/Bellinelli/Buke/Curry fivesome. Personally, I think 3 is doable, especially if its Beans/Wright/Bellinelli, but 4 is just way too much. But given what's been floating around to PHX, couldnt a comprable package land us Bosh instead? I'd have to think that Beans/Wright/Bellinelli would do it, maybe a lotto-protected or at most a top-5 protected future #1 as icing on the cake. Granted, it would be a lot more difficult to lock him in to an extension before the deal is completed, but Toronto knows hes a flight risk...check that, a flight guarantee, so getting 90 cents on the dollar for him now and young relatively cheap pieces would be ideal for them.

Also, I'm guessing Maggette's name isnt getting any love in any of these deals bc of his contract...a Beans/Maggs for Amare wouldve been nice. Toronto may have an interest in a scorer like him as well...

The mention of Michael Carter in the Golden Nuggets this morning brought back memories, so I decided to turn this into a fan post. Big Mike used to live across the street from my parents house in Milpitas, so growing up when I was a kid I used to see him and his family all the time. He was fairly quiet and reserved, but two memories do stand out: him and Bill Romanowski (he lived a few blocks away from us) used to work on Romo's classic truck late at night sometimes, so it was kind of surreal watching them in the garage from my room. Also, once after Sunday niner win my buddies and I were tossing the football around on the street, and Michael Carter and his wife come back from the game, with Mike carrying about 8-10 bags of taco bell...homeboy mustve been hungry after that win.

Other than that, Ive had the pleasure of meeting Jerry Rice and VD at the same club in downtown San Jose but on different nights, both were nice and cordial and I was amazed by the size of VD in person...but will never forgive my friend's cheap disposable camera for ruining my pic with Jerry.

Couple other quick anecdotes involving my friends:  One friend made Tony Parrish laugh his a** off at the Vault in downtown San Jose by telling Kevan Barlow (to his face)  that his grandma could average more than 2 yards per carry, and another buddy of mine used to work at the target on the border of North San Jose and Milpitas, and had TO come in once and buy a bunch of stuff for the house. Of course, TO was classic TO in the sense that he didnt make chit chat, quickly signed an autograph and was trying to get out of there as quickly as he could.

Anybody have any interesting anecdotes regarding interactions with players outside the playing field that they'd like to share?

Just saw a rumor on the espn.com NFC West blog that Cutler is infuriated that Devner's new coach tried to swing Cassel by trading Cut to TB in a 3 way deal. Cutler now wants to seek a trade...if Cassel is worth a 2nd rd pick, what will it take to get Cutler? Maybe a 2 plus a second day pick? As a pro bowl qb with only 2 full years as a starter under his belt, he's obviously of more value than a guy like Thigpen or a 1 year fix like Warner. Plus given the fact that he's both a product of the WCO and has a rocket of an arm to boot, I'd rank him higher than Cassel.

These past 7 losses have caused me to lose the desire to write a post or two around here, but I had to get this potentially franchise-saving idea out there.

Quick flashback: Does anyone remember the Chargers drafted Phillip Rivers in 2004, only to see Drew Brees blow up the following season? Remember the frustration that Rivers expressed, causing him to be thrown around in trade rumors, including to the Niners as part of a package for the #1 overall pick?

This is a problem that arises when you draft a QB thinking it takes a year to groom him, only to have the incumbent show off his true potential when he's on his way out the door. This exact situation is currently happening...in CLEVELAND.

Derek Anderson is lighting it up, so my question is how much/how feasible is it to trade for Brady Quinn? As much potential as he has, I dont think the fans/management in Cleveland are erady to abandon whats working for them this year, and I know that management doesnt wanna pay that salary to sit on the bench for 3 years. Would a second round pick land him? I know theres a lot of ND/Quinn haters out there, but we're not getting a QB on the free agent market, and its not worth spending our late 1st rd pick on a QB that has a 50/50 shot (or less) of making it in the league.

I'd love to hear your comments about this, or your version of the "Based on the pics posted online, Brady Quinn would a great fit for San Francisco, especially the Castro District" joke.