News Archive
logo.jpg (11350 bytes)


-


Cota Expected To Sign?
August 13 2002
By Bryan Hersh of 49ers Paradise
THIS CONTENT IS COPYWRITED, REDISTRIBUTION OF IT (including copy/pasting it to a message board, forum or bbs) IS PROHIBITED AND COULD RESULT IN LEGAL ACTIONS - feel free to quote up to 1 paragraph providing a source link to http://www.49ersparadise.cjb.net is included
Safety Chad Cota has a good workout with the 49ers on Tuesday and is schedule for a workout today. The veteran safety is being looked at by the 49ers in lieu of the recent injuries to the depth at their safety position. A once over crowded position, the 49ers are now scrambling to find enough bodies to fill the top four spots.

While the team has not declared that it definitely would sign a safety, let a lone Cota, the release of receiver Mike Jennings, fullback Matt Stanley and receiver Donnie O’Neal on Tuesday was a fairly good indicator that the team is looking to add a player to their roster.

The problem with signing a player like Cota is not that he is running out of time to learn the system. He wouldn’t be starting and thus this isn’t the biggest concern, and there is still ample time to get a good handle on the defense. Rather, the real question is what happens once the rest of the safeties get healthy.

The extent of Kevin Curtis’ injury won’t be known until later today when the doctors that operated on Curtis report their findings back to the team. At best, Curtis will likely miss six week, but a ten week recovery is not out of the question. Then of there is Al Blades who spent all of last year on the practice squad. He’s looked good in two strait off-season’s but his recent injury may once again make him a practice squad candidate. Then there is John Keith who is currently on the mend. The 49ers can’t have confidence that he’ll be healthy enough for the season. And so the conflict of interest exists.

On the one hand, the team needs depth at safety, on the other, when healthy, the spot is over crowded. I see Cota as a player that would be an upgrade of Blades for sure, and he would certainly rival a healthy Keith. Really, I think the 49ers should sign Cota but if they don’t its because the team is already over crowded at the position and has faith that at least one of their safeties currently injured will be ready for the season.

Talk about it in the 49ers Paradise Forum

fball.jpg (6395 bytes)fball.jpg (6395 bytes)