Was all ready to write the angry Jock Blog, with a special lede.
That’s right, “lede” — for you old-school journalism heads. What, you didn’t like my first “graf”? (We had a whole language of shorthand in newsrooms. Like an old Prince song title.)
Anyway, my lede was all set:
“What the hell are we going to do with the freakin’ San Francisco Giants, sports fans?”
But it’s Friday. Who needs bad vibes on a Friday? That’s what Reggae Fridays are for. No bad vibes.
So, new Jock Blog!
The Niners!
Just when the bad news out of Santa Clara was starting to stack up like sidewalk garbage during a sanitation strike, John Lynch and the front office made a move: running back Brian Robinson, Jr., just 26 years old and fresh off a 799-yard, eight-TD season, was acquired for a sixth-round pick.
Hard to dislike this trade, kids.
Coming on the heels of the less-heralded but also depth-strengthening acquisition of receiver/returner Skyy Moore, the 49ers reversed the seemingly unstoppable trend of losing bodies by actually *adding* two functional bodies to the roster.
Robinson is the bigger fish.
And a much-needed fish, as well.
Since the 49ers parted ways with Jordan Mason in their cost-cutting March, Christian McCaffrey’s backups seemed capable, but not without questions. Second-year back Isaac Guerendo has explosion, but also a rich injury history that included missing a few weeks this August. It didn’t help that Guerendo returned to practice on Thursday and fumbled three times.
The Niners tried to address the RB room by drafting Oregon’s Jordan James and signing undrafted free agent Corey Kiner, but fate befell these gents, also. James is out with a broken finger that will require surgery. And poor Kiner — a high ankle sprain forced him to injured reserve.
So while the Week 1 trip to Seattle does carry a fond memory for Guerendo — he broke a 76-yard run as part of a career-high 99 yard game in the Emerald City last year — the 49ers were dangerously thin at the position.
And in case we need a reminder, preserving McCaffrey’s legs and health is essentially one of the single most important things in life. You know my rule. Always ask: Did Christian McCaffrey play?
If anyone ever asks anything about the 49ers, I usually answer: “I don’t know. Did Christian McCaffrey play?” If the answer is affirmative, life is good. If the answer is negative, life is bad. Someone might ask me about the progress of former Kansas State safety and fifth-round draft pick Marques Sigle, and my answer will likely be: “I don’t know, we’ll see if Christian McCaffrey plays.”
It’s a question I frequently ask my good friend, the highlight tape from the 2016 Rose Bowl.
Making sure McCaffrey has ample bullpen help is critical to the 49ers moving the ball all season.
Losing Mason was tough. But look at what the 49ers did. They traded to the Vikings Mason (and a sixth-round pick) for a fifth-round pick this year and a sixth-round pick in 2026. The fifth-rounder turned into the aforementioned Sigle. The sixth-round pick? It just went to Washington for Brian Robinson, Jr., who is Jordan Mason, but with less speed and more pop near the goal line. Twenty touchdowns for the kid out of Alabama in three NFL seasons.
Nifty bookwork by John Lynch and Partners, Esq.
The Niners needed it, too, man. News was bad. Yes, Week One is still over two weeks away, but at the rate the team was losing bodies, they were set to head to Seattle with a headwind of negative vibes. Robinson figures to play Week One, and serve as a classic “Thunder” to CMC’s “Lightning”. Shout out former Swedish heavyweight champ Ingemar Johansson. (Nota bene: Save that for a ‘What Did Young Tony Learn Today?’ soon.)
Plus, the trade prevented a “Bad Vibe Friday” Jock Blog on the Giants.
Just typing that previous sentence caused my blood pressure to rise.
Breathe. Whoo-sah. The 49ers made a good trade.
That’s better.