Niners Lock Up the Mad Samoan
The 49ers locked up another one of their free agents, just days before the free agency period was to begin. The 49ers and Isaac Sopoaga have come to terms on a five year deal. The amount of the deal is unknown at this time, but expect it to be a hefty one after last season when Cowboys’ Jay Ratliff last season to a five-year deal worth $20.5 million with $8 million guaranteed. Not to mention the franchise tag being slapped on Green Bay’s Corey Williams and Tennessee’s Albert Haynesworth. After Williams and Haynesworth, The Mad Samoan was one of the top DT on the market.
Reports are Sopoaga may take over at left defensive end, replacing the retired Bryant Young.
About the Author: The Pundit of 49ersNews. I do what I can to supply the Niner fans with their fix.
Also ESPN has us finishing 4th in our division.They're out of their damn minds.Were taking this bitch. 
clayb, any coach with a QB who sucks will look bad. if we had a decent QB (and JTO looks ...
Take away Leaf and Smith is the worst pick in NFL history. If not NFL history than 49ers history. 
PrimeTime | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
Aww…Yeah!
hawaiian9er | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
are you sure about that.
hondakillerzx | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
great news. they look like theyre goin big this season with all the rumors floating around. calvin pace, justin smith, briggs, theres a lot of rumors. if we get half the guys being mentioned it was a great offseason
john | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
great signing!!! now come thursday night or friday morning hopefully briggs, smith, and berrian can be headed to frisco!!!
Niner4Life | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
High price if the $20.8M is right. He has not been that productive and put a dent in the potential FA monies to spend on a pass rusher Smith or Pace. A more feasible number would have been around $12-15M.
Just hope Paraag is watching the cap to get the Niner a WR and Pass Rusher.
Ryan the 1st | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
Thank God we signed this guy. Guys, tell me if I am wrong, but IF the niners sign both Justin Smith AND Pace would that not be sending a message to you that the niners are going to be doing A LOT of the 4-3 instead of the 3-4. They have McDonald and A. Franklin, they signed the angry Samoan, now if they get Smith and Pace that would mean more of the 4-3 would it not? We HAVE TO at least get Berrian on offense. I understand why we are going more defense than offense (because there is more high quality talent coming on the market on D). I WOULD rather we spent the money on Pace than on Flozell Adams. Know what I mean? Berrian AND DJAX AND Jardy would make the difference….DJAX and Hardy would be good, but not GREAT!!! I think the deep o tackle draft is giving us the much needed leverage to focus on D. Look for us to get at least TWO o linemen in the draft IF we get Smith AND Pace.
49ersfan77 | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
thats great news GO NINERS!!!!!!!!!
JNova80 | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
Very good news. I really like Sopoaga, just hope we re-sign Douglas next.
Ryan the 1st | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
Not to sound pessimistic, but I don’t see that happening when they could spend for a GREAT DE instead. Get the bargain for your buck for this. Douglas would be great, but unless he comes cheap I say leave him alone….he didn’t do anything THAT GREAT.
Medford | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
How stupid of a move wow we resigned a guy who has done jack shit for us. Wow im cumming in my pants I wonder if he will beat out Franklin this year maybe he will get hurt dancing or something b4 the game boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
My opinion only I respect ur guys opinion also
Medford | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
Forget Briggs or Berrian maybe will give a contract extension to Zak Keasey on friday morning
Rob | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
I’ve got nothing against Sopoaga, but I think he has shown more potential than actual ability during his time with the Niners. He’s a solid backup, if nothing else. But, I worry that they overspent for him.
ninerfaithful | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
ROB i dont think we would have signed him to a deal had he been any threat to the cap.. THE MCNOLAN Co has been very good with cap space
West | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
Ryan 1st…….Dont see us going to a 4-3…..we have 2 many LB an have spent to much time building a 3-4……our 3-4 D will b great soon…… i do believe we will get J.Smith, L.Briggs and maybe even a Rosevelt Colvin n place of Tully….. could still even draft a Glover which could take time to develope under a Rosevelt….. as for the other end of J.Smith…we still have Oliver an McDonald….Issac is a good signing, adds depth an goalline big package ect….Pace dont see us going after strongly…
pintor98 | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
Soap is just starting to get it. He made a lot of penetraion last year. He pushed the line back into the qb. LDE Oliver, NT Franklin, RDE SOap on run downs and LDE Mcdonald, Nt Fields, RDE J. SMith on passing downs. I would rather get Briggs, that way we can take the leash off Willis!!! Did you see him at the end of the year when he was playing downhill. They couldn’t stop him. Briggs is a great all around
Lb with superb coverage skills.
Samra | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
Perfect Nickname for Sopogoa = Chewbacca (from Star wars)
Forensics187 | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
Now we need to address the O line. Anyone who knows anything about Martz knows that the QB in Martz system needs a solid line.
Billy | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
A perfect draft would be
1)Dominque Rogers-Cromartie(The guy is whooping everyone in the combine, hes the cousin of Antonio “Oh shit not again” Cromartie, and his preformance at the senior bowl)
2)Desean Jackson (Man I hope his stock falls but hes great overall except for his height, and a solid if not better KR)
3) Athya Rubin (Plugs holes period he`ll let Patrick Willis WHOMP QBs, RBs, more easily)
Ryan the 1st | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
More conflicting stories….this one about Briggs…..www.profootballtalk.com is saying that they have a close source inside the niner organization that Briggs is not on their radar, but then there is some Bears writer who said it was a done deal. This is what makes me think that http://www.profootballtalk.com is right…..the bears writer (I got this from the scout.com site for the niners) is saying that not only is it a done deal, but the niners are giving Briggs 30-35 MILLION guaranteed. THAT SOUNDS FULL OF CRAP TO ME!!!! What do you guys think? We better make some choices, but above all we need Justin Smith and Berrian. Get a play maker on both sides of the field. The niners can go wr and FOR SURE o line in the draft, but we NEED a #1 receiver that fits Martz style. Pace WOULD BE GREAT Though.
Ryan the 1st | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
http://www.49erswebzone.com/content/news/view.php?id=13387
Samra | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
Check this sleeper out…
Marcus Howard, DE/OLB, Georgia: Forty time of 4.4 seconds Howard, a 237-pound defensive lineman in college, did it with ease at the combine.
Ryan the 1st | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
Lets hope Fitzgerald KEEPS the Cardinals in a strangle hold for at least another week so we can see if Pace could be worked into the picture. IF we WERE TO GET PACE then we really only need a corner and maybe a free safety, but that isn’t something we REALLY NEED. The corner issue could be worked out in this draft…..if need be, but I really think that if we get PACE AND SMITH then we should really be using our picks to make Martz happy so he will stay AND SO OUR OFFENSE WON’T BE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE LEAGUE. You can’t expect Lance Armstrong to win the Tour De France when all you give him to ride with is a beat up tricycle.
Samra | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
my perfect draft for us
1.Desean Jackson WR CAL
2.Cark Nicks OT Nebraska
3.Travares Goodman ILB Miami
4.Marcus Howard OLB Georgia
5.Will Franklin WR Missorri (unrealistic will be drafted higher)
Billy | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
Samra I agree with your draft its pretty good but Id slip Cromartie to pick #2 if he was still there
Samra | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
I would too…but im willing to bet my house he doesnt go past the Cowboys second pick
Billy | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
Damn Cowgirls! With there OVERRATED Tony Romo who blows
Adam | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
Briggs will not be a niner next year. And if he is it would be a waste of money.We need a big linebacker to thump the fulbacks and gaurds, thats not Briggs forte. Spend the money on Berrian. Pretty Please.
Adam | Feb 27, 2008 | Reply
Look i just saved us $8 million a year.
Medford | Feb 28, 2008 | Reply
They better do something on Friday u cant just sit on ur hands saying ” You build through the draft and supplement through free agency” HELLO IDIOTS UR TEAM WENT 5-11 LAST YEAR. This team is in desperate need of a WR Daryl Jackson is crap. That should be #1 priority seal up either Berrian, Johnson, or Hackett. I would be happy with Justin Smith signing but he doesnt play offense this team sucked really bad record books bad Nolan is hanging on by a thread I guess all we could do is wait.
Ryan the 1st | Feb 28, 2008 | Reply
And that is why I see him wanting to spend, spend, spend. The best way he can ensure that he stays after next season is to get some free agent talent. A pass rush is SO crucial in the niners position. They NEED Justin Smith…..Briggs would cost too much and I agree with Adam that we could get Berrian for that money and have some left over to make a run at Pace. Smith, Berrian are MUST HAVES……getting Pace as well ( I still haven’t tried to figure out if that would be financially possible) would really take this defense to the top. Berrian would be the number receiver, DJAX COULD be the number 2, and we could draft a receiver in the first two rounds. It ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT IS AVAILABLE. If Nolan is smart then he will get things rolling with this salary cap and get some talent on this squad fast because staying put with what we have is just going to result in another pathetic record.
Ryan the 1st | Feb 28, 2008 | Reply
The Bears have OFFERED Berrian a deal and he refused it….lets hope that keeps up until 9:00 tonight. Can someone tell me if we COULD possibly make all three of those players come to SF?
Adam | Feb 28, 2008 | Reply
Yes we could get all thre. But then w wouldn have any money to sign free agents. Thats why we will probably sign 1 for sure and very possibly 2 of them. Consider J.Smith signed, then the next one is a mystery. My personal expert opinion(jk). I think it will be Berrian. We can do the rest through the draft.
Tony Romo | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
thanks for thea article, love Tony Romo.. he has taken the NFL and POP Culture by storm!