This is kind of funny, actually, considering how they got burned by Kaepernick. But make no mistake about it, everybody is studying the read option and Kap will be under more scrutiny than ever next season.

Packers Staff head to Texas A&M to study Read Option

INDIANAPOLIS — Many coaches and general managers have spoken at this week's NFL scouting combine about devoting more offseason time to figuring out a way to counter the new-wave, read-option offense.

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy hit on an outside-the-box approach — having his staff take a college crash course together this offseason at Texas A&M, where Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel has emerged as an option magician under center.

After Green Bay's defense was gouged for 181 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in a 45-31 divisional playoff-round demolition, McCarthy decided to go to College Station, Texas, to learn the read option from the ground up. He won't soon forget that embarrassing, 579-yard waxing his team took at the hands (and feet) of Kaepernick and Co.



Chiefs and Cardinals loom as chief destinations for Alex Smith

As San Francisco front-office representatives met with several agents to gauge the free-agent market on Friday at the NFL scouting combine, there was a common theme to their discussions.

Don't worry, we'll have plenty of money once we trade Smith. The 49ers spent much of the day checking with agents on the upcoming cornerback market, which will feature Aqib Talib, Leodis McKelvin, Greg Toler, Cary Williams, Sean Smith, Derek Cox, Quentin Jammer, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie and Michael Jenkins. Several of those players figure to cost in the area of $8 million to $9 million per year as the 49ers search for a No. 1 cornerback.[/u].


Trade Alex for a Cornerback at the same price? That or DL.


49ers Interested in Josh Cribbs, WR for Browns

Aditi Kinkhabwala is reporting the Cleveland Browns are unlikely to meet wide receiver and return man Joshua Cribbs' asking price of $1.8 to $2 million per year. On the NFL Network scrolling news bar, it also indicated that the 49ers and Chargers have expressed some measure of interest in Cribbs.

Although Cribbs is listed as a wide receiver, he has generally focused on the return game. Last season he finished fourth in kick return average and sixth in punt return average. At the same time, he had only seven receptions on the season. 2011 was probably his best season as a receiver, catching 41 balls for 518 yards and four touchdowns.



Harbaugh: 'paws to the ground, going forward'

Ya gotta love those Harbaughisms...

INDIANAPOLIS - San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has had time to reflect on the Super Bowl defeat. He called his victorious brother within a few days of the game Feb. 3, and everyone is moving beyond the past.
"A lot of people want you to look at it through a certain lens," he said. "The got-there-but-didn't-win lens. Many other lenses. ... The lens we choose to use is: Look at yourself. Where can you get better? It's a new day. Paws in the ground, going forward."

"I'm a big fan of the 'Judge Judy Show,'" said Harbaugh of the courtroom television show starring a stern female behind the gavel. "When you lie on the 'Judge Judy Show,' it's over. If somebody does lie to you, how do you ever trust that person again? So she taught me that."


Cal wide receiver Keenan Allen met with the 49ers during the Combine

Stanford's Ertz an option if 49ers need tight end