Can't get much satisfaction with 49ers

<p>SAN FRANCISCO</p><p>The 49ers held two coronations on Sunday. And are you satisfied?</p><p>They held a coronation for Jed York, 27, as new team president, and they held a coronation for Mike Singletary as head coach. And are you satisfied?</p><p>They refused to hold a coronation for offensive coordinator Mike Martz, were evasive when it came to him, talked all around the subject. And are you satisfied?</p><p>And then they waffled on quarterback Shaun Hill.</p><p>First, the Jed deal — he now calls the shots for the 49ers even though his background is in finance, not football, and even though he’s too young and inexperienced to make the hard, subtle, complicated decisions required of the leader of a big corporation. And are you satisfied?</p><p>All along he’s avoided hiring a football man to run the organization, has been content with Scot McCloughan, a good hardworking man who consistently has not brought in enough talent. And are you satisfied?</p><p>And now Jed (I can’t seem to call him York. His dad is York. Should I call him Little York?), well now, Jed hired Singletary because as he said, “The fans are behind him. He gives hope. The players love him and play hard for him.”</p><p>Those are pretty good reasons, and let’s be clear — all praise to Singletary. He won four of his last five games and took a team that was dead and defeated and directionless and clueless and gave it life and purpose. He did a wonderful job. No one is disputing that.</p><p>But the Niners were going to name him head coach whether he beat the Redskins or not, had the press release of his appointment printed before the media even arrived in the interview room. And are you satisfied?</p><p>Do you wish the 49ers had done due diligence, just as any big business would perform due diligence in its most important hire in years?</p><p>The Niners might have talked to a few other candidates, might have learned a thing or two in the process. But they didn’t. They judged Singletary on his work in nine games, half a season. And are you satisfied?</p><p>They are reminiscent of a high school kid with the usual acne who asks a girl he’s not sold on to the prom because he’s insecure and she’s the only one who will talk to him. The Niners seem like that kid, holding on for dear life to Singletary, who has no standing around the league, who was not in demand and who would have waited for them no matter what he said about his pride.</p><p>And why a four-year contract? You’d have to imagine Singletary would accept three with, say, a team option. Where did all this desperation come from?</p><p>As you would imagine, Singletary’s agent, Bob LaMonte, gushed over his client after the deal got announced. Agents are gushers.</p><p>“On the one hand he’s Mike Ditka, on the other he’s Tony Dungy,” LaMonte said.</p><p>LaMonte said Singletary can be “fiery” and also can give “a pastoral view.”</p><p>This we know. The man is deep and varied. But are you satisfied?</p><p>When the game ended, the players and coaches ran to the middle of the field and embraced and celebrated — all except Martz. He walked along the margin of the field and disappeared into the dugout. He was a man alone. Afterward, Singletary would not commit to him for next season even though Martz has one year left on his contract. McCloughan wouldn’t commit, either.</p><p>I want to point out something. The 49ers got the ball with the score tied with 1:02 remaining, got the ball at their own 27. Martz called plays the Redskins couldn’t defend and led the Niners to the game-winning field goal. It was impressive work, good work — work that will be viewed and admired around the league. So why are the 49ers hedging with him? Even if they retain him — they won’t — this is surely not a vote of confidence.</p><p>So I have a question. What is the problem with Martz? If there is a problem with Martz, whose offense is good, who did beautifully bringing along Shaun Hill, I wish someone in authority would tell us.</p><p>I keep reading he and Singletary have different philosophies. What in the world does that mean? Is Singletary a Platonist and Martz an existentialist? They sure seemed to have the same philosophy on Sunday, and Singletary had no complaints when Martz won him the game.</p><p>LaMonte, by the way, also is Martz’s agent. What a small world. He said he has no idea what will happen to client No.2. He did say, “Mike Martz enjoyed it here very much.” Past tense.</p><p>Martz surely won’t return, and are you satisfied?</p><p>Finally, let’s look at the case of quarterback Shaun Hill. Will he be the starter next season?</p><p>Here is McCloughan: “I don’t want to get into that. He’s under contract and I’m glad he’s a 49er.”</p><p>In other words, the 49ers are using caution, will look around for someone better. They know how to be diligent in this one case, but not in all others.</p><p>Are you satisfied?</p><p>For more on the world of sports in general and the Bay Area in particular go to the Cohn Zohn at cohn.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Columnist Lowell Cohn at 521-5486 or lowell.cohn@pressdemocrat.com.</p>