The free-agency period had been open for a few days in early August, and Trent Baalke, the San Francisco 49ers’ first-year general manager, was being hammered on all fronts.
The 49ers had signed only two players of note, kicker David Akers and their own free agent, defensive end Ray McDonald. While other teams like the Eagles bellied up to the free-agent trough, Baalke proved to be a picky eater, which angered a fan base starved for victories.
Early one morning, Baalke arrived at his office and listened to his voice mail.
“I’d just like to thank you … ” one of the messages began, and Baalke thought he finally has found someone who appreciated his restrained approach.
” … for being the worst general manager in the NFL,” the voice continued.
Six months later, no one shares that opinion, including CEO Jed York, who on Friday announced the team had signed Baalke to a three-year extension that makes him general manager through the 2016 season.
“Without question Trent has distinguished himself as the man to direct our football operations for years to come,” York said in a statement. “… It gives me great pleasure to watch Trent and Jim (Harbaugh) work arm-in-arm with the common goal of leading the 49ers to championships.”
Indeed, Baalke not only meshed well with Harbaugh this past season, he was integral in landing him.
Harbaugh is not a man who values flash, and Baalke certainly isn’t flashy.
Instead, he’s a no-nonsense type of personality who has kept out of the limelight and who has built a reputation as a very good judge of talent.
Harbaugh and Baalke hit it off in their first formal meeting last year, which came just days after Baalke was promoted to general manager and which was held in the pool house of a mutual friend.
The two talked Xs and Os until – literally – the sun went down and no one could see each other. Harbaugh felt so at ease that at one point he removed his tie, took out a can of chewing tobacco and asked Baalke and York, “You guys mind if I dip?”
Baalke’s 2011 draft class gets a lot of attention, and deservedly so.
It began with Aldon Smith, whose athleticism and inexperience were questioned but who Baalke saw as an excellent fit in the 49ers’ blue-collar defense. In all, four draft picks – Smith, cornerback Chris Culliver, running back Kendall Hunter and fullback Bruce Miller – had significant roles this past season while another, Colin Jones, came on strong as a special teams player in the second half of the season.
Baalke’s best moves, however, may have come during the abbreviated free agency period that followed the lockout.
The general manager wagered that with so many players on the market – and so little time to sign them all – patience would pay off. He was right.
The team signed cornerback Carlos Rogers to a one-year deal after Rogers failed to land the long-term contract he was seeking. The 49ers did the same with safety Dashon Goldson, who thought he deserved a multi-year contract on par with the top safeties in the league.
Both players finished the season with career highs in interceptions and made the Pro Bowl for the first time. Signing Akers – universally mocked as an insignificant, low-impact move – also seemed brilliant after the kicker set a single-season record for field goals. The signings of safety Donte Whitner and Jonathan Goodwin also seem smart in hindsight.
Baalke’s only misses came at receiver after he again appeared to find a gem in the bargain bin. The 49ers signed Braylon Edwards to a low-cost, one-year deal with the expectation that he would be a big-play receiver opposite Michael Crabtree.
It didn’t work out that way. Edwards got hurt, didn’t impress the coaching staff and was released late in the season.
When the team faced the Giants in the NFC Championship game, it was clear they didn’t have enough firepower at wide receiver.
And now the 49ers’ biggest task this offseason is finding one. Luckily, they have a good GM.
