Win With Class? Not a Chance

In explaining some of the rationale lying behind their off-season maneuvers, Forty-Niners management (Jed York) said that in the future that they (the Niners) were going to win with class, the implication being, of course, that it was former head coach Jim Harbaugh's fault for all of the personnel problems the team experienced in the last few years (Aldon Smith, Ray McDonald, Chris Culliver, etc.).

Soon thereafter, however, the Niners signed wide receiver, Jerome Simpson, who missed the entire 2014 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy (as well as part of the 2012 season). Then 49er fan-favorite Bruce Miller was arrested for spousal abuse, and there is no indication that the Niners plan to jettison him any time soon. And finally, although they later denied it, the 49ers reportedly were interested in Greg Hardy, another player accused of domestic abuse. As Mercury News sports columnist, Tim Kawakami recently point out, 49er General Manager, Trent Ballke

has a proven and calculated fondness for collecting troubled players. That’s Baalke’s track record. That’s the kind of GM he is. That’s the kind of roster the 49ers have had–most arrests, most controversies, most problems, a lot of talented players. It’s a trade-off that Baalke is happy to make.

Put simply, this wasn't a Harbaugh problem. But it does appear to be a 49er problem.