49ers shouldn’t jettison OT Harris

By Mike Young  |   Thursday, August 30, 2007  |  Comments( 16 )

San Francisco 49ers
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The 49ers finally announced Wednesday that rookie offensive tackle Joe Staley will replace Kwame Harris in the starting rotation.

Who didn't know this was coming? Harris has been a disappointment since he was drafted in 2003, often embarrassed on passing downs by even marginally quick defensive ends.

That sigh of relief you just heard wasn't exclusive to fans. He'll never say it, but Alex Smith, who will now face fewer offensive penalties and take fewer hits, is probably relieved as well.

After trading their 2008 first-rounder to New England, the 49ers obviously weren't satisfied with Harris and were hoping Staley could send him to the bench.

The San Francisco Chronicle suggested the Niners might even cut Harris, who is in the final year of his contract, to give him a chance to play for another team.

Don't you just love contracts in the NFL? They might as well be printed on toilet paper.

Cutting Harris would be a mistake, given that depth in the league is paramount and Staley still has to prove he can endure a 16-game season. If injuries hit the line, Harris' solid run-blocking skills could still be a valuable commodity. Keep him as a nice insurance policy and rotate him in for situations where his strengths can be utilized. Don't cut him and let him off the hook.

Only Staley's performance will determine if this is the correct move, and he'd better be good.

If the 49ers fail to make the playoffs and end up with another top-10 pick next year, the draft-day trade starts to look bad. Depending on who's available at the 49ers' spot in the 2008 draft, shipping it to the Patriots might be hard to swallow.

Who knows, though? Staley, a former Central Michigan bookend, might be a rock for years to come. Successfully projecting offensive linemen as pros is a skill few take the time to hone. Let's face it, giving respect to the line is reserved for QBs and running backs; the rest of us only see their glaring mistakes.

Don't believe it? Quick, without surfing the Web, name one offensive lineman from each team in the 49ers' division. Can't do it, can you? Don't worry, most guys in the league probably aren't able to do it, either.
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