49ers cautious in pursuing free agents

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Although free agency played a huge role in the San Francisco 49ers' success in the mid-1990s, the current administration is well aware that there can be a steep price to pay later.
That's why 49ers general manager Terry Donahue doesn't plan to mortgage the future anytime soon on high-priced free agents.
"A lot of teams, I've noticed, are entering the [free agency signing period] a bit more slowly and are being more cautious," said Donahue in a telephone interview Thursday from the 49ers headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. "We certainly are one of those teams.
"One of the reasons that the 49ers got into such a difficult state was because of free agency, and we want to make sure we don't lead team down the same road.
"So we're not rushing headlong into any [rash signings,]" said the former UCLA coach who joined the 49ers management team in 1999 after John and Denise DeBartolo York of Canfield took over ownership of the team.
After two years of working with Bill Walsh, Donahue was promoted to general manager last May.
Changed philosophy: When NFL free agency began in the mid-90s, teams jumped at the chance to sign superstars. In today's NFL, the philosophy has changed. Keeping is better than taking.
"Our number one request is to get our own players back to best of our ability," said Donahue, explaining the value of working with known factors.
"There's an old adage about the devil you know and the devil you don't," Donahue said. "You certainly are more aware of the gifts and the shortcomings of your own players.
"There are a lot of good things with adding players through free agency, but there are a lot of dangers," Donahue said. "Our team's turnaround happened as quickly as it did not because of free agency but because of draft-eligible players and college-age free agents combining with the maturation of players such as quarterback Jeff Garcia."
Slashed payroll: After qualifying for the NFL playoffs in every season except one for 16 seasons, the Niners slashed their payroll in 1999 to get under the NFL cap. The release of playoff-tested veterans led to seasons of 6-10 and 4-12 records.
Last fall, the 49ers surprised themselves and most NFL observers with a 12-4 record and wild-card playoff berth.
This off-season, the start of this year's free agency period (March 1) began the same weekend as the NFL Combine when teams gathered in Indianapolis to evaluate players available for the NFL draft (April 20-21).
"It's been hectic and sort of wacky," said Donahue, who said as many as 30 49ers officials (coaches and scouts) attended the Combine.
"The one redeeming factor is that it's the same for everyone," said Donahue of the two things happening at the same time. We're all in the same boat."
Newberry's deal: While Donahue and coach Steve Mariucci were in Indianapolis, John McVay, the team's director of football operations, and Youngstown native Dominic Corsell, the salary cap coordinator, were finalizing a six-year, $20 million deal for center Jeremy Newberry.
Cap space was found for the deal when Jeff Garcia, Junior Bryant, Derek Smith, Dana Stubblefield and Bryant Young among others restructured their contracts last week to create room.
"He's our best offensive lineman athletically," Donahue said of the 25-year-old Newberry, a four-year veteran. "He's our youngest and he graded out the highest against opponents. We felt it was very important for us to keep him long-term."
The Newberry deal was finalized early in the morning last Saturday, about 27 hours after Newberry technically became free.
"He wanted to stay and we wanted to keep him," Donahue said.
So how did news of Newberry's pact affect the crew at the Combine?
"It was a relief," Donahue said. "All of the sudden, those interviews with [draft-eligible] centers dropped off our map."
Not all of the 49ers staff members spent the entire weekend of Combine activities.
"The position coaches are there only when their positions work out, and so on," Donahue said. "The coordinators obviously have to be there the entire time."
Bypassing players: Because the 49ers have the 25th pick of the first round, Donahue said they were able to pass on certain positions and highly-regarded players that will disappear long before San Francisco makes a selection.
"For instance, because we have Garcia, we didn't interview [quarterbacks] David Carr or Joey Harrington," Donahue said. "That would have been a waste of their time and ours."
Donahue said the best part of the Combine is that "it gives you an opportunity to get a number of athletes in the same location. It gives you a chance to meet them, to talk with them, to get a feel for them as people as well as football players."
Was this one any different?
"Not really, except it was so cold in Indiana," Donahue said.
williams@vindy.com