Quote:Bill Walsh was great at knowing when to let FAs walk. He believed in paying for future, not past, performance. Time and time again he'd let the biggest name free agents walk only to see them go on to be mere shadows of who they were under him. My fear with Mario is that his time has come. I'd love to have the guy from two years ago, but is that who we'd be getting?

But Bill Walsh also didn't shy away from acquiring older vets he thought could help.

 

During his tenure with the 49ers, he acquired DE Fred Dean (29 the year he acquired him in 1981), LB Hacksaw Reynolds (34 when acquired in 1981), DL Manu Tuiasosopo (27 when acquired in 1984), RB Wendell Tyler (28 in 1983), TE Russ Francis (29 when acquired in 1982), and WR Wes Chandler (32 in 1988).

 

I DO understand the concern.  As a general rule, I would avoid the older vets.  But you can make the argument that the defense is in need of a talent and experience infusion.  The right mix could catapult this team into a winning record.

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