Isaac Bruce has apparently signed a two-year deal with the 49ers. Bruce has never played a day in his career outside a Rams uniform, winding up with 197 games on that team, racking up over 14,000 yards. He's 36 years old this year, and in two of his last three seasons, he hasn't been able to get on the field for all sixteen games. His rate stats have also declined from his prime years, of course, but he's still probably better than Darrell Jackson, who was most definitely miscast as a #1 receiver.

Given the poor quality of the 49er receiving corps last year, pretty much anybody would be an upgrade. Which is kind of a backhanded compliment for the deal, but it also illustrates how necessary it was to get somebody in that role who can at least approximate a receiving threat. Will Bruce and Jackson be a fearsome twosome for Alex Smith to use to strike fear in the heart of defenses everywhere? Of course not. But paired with Vernon Davis and Frank Gore, and with some further development from Arnaz Battle, maybe the offense can avoid being awful.

...

Ok, ok, I can't keep a straight face any more. I meant Shaun Hill, of course, not Alex Smith.