So I must admit I was one of the bamboozled by the we are not interested in Peyton Manning, we have an offer on the table for Alex Smith comments on March 7th, by the Niners front office. My father who we affectionately call “Pops” had evidently called it the whole way. He is the one that alerted me that Smith and Manning had the same agent or at least they did. We are not hearing rumors that Alex is about to fire Tom Condon as he felt used over what is going on with the Manning negotiations. However, all of the comes down to basic math and if we apply the principles of arithmetic, we will see that it is a done deal, Manning is coming to the Bay Area.

First of all Moss is signed amidst not too much fan fare. While everyone else in and around the league is clamoring about Peyton’s destination and who just might have the inside track to that acquisition, Trent Baalke is quietly laying the ground work for what will become the supporting cast that will ultimately attract the Hall of Fame QB. As if this alone wasn’t exciting enough for the faithful the addition continued.

First there was the solidifying of the best defense in the league and once that was done the information started to surface about just how serious the Niners were about pursuing Manning and the more that the story evolves, the more we can see this was a thoroughly thought out and well defined strategy and one that will go down as one of the top five off season, free agent maneuvers since it’s (free agency) inception.

In the last two days, however, the real juicy stuff has been emerging and for those of us who love conspiracy and rumor, it hasn’t been this good in the Niner camp since we were about to hire Harbaugh himself.  As I said above, we are hearing rumors of Alex firing his agent as he felt used and he is off to Miami to visit with the Dolphins. This means that if Alex signs with the Dolphins and Manning goes elsewhere, The Niners would be left without a starting quarterback. Now can anyone imagine for one second that Baalke would ever let this scenario be even a remote possibility? If he did then I am applying for San Francisco’s GM job tomorrow because that would be the dumbest mistake since the Herschel Walker trade.

Of course this is not going to happen but you have Clayton and Schefter of ESPN actually presenting this as a possibility. Then you have Gore commenting on the situation, “He’s a Hall of Famer, first ballot, that’s all I got to say,” Gore said. “He’s one of the best ever to play the game.” I don’t know about you but it sounds to me like Smith is on his way out and for anyone who is upset with the Niners about that, well that is a whole different article but be rest assured if this is happening it is because Baalke has planned it that way.

Now we are have what I consider to be the final piece of the puzzle, Mario Manningham. Mario had two of the key catches coming down the stretch in the payoffs and the winning catch in the Super Bowl. I know the Niners needed receivers but now we have an arsenal. Now we can use guys like Crabtree, Hastings and Bogan as possession receivers as well as an occasional deep threat with Moss and Manningham to have at it with Manning at the helm.

But I can’t believe what I am hearing on ESPN. John Clayton actually said, and I paraphrase, there are 3 teams with great reasons for Peyton to consider and I don’t know which one, I don’t even thinks he knows at this point. They he went on to say, in affect, the Broncos have John Elway, the Titans have sentimental value and the Niners have the opportunity to win a Super Bowl, I shit you not.

This deal is so done and in hind sight has been done for a while. I bet Manning may have even played a role in suggesting the receivers the Niners should go after via Mr. Condon.So as a once great Niner once said, “Get your popcorn ready.” and get your pickem teams set, this is going to be a wild ride.