The 49ers have solved some worries. Veteran guard Alex Boone signed a 2-year deal with San Francisco worth about 6 million a year. Boone has been holding out from the team during training camp as he tried to renegotiate his contract. He will now report to the 49ers by Monday after reworking the remaining two years of his contract.
Boone, 27, who has started all 32 games since 2012, was scheduled to earn a combined $3.2 million base salary over the next two seasons, including $1.2 million in 2015. Boone’s total pay will jump from $3.7 million to $6 million over the next two seasons, ProFootballTalk.com reported. In addition, the 49ers will not be able to place the franchise tag on him when his contract expires and his fines connected to his holdout were waived.
This is huge for the 49ers. Bowman was recently put on the PUP list, Ray McDonald was just arrested Sunday morning on domestic charges, and Aldon Smith was suspended for the first 9 games of 2014. The 49ers team in general needs as much as it can get. The defense is a bit of an unknown at this point, and so the offense will need to be better than it has in the past to keep up.
CBSSports.com's Pat Kirwan wrote in May:
"Boone has started 38 straight games and the 49ers have gone 27-10-1 with him on the field. Boone gives up a sack every 148 pass plays and he is called for a penalty only once in every 239 plays. Since he joined the starting lineup the offense averages 4.87 yards rushing per play. Boone has also been a Pro Bowl alternate both years ... Boone has two years left on his deal and has little leverage, but now that I see his position market I understand his frustration. The 49ers know what kind of player he is but they have salary cap issues right now."