Temporada 2004 de la NFL

[romino]

Pues despues de una desastrosa temporada empieza la reconstrucción de lo 49'ers.
El primer paso de Denise DeBartolo y John York fue despedir a el Head Coach Dennis Erickson y a el General Manager Terry Donahue.
Quien sera el coach elegido? Ya veremos en unos cuantos dias.

49ers Embark On Rebuilding Process
Wednesday, January 05, 2005

Terry Donahue will not return as General Manager.

San Francisco 49ers owners Denise DeBartolo York and John York announced the beginning of an aggressive rebuilding program designed to return the 49ers to a position of dominance as quickly as possible. The program begins with the immediate dismissal of head coach Dennis Erickson and the departure of general manager Terry Donahue.

“The first two steps in the rebuilding are big ones. Effective today, both Dennis Erickson and Terry Donahue will leave our organization. Dennis and Terry have worked very hard on behalf of the 49ers,” York said. “I thank them both for what they’ve done for us and emphasize that everyone recognizes their dedicated efforts. However, we have decided that a fresh start is in everyone’s best interests. We certainly wish them and their families all the best in pursuing future endeavors.”

Erickson became the 14th head coach in team history in 2003. In his first season, Erickson led the 49ers to a 7-9 record. The 49ers finished the 2004 season with a 2-14 record, their worst since 1979.

Donahue leaves the 49ers after a six-year run that began in 1999. The former UCLA Bruins head coach was named General Manager of the team May 2, 2001.

In making the moves today, York realizes that the franchise has entered a pivotal point and he felt it was paramount to begin the rebuilding of the organization’s football operations.

“We are going to take maximum advantage of this opportunity to begin the process of rebuilding a winning team that will make this community proud,” York said. “We know that actions speak louder than words and beginning today, you will see us take an aggressive approach to restore the level of dominance and prominence expected of this franchise.

“We are going to use the extreme disappointment that we all have felt as our turning point. We know how much passion 49ers fans have and we understand that what has occurred has been unacceptable to our fans. We need our fans to know that it is equally unacceptable to us.”

York added that the search for a head coach will begin immediately and the process will include only candidates with a winning track record and NFL experience. York also emphasized that a “thorough evaluation of all options” will be done with respect to a new General Manager and its impact on the football operations.

“While I am not going into specific names right now, I will tell you that we have a short list of top-notch candidates for the Head Coach position,” York said. “We are focusing on coaches with NFL experience and winning track records. Our criteria also will include leadership, football knowledge, character, and inter-personal skills - including discipline.

“We are prepared to move forward aggressively and promptly, but we will also do so smartly so that we can get the right people. We are going to take maximum advantage of the opportunity to rebuild a winning team for our fans. In the end, that is what really matters most.”