The San Francisco 49ers announced Thursday that DE Chris Cooper, WR Johnnie Morton and CB Ahmed Plummer have been waived.
“This is the most difficult part of a great business, and you don’t make these kinds of decisions lightly when you are dealing with a player’s future,” said head coach Mike Nolan. “The reality of the current NFL economic system is that you are forced to make some tough decisions that are not based entirely on the football field. We made the decision to make these moves at this time because we have quality players who we think are the future for the 49ers. We wanted to give these guys every opportunity to find the right situation for themselves and felt it was best to do these moves now.”
Cooper (6-5, 285) spent the 2005 season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury suffered in training camp. He played for Oakland (2001-2003), Dallas (2004) and the 49ers (2004-2005). He was originally a sixth-round draft pick by the Raiders in 2001 out of Nebraska-Omaha.
Morton (6-0, 193) spent 13 seasons in the NFL with Detroit (1994-2001), Kansas City (2002-2004) and then San Francisco in 2005. He was originally drafted by the Lions in the first round of the 1994 Draft out of USC. Last season, Morton started in 10 of 13 games and caught 21 passes for 288 yards.
Plummer (6-0, 191) played seven seasons in San Francisco after joining the team as a first-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2000. He immediately stepped into the starting lineup as a rookie in 2000. Plummer was limited to just nine games over the last two seasons due to injury.
The San Francisco 49ers decided to let Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson become an unrestricted free agent by not making him their franchise player Thursday, The 49ers also released nine players.
Peterson, who missed most of the 2004 season with a torn Achilles' tendon, was one of the team's most popular and productive players. He earned $5.289 million last season.
If the team used the franchise tag on Peterson as they did in 2004, he would have been guaranteed $7.169 million next season if he didn't sign a long-term deal. San Francisco could have matched any deal he signed or gotten compensation if he left with the franchise tag.
The Niners made the moves to create room under the salary cap
“This is the most difficult part of a great business, and you don’t make these kinds of decisions lightly when you are dealing with a player’s future,” said head coach Mike Nolan. “The reality of the current NFL economic system is that you are forced to make some tough decisions that are not based entirely on the football field. We made the decision to make these moves at this time because we have quality players who we think are the future for the 49ers. We wanted to give these guys every opportunity to find the right situation for themselves and felt it was best to do these moves now.”
Cooper (6-5, 285) spent the 2005 season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury suffered in training camp. He played for Oakland (2001-2003), Dallas (2004) and the 49ers (2004-2005). He was originally a sixth-round draft pick by the Raiders in 2001 out of Nebraska-Omaha.
Morton (6-0, 193) spent 13 seasons in the NFL with Detroit (1994-2001), Kansas City (2002-2004) and then San Francisco in 2005. He was originally drafted by the Lions in the first round of the 1994 Draft out of USC. Last season, Morton started in 10 of 13 games and caught 21 passes for 288 yards.
Plummer (6-0, 191) played seven seasons in San Francisco after joining the team as a first-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2000. He immediately stepped into the starting lineup as a rookie in 2000. Plummer was limited to just nine games over the last two seasons due to injury.
The San Francisco 49ers decided to let Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson become an unrestricted free agent by not making him their franchise player Thursday, The 49ers also released nine players.
Peterson, who missed most of the 2004 season with a torn Achilles' tendon, was one of the team's most popular and productive players. He earned $5.289 million last season.
If the team used the franchise tag on Peterson as they did in 2004, he would have been guaranteed $7.169 million next season if he didn't sign a long-term deal. San Francisco could have matched any deal he signed or gotten compensation if he left with the franchise tag.
The Niners made the moves to create room under the salary cap
