Down in Santa Clara for training camp, the 49ers announced yesterday that the team has signed former New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards to a 1-year contract. Edwards, who has has 326 career receptions for 5,142 yards and 39 touchdowns, told members of the press morning that he's excited to join "a rebuilding team that has a lot of talent."
You might remember Edwards was previously overlooked in the 2005 draft when the Niners picked up quarterback Alex Smith as their number 1 pick. Edwards went on to play four seasons for the Cleveland Browns and two with the New York Jets.
Hopefully now that he's getting settled in San Francisco, Edwards won't be needing a car to get around - the 2007 Pro Bowl player famously pled guilty to driving under the influence earlier this year. Not that we'd wish the experience of riding the Candlestick shuttle on anybody, but he might do well to familiarize himself with our lovely public transit system.
Legal troubles aside, Edwards stands a good chance of actually making the Niners an exciting team again. His $1 million dollar deal jumps up to $3.5 million if he has a 90-catch season or gets another Pro Bowl nod. If nothing else, he's been known to throw down a backflip or two:
In a quaint addendum: Edwards' father, Stan Edwards, knows Niners coach Jim Harbaugh from their college days at the University of Michigan, where Braylon later followed in their footsteps.
