Rise ‘n Grind: How do you explain the 49ers’ offseason?

WOE ARE THEY: The 49ers suffered yet another blow this offseason when right tackle Anthony Davis announced he would be temporarily retiring from football, writing, “This will be a time for me to allow my Brain and Body [sic] a chance to heal.” Davis is the fourth 49ers player to retire in a gloomy offseason. Niners fans are coping likewise, with emotions running the gamut from modest optimism to outright doom-saying.

HE’LL BE BACK? Davis vowed to return “in a year or so,” setting up the messy question of “Why?” if he’s worried about doing potential long-term damage. Davis’ decision to return also has complicated salary cap implications that will involve the 25-year-old paying back some of his signing bonus.

ONWARD: The 49ers don’t have a clear plan to replace their starting right tackle. Niners Nation projects right guard Alex Boone to take over the position, though Erik Pears and/or Trenton Brown may also be able to step up. Head coach Jim Tomsula said as much when he addressed the situation.

NO FUN: Tony Romo made a cool gesture toward fans when he announced he would be putting on the first-ever National Fantasy Football Convention in Las Vegas. Then, the NFL pulled the plug on the idea just a little more than a month away, saying that it would have violated league rules by being held on casino property. According to Pro Football Talk, however, the NFL was reportedly “pissed” that it didn’t think of the idea first, and may try to hold its own convention in competition with Romo’s.

IT’S STRICTLY BUSINESS: The 49ers lost another significant name this past weekend, but it was a result of a team decision. Punter Andy Lee, the team’s longest-tenured player, was traded to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a reported seventh-round pick. With Lee gone, the 49ers now have just 11 players remaining from the 2012 roster that went to the Super Bowl.

NEW IN TOWN: Rams players are reportedly quite fond of new quarterback Nick Foles.

BREAKING: Jameis Winston will be the most critical player to the Buccaneers’ success this season, according to Bucs Nation. Ideally, things will go better than they did the last time the franchise went all-in on a franchise QB.

FLEX: Muhammad Wilkerson still wants a new contract from the Jets, keeping tensions high after an offseason of trade murmurs. Wilkerson has some leverage, given how dangerous and versatile he was as a weapon along the defensive line.

RAW DEAL: The 2011 collective bargaining agreement and the rookie pay scale has significantly cut into the business of NFL agents, who are no longer needed to negotiate salaries for incoming rookies, according to Andrew Brandt at MMQB.

WASH IT OFF: Bruce Arians said that talking about suspended middle linebacker Daryl Washington was a “waste of breath,” but acknowledged that players would quickly welcome Washington back if he is reinstated.

WIN NOW: Colts tight end Dwayne Allen isn’t holding back. He told USA Today that “we know that our time is now.“ Based on Indianapolis’ offseason moves, it’s safe to say that the franchise believes it can compete for a title this season.

CONCUSSIONS: Players are becoming increasingly conscious of the damage their brains may be taking while playing football, and it’s possible the problem is even worse than we’re making it out to be.

KID STUFF: The Panthers are proving that the triple option isn’t just for college teams anymore.

LEGION OF ROAR: Richard Sherman stars in a brand new Jurassic World teaser.