The San Francisco 49ers acquired a proven backup quarterback for Alex Smith, getting Trent Dilfer from the Cleveland Browns on Thursday in a trade for quarterback Ken Dorsey and, according to ESPN.com's John Clayton, a seventh-round pick in the 2007 draft.Dilfer, who won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2001, will give the 49ers depth behind Smith, who struggled as a rookie last season after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.

 

"Trent was a player we had interest in last season," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said in a statement. "We were looking for a veteran quarterback with experience that could help mentor Alex Smith. Trent fits the bill on both counts and we are excited to have him with the 49ers."

 

Dilfer signed a four-year deal with the Browns last year after stints with the Ravens and Seattle Seahawks. He went 4-7 as Browns starter before losing the job to rookie Charlie Frye. Dilfer completed 59.8 percent of his passes last season for 2,321 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

 

"Trent Dilfer played an important role in the making over of our football team last year," Browns general manager Phil Savage said in a statement. "At this point, to add Ken Dorsey and to give Trent the opportunity to go back home to California is a win-win for all parties."

 

Dilfer, who played in college at Fresno State, has started 107 career games, throwing for 106 touchdowns and 117 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl with Tampa Bay in 1997 after passing for 2,555 yards and 21 touchdowns.

 

Dorsey started 10 games in his three years in San Francisco, including three last season. He completed 48-of-90 passes for 481 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in 2005.

 

Cody Pickett is San Francisco's third-string quarterback and the team also drafted Michael Robinson in the fourth round last month. Robinson, a quarterback in college at Penn State, is expected to mostly be used as a running back, receiver or kick returner in San Francisco.

 

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2433933

Hopefully Ken will get some opportunties with the Browns. Always rooting for my Canes.

Hopefully Ken will get some opportunties with the Browns. Always rooting for my Canes.

 

 

I hope he does, too. Especially when they're playing the Bengals.

This is a dumb trade for the Browns.

This is a dumb trade for the Browns.

 

 

Agreed. I'd throw down a c-note that Dilfer's going to be starting by Week 4.

Trent Dilfer was traded because he underminded the efforts of Charlie Frye by bashing him to teammates and pointing out his every mistake in an effort to embarrass him.

 

The fact that the Niners got him to "tutor" Alex Smith sums up everything wrong with that franchise.

 

Dilfer should have been cut and the fact Cleveland got something for him is commendable, as much as that makes me want to puke to say.

dilfer was a good citizen in Seattle - but hasn't even been a servicable QB for a while

 

if he is starting, it says more about the QB situation in SF than it does about the browns intelligence in trading him away

 

the guy is shot and was never a great to begin with

 

and his attitude last year was horrible - wouldn't necessarily say it's characterstic of him, but he wants to start and is at the point in his career where he is willing to do about anything to start

 

that is why he wanted out of seattle, that is why he wanted to go to SF

Am I the only one who thinks, if given the oppurtunity if Frye goes down, Ken could do well in the system that Cleveland employs? Especially with a couple weapons on that offense that are comparable to his college days (Braylon Edwards; Kellen Winslow if he ever returns)

i like dorsey, but think he'll struggle in cleveland - the fans there are very tough and the conditions aren't suitable to a guy with questionable arm strength - the system is a fit, but most other things are off

Ken Dorsey is not an NFL QB.