One major difference...

A lot of writers, commentators and fans have drawn comparisons to the Eddie D/Carmen Policy free-spending ways based on the past few days.

However, this is one major difference this time around...the Niners are limiting themselves to players 27 and younger.

The old Niners spent to add veterans--especially on defense. Kevin Greene, Rod Woodson, Charles Haley (the second time around), Richard Dent, Charles Mann, Rickey Jackson and many others were already-proven vets on the tail ends of their careers when the signed with SF in the '90s. They were signed to mix in with a team near the brink of a Super Bowl every year.

This year's team is building. These signing are meant to be key pieces to a growing team in 2007, 2008, 2009 and beyond.

It's still money, but money differently spent...and for a rebuilding team, this is definitely the way to go...Paraag Marathe got some really bad press in his first year, but he should be credited for designing contracts that will prevent the Niners from suffering through cap hell in future years while still bringing in talent. Hiring Stanford grads to control contracts is the wave of the future for all sports...