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San Francisco 49ers News

Incomplete DUI class leads to arrest of 49ers' McDonald
February 9
Sacramento Bee
 
"For the second time in two weeks, a 49ers defensive end spent the early-morning hours in jail. Ray McDonald, the team's starting left defensive end, was pulled over in Sunnyvale and arrested Wednesday morning on an outstanding warrant. The warrant was related to a driving-under-the-influence charge in June 2010, during which McDonald was pulled over for driving 94 mph in a 65-mph zone, according to a San Mateo County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman."
49'ers Ray McDonald arrested early Wednesday for outstanding warrant
February 9
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Ray McDonald, a fifth-year defensive lineman, was arrested early Wednesday morning in Sunnyvale for an outstanding warrant, stemming from his 2010 arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence in San Mateo County. McDonald was released from the Santa Clara County Main Jail at just after 7 a.m., according to Sgt. Jose Cordoza of the Santa Clara Sheriff's Department. (Update: It's believed the warrant was issued for failure to provide proof of completion of his first-offender program. Update II: The indeed warrant was issued Aug. 9 for that reason. That is a six-month span between his arrest. Wow, what if the New York Giants learned about this and turned in McDonald before kickoff of"
Harbaugh: Unanimous within 49ers that Smith is 'our guy'
February 8
CSN Bay Area
 
"On Saturday, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith went on stage to accept the award for NFL Coach of the Year on behalf of Jim Harbaugh. The two men played golf together on Tuesday at Pepple Beach as part of a five-hole 49ers vs. San Francisco Giants charity shootout. And on Thursday, Smith will serve as Harbaugh's caddie on the first day of the AT&T National Pro-Am. Smith is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but it appears highly unlikely that he'll still be available to the other 31 teams in the league when the free-agent signing period opens March 13. Harbaugh has made it clear he wants Smith re-signed, and he said Tuesday on "Chronicle Live" that the 49ers'"
McDonald arrested early Wednesday for outstanding warrant
February 8
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Ray McDonald, a fifth-year defensive lineman, was arrested early Wednesday morning in Sunnyvale for an outstanding warrant, stemming from his 2010 arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence in San Mateo County. McDonald was released from the Santa Clara County Main Jail at just after 7 a.m., according to Sgt. Jose Cordoza of the Santa Clara Sheriff's Department. Sunnyvalepolice pulled over McDonald for an apparent traffic violation and he was arrested at about 2 a.m. when officers learned of his outstanding arrest warrant, according to Sunnyvale Capt. Dave Verbrugge. "No other charges filed," Verbrugge said. "He was cooperative and no problems.""
Bay Area athletes, legends at Pebble Beach for good causes
February 8
San Jose Mercury News
 
"With the golf ball stuck hopelessly behind a cypress tree off the 18th fairway, Jim Harbaugh pulled his quarterback aside for a huddle. There was no strategy for removing the tree. They'd need axes and hoes, not X's and O's. So Harbaugh simply gave Alex Smith another dose of his Zen-like advice. "I just told him that there's a lot more air than there is tree," the 49ers coach said. As always, Smith understood his coach perfectly. He blasted a wedge from 60 feet that sailed over the tree and onto the green for one of the most memorable moments of the Birdies for Charity Shootout on Tuesday at Pebble Beach Golf Links."
Kaepernick ready to compete for starting spot
February 8
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"In his end-of-the-year meetings with Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman, 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick said the coaches advised him to focus on his mechanics. In an interview with the Reno Gazette-Journal's Dan Hinxman, Kaepernick mentioned he needed to work on throwing from different arm angles and developing faster feet. Evidently Harbaugh didn't tell Kaepernick what he relayed to the media in response to a question the day after the NFC Championship Game: That the 2011 second-round pick would have the chance to wrest the starting job from Alex Smith, a free agent who will almost certainly return to San Francisco."
49ers, Giants play to a draw in charity event
February 8
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"As Harris Barton's opening drive hooked low and left of the fairway – the third straight unimpressive tee shot by the 49ers – head coach Jim Harbaugh turned to his teammates and said, "The Giants are feeling awfully good about themselves right now." Not to worry. The 49ers came back to acquit themselves well in Tuesday's charity shootout at Pebble Beach. Barton and Dwight Clark teamed to win two holes in the alternate-shot format, as did Will Clark and Matt Cain of the Giants. One hole was halved. As was the case last year, a sizable gallery followed the football/baseball players-turned-golfers as they played Nos, 1, 2, 3, 17 and 18. Harbaugh and quarterback Alex Smith, neither of whom"
Akers has no hard feelings toward Eagles
February 8
CSN Philly
 
"David Akers spoke with Comcast SportsNet recently about his departure from the Eagles after 11 mostly stellar seasons in Philly. Being tossed aside after one of his best years in green and white, it would have been easy for Akers to view the Birds in a negative light, but that's just not who the god-fearing 37-year-old Kentucky native is. "I have no hard feelings now for the Eagles and the decision they made," Akers told CSN. That's their business decision, that's how they feel their company needs to be run.""
49ers' Tom Gamble to interview with Rams
February 7
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Tom Gamble, the 49ers' director of player personnel, will interview with the Rams for their general-manager position today, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Gamble has ties to St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher. Gamble worked in the Eagles' personnel department from 1988 through '94; Fisher was Philadelphia's defensive coordinator from 1988 through '90. Gamble's father, Harry, served as the Eagles' general manager and president."
49ers' odds to win 2013 Super Bowl …
February 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"OK, the confetti has been cleaned up at Lucas Oil Stadium and it's time to look ahead … to next year's Super Bowl in New Orleans. If I have the typical 49ers fan pegged correctly, their thinking goes something like this: If not for two fumbles by The Punt Returner Who Shall Not Be Mentioned, we're in the Super Bowl and we would have beaten the Patriots, who were just OK. So, the 49ers, the coulda-woulda-shoulda Super Bowl champions of 2012, are clearly one of the favorites to win it all in 2013. Right? Well, not according to some of the sharks in Sin City."
49ers review: Tight ends
February 5
CSN Bay Area
 
"After seeing how Stanford offenses used its tight ends under coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman, big things were expected from Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker in the 49ers' passing game. However, it did not work out that way through most of the season. Both Davis and Walker had their lowest production since 1998, when then-offensive coordinator Mike Martz virtually eliminated the tight end from the offense. But things picked up late for Davis, who became the team's top receiving threat -- really, their only receiving threat -- in the playoffs. Grade: B Vernon Davis -- After two seasons with more than 900 yards receiving, Davis' production took a step back in the"
Harbaugh named Coach of the Year
February 5
Sacramento Bee
 
"Jim Harbaugh is making good on his wish to follow in the footsteps of Bill Walsh. Harbaugh on Saturday became the first 49ers coach since Walsh in 1981 to win the Coach of the Year award given by the Associated Press. Like Walsh three decades ago, Harbaugh took a team that finished 6-10 the previous year to a 13-3 record and the NFC Championship Game. Upon being hired last year, Harbaugh said he long admired Walsh, who like Harbaugh coached at Stanford before being hired by the 49ers. Harbaugh spent six months learning from Walsh before Walsh's death in 2007. "Everything that came out of his mind, his heart, his mouth – I hung on every single word," Harbaugh said upon being hired. Walsh's"
Former 49ers owner DeBartolo falls short in Hall voting
February 5
Sacramento Bee
 
"Eddie DeBartolo Jr. may have five Super Bowl rings, but he is still looking for one Hall of Fame nod. The former 49ers owner last month ventured as close as he has been to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he was named one of 15 modern-day finalists. On Saturday, however, DeBartolo didn't make the first cut as 44 NFL writers ultimately pared the list to six names. Defensive end-linebacker Charles Haley, who won five Super Bowls with the 49ers and Cowboys, made the cut from 15 to 10 players but will not be part of the 2012 class, either. That class contains one former 49er, defensive end Chris Doleman, who played in San Francisco from 1996 to 1998 but spent most of his career with the"
Aldon Smith finishes No. 2 in rookie voting
February 5
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Linebacker Aldon Smith of the 49ers finished second in voting for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, the Associated Press announced Saturday. Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller received 39 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Miller, the No. 2 pick in the draft, made 64 tackles and had 11½ sacks despite missing one game and playing the last four contests with a cumbersome cast protecting his surgically repaired right thumb."
Alex Smith finishes third in Comeback voting
February 5
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Quarterback Alex Smith of the 49ers finished third in voting for NFL Comeback Player of the Year, the Associated Press announced Saturday. Detroit Lions quarterback won the award with 21 votes among the 50 cast by NFL media members. Cleveland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was second with 15. Smith, whose comeback season included 17 touchdown passes and only five interceptions, finished ahead Carolina receiver Steve Smith, Denver defensive end Elvis Dumervil, New England defensive end Andre Carter and Giants quarterback Eli Manning."
Hall of Fame snubs of former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and others is baffling
February 5
San Jose Mercury News
 columnist Mark Purdy
"Hall of Fame? Make that Hall of Puzzlement And Zone Blitz Head Scratching. "It baffles me," said Dan Fouts, the former San Diego Chargers quarterback and already a Hall member, when he heard 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo was not part of this year's class. Here's a rule of thumb: It's never a good thing after a Hall of Fame announcement when the discussion -- even amongst Hall of Famers themselves -- is far more about the people who were not selected, rather than those who were. Saturday here at the Super Bowl site, that was definitely the case. This created a bizarre dynamic, especially with the NFL continuing to glamorize the annual Hall of Fame announcement into sort of a cheesy game show."
Jim Harbaugh named Coach of Year
February 5
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Jim Harbaugh, whose strategic wizardry and catchy slogans propelled the 49ers to the brink of the Super Bowl, was honored as the NFL Coach of the Year on Saturday night at a lavish ceremony in Indianapolis. Harbaugh became just the second 49ers coach to win the Associated Press honor, joining his late mentor Bill Walsh, who won the award in 1981. Quarterback Alex Smith accepted the hardware on his coach's behalf at the "NFL Honors," a new gala event to be held annually on the eve of every Super Bowl. The Oscars-style night even included a star-studded red carpet outside the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre. "He probably would say he doesn't deserve this." Smith told the crowd. "That's"
Harbaugh is NFL Coach of the Year
February 5
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"At his introductory news conference 13 months ago, Jim Harbaugh dismissed comparisons between himself and another coach who had come to the 49ers from Stanford. "There's really no sentence that you could put Bill Walsh and Jim Harbaugh" together, he said. "I have a long way to go and a lot of work ahead of me before any comparison can be made." Perhaps it's still premature to make comparisons as Harbaugh remains three Super Bowls shy of reaching Walsh's total. But it's now appropriate to place the pair in the same sentence. Harbaugh was named the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year during Saturday's "NFL Honors" TV special, becoming the only 49ers coach since Bill Walsh (1981) to earn"
NFL expands Thursday schedule
February 4
New York Post
 
"Are you ready for a lot more prime-time football? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell used his annual Super Bowl news conference yesterday to reveal the league is dramatically expanding the Thursday night package on its own network starting this fall. In what appeared to be a way to up the pressure in its long-running dispute with Time Warner Cable and Cablevision over New York-area carriage of the NFL Network, the league said that channel will now show Thursday games from Week 2 through Week 15. The NFL Network previously broadcast Thursday games the final eight weeks of the season, but Goodell said the expansion resulted from a desire to guarantee every team in the league at least one"
49ers' stars could get more TV time on NFL award show
February 3
Sacramento Bee
 
"The NFL is trading in shoulder pads and chin straps for tuxedos and cummerbunds Saturday night. It used to be that the league's biggest awards were announced in news releases. This year, however, the NFL has gone Hollywood with an Oscars-like awards show. Alec Baldwin – whose "30 Rock" character was disappointed to learn he owned the Buffalo Bills in one episode – will host. The show will be taped Saturday night in Indianapolis and will air from 9 to 11 p.m. simultaneously on NBC and the NFL Network. Several 49ers, including quarterback Alex Smith, linebackers NaVorro Bowman, Aldon Smith and Patrick Willis, and tight end Vernon Davis are expected to attend. The seven awards, chosen by the"
NFL owners approve $200 million loan for 49ers stadium
February 3
San Jose Mercury News
 
"NFL owners used Super Bowl week to hand the 49ers the next best thing to a championship: $200 million in financial backing to help pay for the team's stadium in Santa Clara. By approving one of the largest contributions to a new stadium in NFL history, the league's owners on Thursday provided the long-awaited final piece of financing for the $1 billion project. 49ers owner Jed York revealed the deal in a tweet just after the NFL owners' vote during a meeting in Indianapolis, the city hosting the Super Bowl. The NFL already indicated last year that a 68,500-seat stadium in Santa Clara would be a strong candidate to lure a Super Bowl to the Bay Area."
Goodell: If NFL expands, it'll add two more teams
February 3
CBSSports.com
 
"It's no secret the NFL wants to expand to Los Angeles. And while so much of the attention has been focused on which franchise would relocate to L.A. -- whether it's the Chargers, Vikings, Jaguars or Rams -- we haven't discussed much the possibility of the NFL expanding. Apparently, that's an option. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday on Costas Live on the NBC Sports Network that if the league places a team in L.A., the NFL probably would add two more franchises to make it an even 34. Goodell said the league "doesn't want to move any of our teams" and "we probably don't want to go to 33" if the NFL decides expansion is a good choice."
NFL will help 49ers pay for new stadium in Santa Clara
February 2
NFL.com
 
"The NFL has approved a decision to loan $200 million to the San Francisco 49ers to help finance a new stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., where the team's headquarters are located. Team president and CEO Jed York said the construction timeline -- which was part of the proposal to the NFL -- projects that the stadium will be built by 2015, but added that the stadium could be done by 2014. I asked York if there are any plans to share the stadium with the Oakland Raiders. He said the stadium has been approved to house two teams but the 49ers are the only team going in for now. York also said the 49ers will get in on bidding for a Super Bowl."
49ers sign two more to reserve/future contracts
February 1
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The 49ers signed offensive tackle Kenny Wiggins and guard Garrett Chisolm and to reserve/future contracts today. Wiggins (6-6, 314), 23, was released by the 49ers following training camp and ended the season on the Ravens' practice squad. A native of Elk Grove, Wiggins was a two-time all-WAC selection at Fresno State. Chisolm (6-6, 299), 23, was originally signed by the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent and spent the season on the practice squads of the Dolphins, Panthers and Ravens. He earned second-team all-SEC honors at South Carolina in 2010."
49ers' primary concern: free agents Rogers, Goldson
January 31
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"On the first day of their offseason, 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown and safety Donte Whitner were already looking ahead to next season. Less than 24 hours removed from playing, they were pitching. Both players were lobbying for their partners in the secondary to return to San Francisco in 2012. Asked about his fellow cornerback, impending free agent Carlos Rogers, Brown said, "He's a tremendous player, a tremendous competitor and a tremendous teammate. I would love to play with him next year. We have a great thing going here. We have a special team.""
Jim Harbaugh ready to tee off at Pebble Beach
January 31
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Now we know why Jim Harbaugh made all those nautical references at the end of the 49ers' season. He kept up the theme even after the loss to the Giants in the rain. The head coach was prepping for his rounds at the often soggy AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tournament the week after the Super Bowl. Harbaugh's professional partner won't be officially announced until today, but a quasi-Stanford reunion has been ruled out. Tiger Woods, honorary captain of Harbaugh's Cardinal team at the 2009 Big Game, is matched with Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who handed the 49ers their first loss under Harbaugh."
Santa Clara says voters can't rescind 49ers deal
January 31
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The California Constitution says all political power "is inherent in the people," laying the foundation for the voters' near-absolute right to make or unmake laws at the ballot box. But that right might not apply to opponents of an $850 million city loan for a proposed Santa Clara stadium for the 49ers. A group called Santa Clara Plays Fair has submitted 5,500 signatures on each of two referendum petitions challenging the City Council's development and financing plans for the stadium, apparently more than enough to qualify for the ballot. Last week, however, the council voted 5-2 to discard the petitions on the grounds that its actions were immune from referendum. The legal rationale,"
Smith was swerving before his DUI arrest
January 30
Sacramento Bee
 
"Aldon Smith was observed swerving in and out of lanes on the MacArthur Causeway in Miami Beach before being pulled over at 4:33 a.m. Saturday, a police spokesman said. Smith was taken to the Miami Beach Police Station where he was given two beathalyzer tests to determine his blood-alcohol level. The first was .194. The second was .176. The legal limit in Florida is .08. According to the police report, other drivers had to brake abruptly to avoid hitting the red Mercedes Benz Smith, 22, was driving as he left the City of Miami Beach on the causeway. The officer who wrote the report said he turned on his emergency lights but Smith did not repond. The officer then turned on his sirens, at"
Ex-49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo deserves to be in Hall of Fame
January 30
San Jose Mercury News
 columnist Mark Purdy
"Eddie DeBartolo has plans for Saturday. He will be in Florida, near his home, attending his 8-year-old grandson's flag-football game. Between plays, he would be advised not to turn off his cell phone. Hundreds of miles away, in an Indianapolis meeting room on Super Bowl eve, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's selection committee will meet to decide this year's inductee class. DeBartolo, the former 49ers owner, is one of the 15 finalists. From that list, a minimum of four and a maximum of seven will be chosen and announced that evening. "When that list of 15 finalists came out, I was totally humbled," DeBartolo said Sunday by telephone. "I sat down with my wife and just thought of all those"
Sign Peyton Manning? Heck no
January 30
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Kevin Lynch
"Sports editor Al Saracevic did a fine job outlining the potential pratfalls and positives of the 49ers signing Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. After perusing the pro and con and adding a few more cons, it's clear that signing a 36-year-old with a severe neck injury to a team that doesn't pass protect well is a bad idea and here are the reasons why. 1. BAD ASSUMPTION: In assessing Manning-as-Niner perspectives, the assumption is Manning will pick up right where he left off in 2010 as an intelligent sharp shooter capable of throwing 30 touchdown passes a year. But can we automatically assume Manning will have the same strength as before, and at 36, he will likely be more immobile than"
49ers defensive rookie of year hopeful Aldon Smith arrested in Miami DUI case
January 29
Sacramento Bee
 
"Aldon Smith, the 49ers' first-round draft pick and a candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Miami Beach early Saturday morning. According to a Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitations spokeswoman, Smith was arrested at 4:33 a.m. and was booked into the county jail at 9:18 a.m. He posted a $1,000 cash bond and was released at 12:42 p.m. A Miami Beach police spokesman was not able to provide any information about the arrest. Smith, 22, led all rookies during the regular season with 14 sacks, and he added two more in the playoffs. He set a rookie franchise record for sacks in a season and came within a half-sack of"
49ers may have to work on a new formula for 2012
January 29
Sacramento Bee
 
"The 49ers relied on a simple formula in 2011: A heaping of takeaways + an excellent defense + a cautious offense = wins. The equation was sound throughout the season and took the 49ers to within a step of the Super Bowl. But in the NFC Championship Game, the formula failed. The 49ers nailed the defensive part of it – Justin Smith and company were relentless as the game went on and frustrated New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning into a ho-hum 74 passer rating after halftime. The offense played to form, too, committing no turnovers, taking the lead in the third quarter and then tying the score with David Akers' field goal in the fourth. It was the takeaway portion that didn't come"
49ers' Aldon Smith arrested on DUI charges
January 29
San Jose Mercury News
 
"49ers rookie standout Aldon Smith was arrested Friday night in Miami Beach, Fla. and charged with driving under the influence. The 23-year-old Smith, who who nearly broke the NFL record for sacks as a rookie, was booked into jail by Miami Beach Police at 9:32 a.m. EST Saturday morning, according to various reports. Smith's bond was set for $1,000 and he is expected to make an appearance in court on Sunday."
Peyton Manning as 49er makes sense, but not enough
January 29
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Al Saracevic
"Peyton Manning in red and gold? It's not as crazy as it sounds. The talk shows have been buzzing for weeks, if not months, saying the longtime Indianapolis Colts star is looking for a new helmet next season. And the future Hall of Famer has done little to dispel the rumors. This past week, he complained publicly about seeing the Colts clean out the coaching staff and front office, and he then went on to say it wasn't a good environment for healing the injured neck that kept him out all season. By the end of the week, Manning and his owner, Jim Irsay, made a public show of making up, saying they would do what's best for the team. But it's clear the quarterback's not happy. With Stanford's"
49ers' primary concern: free agents Rogers, Goldson
January 29
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"On the first day of their offseason, 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown and safety Donte Whitner were already looking ahead to next season. Less than 24 hours removed from playing, they were pitching. Both players were lobbying for their partners in the secondary to return to San Francisco in 2012. Asked about his fellow cornerback, impending free agent Carlos Rogers, Brown said, "He's a tremendous player, a tremendous competitor and a tremendous teammate. I would love to play with him next year. We have a great thing going here. We have a special team." Similarly, Whitner made a pitch for safety Dashon Goldson to re-sign when he becomes a free agent on March 13: "We have real good chemistry"
49ers' star rookie Aldon Smith accused of DUI
January 29
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Rookie defensive end Aldon Smith of the 49ers was arrested and booked into jail on DUI charges Saturday morning in Miami. According to various reports, Smith, 22, was booked into jail at 9:32 a.m. EST and released on $1,000 bond. The 49ers released a statement saying they were aware of Smith's arrest: "We take these issues very seriously, but will reserve further comment at this time, as this is an ongoing legal matter. The 49ers will continue to gather the facts and monitor the developments closely.""
49ers' Aldon Smith charged with DUI
January 28
ESPN.com
 
"San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested and charged with DUI early Saturday morning in Miami. According to a police news release, Miami Beach Police arrested and booked the standout rookie into jail at 9:32 a.m. ET Saturday."
7-year-old 49ers fan commiserates with receiver
January 28
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"On Sunday night, as some 49ers fans fired off death threats to Kyle Williams on Twitter, 7-year-old Owen Shure of Los Angeles began his own correspondence to San Francisco's wide receiver. Instead of anger, though, Owen's words were filled with empathy. "Dear Mr. Williams," the first-grader began writing through tear-filled eyes to the goat of the NFC Championship Game, "We just watched the Playoff game. I feel really bad for you but I wanted to tell you that you had a great season. you sould be very proud, so I wanted to say thank you." Those words were in stark contrast to the hate-filled messages Williams received after his two fumbles led to the Giants' final 10 points in their 20-17"
49ers to target receivers as area for improvement
January 27
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"It appears the 49ers might have missed a spot in their extreme makeover this season. And that area was impossible to miss for those paying attention during the postseason. In two games, the 49ers wide receivers managed eight catches for 51 yards and one touchdown. In their 20-17 overtime loss to New York in the NFC Championship Game, Michael Crabtree's 3-yard catch was the only reception by a wideout. Much has changed in San Francisco, which had its first wining season and postseason victory in nine years. But the lack of production from wide receivers remains the same. The Niners and Bears are the only teams without a 1,000-yard wide receiver since 2003. It's a position San Francisco will"
Like the 49ers' year? Players say best yet to come
January 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Not long before the 49ers' memorable season ended, rookie fullback Bruce Miller recalled the forgettable way it began. On Aug. 12, the Niners visited the Saints in their preseason opener and Miller, a college defensive end who had never played fullback at any level, was completely lost. His primary problem? The seventh-round pick kept breaking the huddle without knowing the play call. "I was just so new to offense in general," Miller said. "Especially our play calls, they're pretty wordy and lengthy. So by the time I'd realized what the first part of it was, he'd already said the second part and I'd miss it every time. I was trying to keep up and I would skip over things.""
It's time for SF to say goodbye to the 49ers
January 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"We are still receiving complaints from fans who say it took over three hours to get to Candlestick Park for Sunday's 49ers playoff game. There would probably be more, but we hear some are still stuck in traffic. The gripes ran from simple outrage to deep, mysterious conspiracy theories. One reader seriously suggested that the whole logjam was orchestrated by the York family, to boost the owners' case for a new stadium in Santa Clara. Several people, including Planning Commissioner Mike Antonini, who wants to keep the team in San Francisco, thought there was something fishy about what he said was the lack of police officers to direct traffic. "At the Saints game (the previous Saturday), I"
Steve Young on title-game loss: 'You're there. Make it happen.'
January 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Before the 49ers' divisional-playoff game against the Saints, Jim Harbaugh told his team about walking off the field at Three Rivers Stadium after the Colts lost in the 1996 AFC Championship Game. We'll be back, Harbaugh thought. As it turned out, it was as close as Harbaugh ever came to reaching the Super Bowl as a player. Sixteen years later, Harbaugh's message to the Niners was clear: Don't assume you'll have other chances after this season."
49ERS' Donte Whitner to attend San Jose State
January 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Through his Twitter account, safety Donte Whitner revealed today that he will go from studying spread offenses to spreadsheets. Whitner, the 49ers starting strong safety, is going back to school. Tomorrow. "I'm going bk to school…any of my followers attend SJSU?" Whitner tweeted on Wednesday. Whitner received plenty of responses for help showing him around campus and with assistance locating the registration office. Whitner also wants to find a fraternity, but no word yet on whether he's found a place to pledge."
49ers' Rogers, Goldson will miss Pro Bowl
January 25
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Cornerback Carlos Rogers and safety Dashon Goldson, two of the 49ers' pending free agents, won't play in Sunday's Pro Bowl because of injuries, the team announced Tuesday. Rogers (knee) and Goldson (ankle) played through late-season injuries en route to their first Pro Bowl selections. The 49ers had a league-high nine players chosen to the Pro Bowl, including Monday's invitation to long snapper Brian Jennings from the NFC staff that is coached by the Green Bay Packers."
Should 49ers go after DeSean Jackson?
January 25
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Assorted thoughts on the NFL during the interminable wait for the Super Bowl: – Everyone agrees that the 49ers' biggest need is at wide receiver, and DeSean Jackson's name stands out like a searchlight on the free-agent list. The question is whether Jim Harbaugh would take a chance on somebody whose attitude totally contradicts the 49ers' cohesive nature. If you're talking about the five most talented receivers in the game, Jackson has to be on that list, right up there with Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson and the rest. Jackson has scored some of the league's most electrifying touchdowns over his four-year career with the Eagles, and he's the very epitome of a reliable deep threat –"
49ers' Brad Seely to interview for Colts' job
January 25
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"In hailing Brad Seely's ability this season, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said the 23-year NFL veteran was head-coaching material. Evidently, the Indianapolis Colts agree. Seely, who carries the dual title of San Francisco's special-teams coordinator and assistant head coach, will interview for the Colts' head-coaching position, Fox Sports reported Tuesday. Seely will interview today for the job, which became available when Indianapolis fired Jim Caldwell after its 2-14 season."
49ers long-snapper Brian Jennings in Pro Bowl
January 25
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Their season is over, but the 49ers are still setting franchise records. The team announced Tuesday that long-snapper Brian Jennings was added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster as a need player by the Packers' coaching staff. The addition of Jennings gives San Francisco seven players selected as starters in the game, breaking the franchise record of six set in 1971. Including reserves, San Francisco has nine players who earned Pro Bowl honors, the most since the team sent 1o players following the 1995 season."
Santa Clara petitions renew 49er stadium battle
January 25
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The battle over a new stadium for the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara seems headed to court – and, possibly, back to the ballot – after the Santa Clara City Council rejected petitions calling for a referendum to overturn an $850 million loan to the team. The council, acting as the Stadium Authority, voted 5-2 late Tuesday night to ignore the petitions, as recommended by its city attorney. The vote also gave him permission to go to court to prevent the referendum. A grassroots group sought to have the council rescind its December decision to make the team a loan to help finance a $1 billion, 68,500-seat stadium for the 49ers, or put the measure before voters."
Harbaugh gets in touch with his inner child
January 24
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
 columnist Lowell Cohn
"My working hypothesis is that Jim Harbaugh is 11 years old. Sure, he's been on Earth almost half a century, but deep inside he is 11. This is no putdown of Harbaugh. I am extremely fond of 11-year-olds. I myself reached my peak at 11 and it's been downhill ever since. On Monday, Harbaugh held his season wrap-up news conference and it was revealing in ways Harbaugh probably doesn't understand. Near the end of the session, the Chronicle's Eric Branch, who used to work for The Press Democrat, asked an easy-to-answer human-interest question. "How did you spend your time after the game? What did you do last night?" Harbaugh shot Branch a look as if Branch had asked about Harbaugh's sex life."