Gore running for a record

By Daniel Brown, Mercury News

After his most extensive practice in weeks, 49ers running back Frank Gore looks ready to make a run at an unprecedented milestone. Gore updated his status to "probable" on the injury report after he ran hard and changed directions in team drills. He needs 22 yards in the season finale Sunday to become the first 49er to amass 1,000 rushing yards in three consecutive seasons.
"He's looking good," Coach Mike Singletary said. "He did a nice job today when he carried the ball. He ran well and he cut well. It was nice to see." Gore suffered a sprained ankle against the New York Jets on Dec. 7, and was sidelined the past two games. Singletary cautioned, however, that the personal milestone would not play a role in deciding whether Gore would face the Washington Redskins at Candlestick Park. The coach's concern is that Gore, compensating for the ankle, could suffer a more serious injury.

"I don't want him to reinjure anything trying to get 1,000 yards," Singletary said. "Hopefully he can do it, but if he can't, I want him to be smart and look at the longevity of the decision." The game could be Gore's last in Mike Martz's offense. The Sacramento Bee reported this week that Singletary met with 49ers officials and made progress toward a multiyear contract extension. The paper said that under the current plan, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky would be back, but Martz would not return.
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Adrian Peterson stopped, but rest of Vikings run over 49ers 27-7

By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports writer

After the 49ers schemed all week against Adrian Peterson, their plan to stop the NFL's leading rusher worked splendidly — and that was the extent of San Francisco's successes in another big win for the resurgent Minnesota Vikings. Though, to be fair, nobody could have planned for a game that began with a 311-pound man returning an interception for a touchdown on the very first play. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams rumbled into the end zone just 14 seconds in, and Chester Taylor made an 84-yard scoring run in Minnesota's fourth straight victory, 27-7 over hapless San Francisco on Sunday.

Though Peterson managed just 3 yards on 14 carries, the Vikings (7-6) still jumped to a 27-0 halftime lead while getting back above .500 for the first time since the season's opening week. Minnesota is in the sixth spot in the NFC playoff picture, controlling its own destiny in a season that nearly went out of control. "I think if you told our guys a month ago that they were going to be the hunted instead of going hunting, they probably would have asked you, 'Well, how's that going to happen?'" Minnesota coach Brad Childress said. With patient offense and another strong game from a resurgent defense, that's how — and even without help from Peterson, who finished with a career-low 3 yards on 14 carries. San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis made eight tackles to win the meeting of two high-profile rookies.

Robert Ferguson caught a 19-yard TD pass from Tarvaris Jackson, who passed for 163 yards. Minnesota's only dynamic offensive play was Taylor's TD run, the third-longest in franchise history and the bulk of his 101 yards rushing. Yet nothing fancy is necessary to beat the 49ers (3-10) these days. "We weren't trying to force anything," Peterson said. "Chester is capable of coming out and having big games, too. You can't just focus on one guy on our team." Frank Gore rushed for 68 yards, caught eight passes for 49 yards and lost two fumbles for San Francisco, which has yet another injured quarterback after its 10th loss in 11 games. The Vikings defense turned in its third straight solid performance, limiting the 49ers' league-worst offense to 79 yards in the first half. After Trent Dilfer went out with a concussion shortly before halftime, third-stringer Shaun Hill went 22-of-28 for 181 yards and a score in the first significant NFL action of his six-year career.

"Trent's just a warrior, one of the best guys I've ever met in the game or out of the game," Hill said. "That being said, I had a job to do when I got in there, and I was excited." Dilfer's day was painful from the first snap. Williams, the Vikings' two-time Pro Bowl defensive end, was able to hang on to his own deflected pass and had the presence of mind to run with it. "That really changed the momentum in the game," Williams claimed. "We do a tip drill every week, and it paid off today, as you saw." Williams eluded Dilfer for the fourth touchdown of his career. It was even his second of the season, following a 54-yard return on Atlanta's first possession in the Vikings' season opener. "It's rare to get one of those in a career, and he's had two in a season," Childress said. "I'm just glad he didn't have to run as far on this one so we didn't have to get him some oxygen." Taylor made the third-longest run from scrimmage in Vikings history in the second quarter, breaking at least three tackles down the Minnesota sideline and sparking boos from the thin Candlestick Park crowd.

"I thought our defense stepped up to the challenge," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "They did give up some plays a couple times on some missed tackles. The 84-yard run was one in particular. It was right in the face of a blitz. How it came out, I do not know." Dilfer was hurt when he scrambled for a first down in the final minute of the first half. Backup cornerback Charles Gordon made the tackle with a shoulder to Dilfer's head. With Alex Smith in street clothes because of his injured shoulder, San Francisco turned to Hill, who spent four years with Minnesota before joining the 49ers last season. Hill's only regular-season snaps were kneeldowns on the Vikings' final plays in 2005. Hill immediately led a 12-play, 61-yard scoring drive culminating in Arnaz Battle's short TD catch, completing six of his first seven passes and celebrating jubilantly in the end zone — but he threw an interception on the Niners' next drive.

Notes:@ Taylor also made the longest run in Minnesota history last season, romping 95 yards against Seattle. ... Nolan said the 49ers haven't decided whether QB Alex Smith will have season-ending shoulder surgery next week, contrary to a media report. ... San Francisco's Maurice Hicks returned two kickoffs for 55 yards apiece.

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-There's nothing constructive that I can say about this team this week, so don't hold your breathe for any pearls of wisdom from me in the next couple of days. Mike Nolan and this entire organization are one incredible joke right now. I am sick of watching this s@#t from these idiots week in and week out. They are just fortunate that Miami plays in this league, and that they don't play the Dolphins this year.-

Smith May Call It A Season Soon

Daniel Brown, Mercury News

Still unable to throw a football, Alex Smith might soon have to throw in the towel on 2007. The 49ers quarterback set a timetable for a potential season-ending surgery Thursday, saying that rest alone has done little to improve the discomfort he feels in his separated right shoulder. Smith said doctors will evaluate the shoulder Monday or Tuesday. If there is still only minimal progress, he might surrender and have an operation to reattach the ligaments near his collarbone. Recovery time is 10 to 12 weeks. "Obviously, you want to avoid (surgery), but if it had to be done, it's not a huge, huge operation," Smith said.

The quarterback has not thrown a football since warming up Nov. 18 before the St. Louis Rams game, in which he served as a backup. Since then, Smith said it hurts so much to lift his arm above his head that he does so only when he gets dressed. Time off was supposed to allow the damaged ligaments to fix themselves - "scarring down," Smith called it - but there has been no sign of progress. "They haven't healed at all," he said. It has already been an arduous road since Sept. 30, when Smith was hurt on a sack by Seattle's Rocky Bernard. The quarterback sat out for three weeks before coming back Oct. 28. Upon his return, Smith played poorly for three games, setting off a tense exchange between Smith and Coach Mike Nolan about whether the player was brought back too soon.

The quarterback saw Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Nov. 20, when an MRI exam revealed that the ligaments had yet to scar over. Still, Smith retains hope for a comeback over the season's final month. "If it really starts to scar down, and there's no need for surgery, then absolutely, I could come back for the end of the season and get back out there," he said. "That's what that evaluation will be."

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Niner News & Notes

Willis Voted GMC Defensive Player of the Week
49ers.com
Linebacker Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers is the GMC Defensive Player of the Week for games played on November 22 - 26. Willis made 18 tackle, ½ sack and one pass defensed in the 49ers’ 37 – 31 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Willis ran down Sean Morey on a 62-yard reception in overtime preventing him from potentially scoring and winning the game for the Cardinals. Willis was selected from among five finalists by voters on NFL.com. The other finalists were safety Roman Harper of the New Orleans Saints, defensive end Patrick Kerney of the Seattle Seahawks, cornerback Asante Samuel of the New England Patriots, and safety Dwight Smith of the Minnesota Vikings. After the regular season, five players will be nominated for GMC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com throughout the month of January.

Bewitching hour for Smith and his shoulder
Matthew Barrows, Sac Bee
Not only has Alex Smith not thrown a ball in nearly two weeks, he hasn't even lifted his right arm over his head. The strategy is to keep his injured shoulder as immobile as possible for two weeks - which will be this Sunday - and then re-examine it at that point. Smith said that examination could occur Monday or Tuesday. He is contemplating a return trip to Birmingham, Ala. to visit Dr. James Andrews or he could possibly fly to Los Angeles to meet with a doctor there that Andrews recommended. The visit will be an important one - the results could determine whether Smith plays again this season or possibly whether he will have surgery to reattach the ligaments between his collarbone and shoulder.

Gore deals with death of Taylor after mom's passing
John Crumpacker, San Francisco Chronicle
For the second time this season, Frank Gore has been hit with the type of tragedy that makes football trivial in comparison. Once again, he must compartmentalize his grief as he prepares to play a game. In September, he lost his mother, Liz Gore, to kidney disease. On Tuesday, he lost a friend and former teammate to gun violence when safety Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins was shot and killed in his home in the Miami area. Gore and Taylor entered the University of Miami together in 2001; they first met years before playing Pop Warner football."It's tough losing my mom, now losing my friend, who I played ball with," Gore said in his typically soft tone. "He was a tough dude, great football player. A lot of people don't know he was a great dude. At the University of Miami, all the boys are close. It's like losing my brother.
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49ers News On Tollner, Smith, Olson

From The Press Democrat

The word is official from the 49ers: Ted Tollner has been hired as an offensive assistant. He will help the entire coaching staff, a team spokesman said. Obviously, with his experience as an offensive coordinator he'll lend a lot of assistance to Jim Hostler. "Ted Tollner has been hired as an offensive assistant," Mike Nolan said in a statement. "He will work with offensive coordinator Jim Hostler and our offensive coaching staff. Ted has great experience with over 30 years in the NFL and in college coaching and is well respected in the football community. He will be a tremendous asset to the 49ers organization. We will continue to make every effort to improve our team."

Tollner has more than 30 years of coaching experience. He was head coach at USC and San Diego State. Since 1987, he has worked as an assistant with the Bills, Chargers, Rams, 49ers and Lions.This move comes one day after Nolan said of Hostler, "Jim is an easy scapegoat for everybody to jump on to. As you look at the entire offense and the production of the offense, and you look at what we do on the field, the production isn't as good as it was last year, although it wasn't off the charts. Let's recognize that last year it was (ranked) 26th. That is considerably better than we are right now, but I wouldn't put all of that on Jim. Jim is doing an outstanding job. He busts his tail and is always looking for ways to get better."
* * *
Also, a source close to Alex Smith confirms a report an ESPN.com that Dr. James Andrews told Smith today that his shoulder and forearm are "worse than anticipated." There was some talk that surgery might be needed to correct the problem if his shoulder and forearm don't show improvement. Smith might seek yet another opinion from a specialist. The 49ers did not comment on this report because their doctors have not received the report yet from Dr. Andrews, a team spokesman said.
* * *
Quarterback Drew Olson was signed to the practice squad to run the scout team offense with injuries to Smith and Shaun Hill (broken right index finger). With the uncertainty surrounding the backup QBs, Olson could find himself in uniform for Sunday's game. Olson was originally signed by the Ravens an undrafted free agent last season out of UCLA. He spent the season on the Raven's practice squad. Olson went to NFL Europa this past off-season. He was waived by Baltimore following training camp this past summer. He joined the Carolina practice squad in early November and then was signed to the Panthers 53-man roster for one week.
Offensive lineman Sean Estrada was waived from the practice squad to make room for Olson.

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Expect Hill To Get A Look, Soon

Alex Smith sat out Wednesday's practice with lingering soreness in his right shoulder and forearm. This comes on the heels of head coach Mike Nolan going out of his way to tell reporters his signal-caller was healthy. Nolan also failed to back Smith as his quarterback of the future, saying he would "let the season dictate that at the very end." Smith admitted Wednesday he has never been completely healthy after being pancaked on Sept. 30, the first time San Francisco played Seattle.Smith went on to say he was frustrated with the team reporting him to be 100 percent, comments that for the first time shed light on the former No. 1 pick's unhappiness with the coaching staff.

What should the fans make of this back and forth in the press from the 49ers' leader on the field and leader on the sideline? Has Smith been keeping his pain from the staff? Did Nolan and his coaches really not know Smith was still hurt? Is Smith's discomfort really bad enough to explain his putrid play? This is getting interesting, much more entertaining than the games have been this season for the 2-7 Niners.

Depending on how you look at it, this is either the best time or the worst for Smith to come out and say his shoulder is still bothering him. On one hand, it gives Nolan the perfect excuse to sit Smith and give third-string quarterback Shaun Hill his first shot at running the Niners' offense. On the other, the injury gives Smith an excuse for his QB rating of 57.2 and his completion percentage of 48.7. Reading between the lines, it looks as if Smith has had enough of being battered and beaten this year and he wants out, at least for the short term. While Smith might tough it out against 1-8 St. Louis this weekend, I think Nolan will decide to sit the banged-up third-year man and give Shaun Hill a chance.

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Aubrayo Franklin Out For Four Weeks

According to Matt Maiocco of the Press Democrat, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin will be out for four weeks with a right calf injury.Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that Isaac Sopoaga will take his place in the lineup with Ron Fields also filling in. While Atiyyah Ellison, who was inactive the first nine weeks, will get a long look in practice, Ray McDonald will probably be active on Sunday against the Rams.









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Tough Choice At Quarterback

From Sporting Green 49ers beat writer John Crumpacker:

It seems like a losing proposition no matter which quarterback the 49ers send out against the New York Giants on Sunday at the Meadowlands. There's Alex Smith with his still-healing separated shoulder and Trent Dilfer with his feet of stone. Against a vigorous pass rush like the Giants, neither man is a good option. Smith can make plays with his feet, but hold your breath if he's sacked. Dilfer is a target when he drops back to pass but at least he has a sound throwing shoulder. Coach Mike Nolan will have a better idea of who his starting quarterback will be after Thursday's practice. That's the most important day of practice for all NFL teams and usually the only day of the week when players are in full pads. For Smith, it will be his first time in pads since Seattle's Rocky Bernard and his 300 pounds fell on his shoulder on Sept. 30.

If Smith plays and re-injures his shoulder, Nolan and the team's medical staff will be in for healthy criticism. If Dilfer plays and gets clobbered, people will howl that the more elusive Smith did not play. Like I said, it seems like a lose-lose proposition. Makes me glad I'm neither a coach nor a gambler.

- Smith should play if he can. Bottomline, he is supposed to be the "face of this franchise". Get him back in there, he is the one being paid all the money. He's not 5 games into his NFL career, he is 2 years and 5 games into his NFL career. STOP CODDLING HIM! See what you have in him for the future. Part of that is includes testing his toughness.-

Tuesday Niner News & Notes - Oct.16th

49ers' Smith: 'The shoulder feels great'

By Dennis Georgatos, Mercury News

Alex Smith will return to practice Wednesday with the hope of playing Sunday against the host New York Giants, as his right shoulder separation continues to heal. Smith threw on the side Monday and only reported minor forearm soreness from the constant gripping of the ball in recent days after initially resting the shoulder that he injured Sept. 30 against Seattle. Over the weekend, Smith said he gained confidence that his passing shoulder was at or near full strength by testing his velocity and range with throws as long as 55 yards. "I tried to air it out, throwing some long balls, stretching it out," Smith said as the 49ers reconvened for practice after Sunday's bye. "The shoulder feels great. We'll continue to rehab it and, hopefully, it's full-go on Wednesday." Coach Mike Nolan said he's been told that Smith should be able to return to practice Wednesday. Nolan added he was hopeful that Smith would be able to play Sunday but continued to describe his status as questionable.

Smith suffered the shoulder separation when he was sacked during the opening series in a 23-3 loss to Seattle. Trent Dilfer started in the place of Smith in a 9-7 loss to Baltimore the following week. He'll start again if Smith and Nolan, in consultation with team doctors and the training staff, determine Smith needs additional time to heal.

49ers' rookie finds footing for excellence

Gwen Knapp, San Francisco Chronicle

Turn on a 49ers game these days and Patrick Willis will hog the camera. He turns up so often, you half expect his No. 52 jersey to pop up in the commercials. He does not take over a microphone the same way. When the rookie linebacker starts talking, he likes to hand off attention. He'll rave about his coach, explain how much he didn't know about playing his position when he joined the team and describe how his little sister sent a text message after his first game, teasing him for letting the Cardinals' Edgerrin James run over him.
Willis had 11 tackles in that game and forced a fumble, winning the NFL's Rookie of the Week honors. He won the award again the following week, with eight tackles against the Rams. Five games into the season, he has 50 tackles, 35 of them solo. Willis leads the runner-up on the 49ers' list, Marques Douglas, by 18 tackles. He has 10 more solo tackles than anyone else, and he's playing with some of the best defenders the 49ers have had in ages.

Is Smith prepared to take Giant leap?

By Matthew Barrows - Sac Bee Staff Writer

Alex Smith sat in front of his television Monday night, remote control in hand, TiVo primed for plenty of use, and watched the two men who pose the biggest threat to his fast-healing separated shoulder.On one side of the New York Giants' defensive line, he saw end Osi Umenyiora, who entered Monday night's victory over Atlanta with a league-leading seven sacks. On the other, he watched Michael Strahan, whose 134 career sacks are the most among active players. Indeed, the biggest question mark surrounding Smith this week is not whether he'll be able to squeeze a pass between two defenders Sunday, but whether the shoulder can absorb a hit. Coach Mike Nolan stopped short of declaring Smith ready for the Giants game, estimating his availability as "questionable." He did say, however, that the fero-city of the Giants' pass rush would have no bearing on the decision. The Giants had 17 sacks going into Monday night, ranking fourth in the league. They had four sacks Monday night. "It'll be a factor in the game plan, but it won't be a factor in whether (Smith) plays or not," Nolan said.

Niners Plan For Lelie To Get More Playing Time

Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat

Receiver Ashley Lelie (right) will get more playing time when the 49ers return from the bye week to face the Giants on Oct. 21, coach Mike Nolan said Thursday."The important thing is that the plan is to utilize him a little more," Nolan said. Through the first five games, Lelie has been on the field for just 10 offensive snaps. Yet, Lelie was 49ers' receiver that the Ravens feared the most when the team met on Sunday. Nolan spoke after the game with Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who told him that he planned to double-team Lelie when he was on the field. Lelie played just one snap. The Ravens did not double-team any of the 49ers' other receivers, thus they could devote more defenders to stopping Frank Gore.

"Sort of gets your attention, doesn't it?" Nolan asked. "There were some things after this game I knew clear-cut we had to do better. There wasn't a lot of gray area on some of things. It didn't surprise me."

The other receivers haven't received that kind of respect this season. Teams have been able to devote an extra defender to containing Gore because the 49ers lack playmakers at wide receiver. Lelie was the one players, with his size and speed, that the Ravens had to worry about. Yet, Lelie was the 49ers' No. 4 wideout. With Lelie expected to get more playing time, it also casts doubts on whether rookie Jason Hill (left)will see action when he returns. Hill sustained a hamstring strain in the days leading up to the game against the Steelers. If he had not been injured, the 49ers planned to suit him up for that game. Now, Hill's situation is up in the air. Lelie will get more playing time, and Bryan Gilmore is in the mix, too.

"The complexion around him has changed a little bit," Nolan said of Hill. "If he'd been healthy, maybe I wouldn't have make the decision to bring Bryan Gilmore back. Maybe I wouldn't have brought in (LeRon McCoy). He's got a little more competition." Hill is practicing at full speed after missing three games with the injury.

This Time, The Offensive Line Wasn't The Main Problem - Ravens Outlast Niners In "Barnburner", 9-7

John Crumpacker, Nancy Gay, San Francisco Chronicle

In contrast to a week ago, the 49ers' offensive line did not become a piñata for people to swat. The play of the unit went largely unnoticed as Joe Nedney's missed 54 yard field goal (below) with under 3 minutes to go was the difference. The game proved to be a defensive struggle in which Trent Dilfer for the most part had time to throw in Sunday's 9-7 loss to Baltimore. The 35-year-old quarterback was sacked three times (he was nailed five times against Seattle), one time when he revealed his age and tried to escape. The other sacks were by outside linebacker Jarret Johnson as he beat left tackle Adam Snyder and by nose tackle Kelly Gregg through the gap between center Eric Heitmann and right guard Justin Smiley. "Better than last week," coach Mike Nolan said when asked for his assessment. "That's all I can say right now." Snyder started at left tackle in place of Jonas Jennings, who is away from the team for what was described as a personal matter. Except for the sack by Johnson, Snyder held up well at the position. Smiley rebounded from a horrible game a week ago and played his way into anonymity for the most part. Left guard Larry Allen looked better run-blocking for Frank Gore in this game than he did a week ago.

Although Gore averaged 3.3 yards per carry (he finished 2006 at 5.4), he did have runs of 8 and 10 yards among his 16 carries. Modest as always: Tight end Vernon Davis, who missed his second game with a knee injury, said the game might have been different had he been able to play. "I think I would have made a big difference," he said. "I know they (the Ravens) would have been trying to key on me and stop Vernon. It would have opened up the offense." Asked about the offense he hasn't been a part of for two weeks, Davis said, "We got to change the offense. It sucks."

Puny output: The 49ers ran 41 offensive plays against the Ravens. That's the fewest total for the 49ers in any game since 2001. The Ravens, by contrast, ran off 76 plays. Voice of authority: When Mike Singletary speaks, people listen. The 49ers' assistant head coach, who works with the linebackers, had a few things to say in the locker room after the game. "I think we did a decent job, but we should have done a better job," he said, referring to the defense. "It comes down to doing whatever it takes to win. That should be our motto going forward. I know our offense is going to do the job. Right now, we just have to keep working. "It's not a matter of seven points or three points, it's finding a way to win."

Easy come, easy go: Cornerback Shanwtae Spencer (above) appeared to be a victim of a bad pass-interference call at the end of the first quarter when he was covering wide receiver Derrick Mason. The call ended up not hurting the 49ers as the Ravens punted at the end of the drive.
"You get some and you lose some," free safety Mark Roman said. "Eventually, it all evens out. That was just one play in the game. I think we ended up getting off the field anyway."

Injury report: The 49ers had two players on the postgame list. Safety Mark Roman strained his Achilles tendon and safety Keith Lewis strained his hamstring. Smith or Dilfer? Quarterback Alex Smith is slowly regaining range-of-motion in his separated right shoulder, but it's probably a stretch to imagine he could be ready to start when the 49ers resume play Oct. 21 against the New York Giants following their bye. "If Alex is not well, it will be Trent (Dilfer) again," Nolan said when asked who he anticipates will start the game at East Rutherford, N.J. "And I would be comfortable with that. I believe I have a lot of confidence in Trent because he's a very good leader, he's been there and he's done it. Dilfer said he would approach the bye week and the week leading up to the Giants' game as if he will start. Dilfer, Billick make nice: Dilfer's long-standing feud with Ravens coach Brian Billick was settled for good Sunday, when the 49ers' quarterback sought out his former head coach and made peace. Dilfer revealed in February that he still resented Billick benching him for quarterback Elvis Grbac following the Ravens' Super Bowl season in 2000, and that he had no interest in ever speaking to Billick again. Last week, Dilfer conceded he was wrong to hold such a grudge."I talked to (Billick) in the locker room (before the game), and once again after the game," Dilfer said Sunday, "and I told him just how sorry I was that I carried that bitterness for so long."Said Billick: "I really appreciate him reaching out that way."

Smith: 'I'd like to push it next week'

Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat

Niners quarterback Alex Smith is still saying he'd like to return to action Oct. 21 against the New York Giants after sustaining a separated right shoulder on Sunday against the Seahawks. "That would be the goal," Smith said. "The bye week helps." The swelling is going down in his right shoulder and the pain is subsiding, he said. He hopes next week he can begin throwing a tennis ball and then build up to throwing a football. "I'd like to push it next week," Smith said. The 49ers play the Ravens on Sunday. Trent Dilfer will get the start at quarterback. Next week, the 49ers are scheduled to practice Monday through Thursday before taking the weekend off because of the bye. When the 49ers come back, they will begin preparations for the Giants. Smith said he does not plan to undergo surgery -- now or after the season. He spoke with Dr. James Andrews this morning. Andrews told him the everything looked good. Smith is still wearing a sling, but he hopes to be able to start moving it around, which will expedite the recovery process.

Smith said the ligaments were torn are not vital to the process of throwing. The ligaments generally scar over. As Smith spoke with reporters, there did not appear to be any obvious deformity in his shoulder.

Smith said his agent, Tom Condon, and 49ers athletic trainer, Jeff Ferguson, have good relationships with Dr. Andrews. That is why the MRI from Monday was sent to Dr. Andrews. Smith said he does not believe he would require a cortisone injection in order to play, but he might need to take some "pain medication." Yesterday, Smith's drive to work was a bit hectic, he said. He heard the reports on ESPN that he would require immediate season-ending surgery and he thought maybe he had yet to be informed of the news. The report was inaccurate.

Dilfer Is Not The Answer To Offensive Woes

The 49ers found out against the Seahawks what they have in backup Trent Dilfer, whom they acquired last year to act as mentor Alex Smith. Dilfer, 35, did not play at all in 2006 as Smith took every snap, and Dilfer had not played yet this year either, so when he entered the game against Seattle on Sunday, he was understandably not up to the speed of the regular season. But that's not his only problem. He had requested to play more in the preseason this year so he could be ready for situations just like this. But it turns out he wasn't. Of course, he got very little help from his blockers and receivers. Dilfer completed just 12 of 33 passes for 128 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He tallied a putrid passer rating of 23.3. So the question is: Will he be any better with a full week of practice as the starting quarterback? And the answer is: Not by much.

The former first-round pick has never been an accurate passer, with a subpar completion percentage of 55.5 over a 13-year NFL career. Even in Seattle's high-percentage offense, he never hit 60 percent. So what should the 49ers expect? Well, coupling Dilfer with some pedestrian receivers and putting him behind a line that has mysteriously turned to mush won't help much. Smith had completed just 51.2 percent of his passes through three games, with one touchdown and one interception, and coach Mike Nolan seemed to keep the reins on him. Meanwhile, the Niners couldn't run the ball either, which put extra pressure on Smith. Perhaps Nolan will open the offense up some more with Dilfer in charge, but it probably won't matter because Dilfer has rarely been a guy to win games by himself and has done his best work as the man behind the man in both Seattle and San Francisco.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News wrote that Dilfer "isn't really a backup QB; he's an assistant coach/psychologist, and that's exactly what Dilfer played like once Smith went out with a separated shoulder [Sunday]. "The 49ers haven't brought in a young QB to compete with Smith. They haven't brought a veteran who could realistically compete with Smith. They had Smith, and they wanted a big brother. If Smith is out for three, four or however many weeks, the 49ers will have a big brother playing QB, not actually a real QB. That's the choice they made."

And that choice will not help them stay afloat against Baltimore this week. Even if Dilfer gets up to speed, he and the 49ers have other problems.

Tuesday Niner News & Notes - Oct. 2

49ers hope to improve blocking for Dilfer

John Crumpacker, San Francisco Chronicle

While Alex Smith receives treatment and therapy for his separated right shoulder, the 49ers have two big to-dos on their list as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday:
-- Get Trent Dilfer ready to play only his second NFL regular-season game since Nov. 27, 2005.
-- Try to fix serious and surprising problems with the interior of the offensive line. Because Dilfer's physical well being depends on the second issue, he has a vested interest in seeing the 49ers shore up what had been expected to be a strength of the team.
"I prepare to go out and run the entire offense to the best of my ability," Dilfer said. "Not a whole lot changes except the repetitions in practice. Get some rhythm and timing back, which you had in training camp. That will help execution."

No surgery for injured Smith

John Crumpacker, San Francisco Chronicle

On a scale of one to six, Alex Smith has a Grade 3 separation of his throwing shoulder, meaning the ligaments connecting his collarbone to his shoulder blade are torn. No surgery is planned.
The 49ers' quarterback was sleep-deprived and in pain when he emerged from a meeting Monday afternoon at team headquarters in Santa Clara. His right arm was in a sling, the end result of absorbing a sack by 308-pound Seattle defensive tackle Rocky Bernard on the third play of Sunday's game.
"Been better," Smith said. "Been better. It's pretty sore right now. Pretty tender."
Though he said the team's medical staff will know more about his condition Thursday, when swelling in the shoulder subsides, Smith indicated he would be out "several weeks."

Polamalu apologizes to Davis

Matthew Barrows, Sac Bee

Talked to Vernon Davis today about the hit that put him out of action a couple of weeks. Davis thought Steelers safety Troy Polamalu’s shot that left him with a sprained medial collateral ligament was a bit of a cheap shot. But he said he’s not angry with Polamalu, who called him a couple of days after the game to apologize.“I don’t know how he got my number, but the guy called me and apologized for hitting me that low,” Davis said.What was his reaction: “It’s cool. That’s alright. That’s what happens. It’s part of football.”Davis is not yet running on the knee but said he’s been doing some low-impact weight lifting in the training room. He said he aims to be back for the New York Giants game Oct. 21. Now if only he can get an apology from Gerry Austin ...

Coach Mike Nolan's Monday press conference: Click here:

http://cbs5.com/sports/local_story_221142527.html

Tuesday Niner News & Notes - Sept. 25th

TE Davis likely out two games

Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle

Vernon Davis sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee on the play, an MRI exam revealed Monday. He probably will miss the next two games, the team announced, removing a key option from an offense already struggling to reach the end zone.Davis caught four passes for 56 yards in Sunday's 37-16 loss to Pittsburgh, in the first game after he requested a more prominent role in the offense. Now, as the 49ers prepare for home games against Seattle and Baltimore the next two weeks, Davis' injury temporarily leaves him with no role in the offense.The 49ers trailed 17-6 when Davis corralled Smith's pass near the Pittsburgh 10-yard line; he landed awkwardly after a crunching tackle and the ball popped loose. Steelers safety Ryan Clark plucked the ball out of the air and ran to San Francisco's 47-yard line.
Nolan challenged the call - and clearly was angry when Austin turned the play into an incomplete pass, rather than a completion and 49ers first down.

S.F.'s reversal of fortunes

By Matthew Barrows - Sac Bee Staff Writer

The 49ers (2-1) opened the game showing far more offensive creativity than in their first two games. Smith rolled out several times against the Pittsburgh defense and operated out of the shotgun on several other plays. Offensive coordinator Jim Hostler also got Davis involved for the first time this season. He went 31 yards on a catch and run in the first quarter and finished with 56 receiving yards before leaving in the third quarter. Davis was limping noticeably after the game but said he didn't think the injury was serious. The 49ers finished with 289 total yards after averaging 190 yards in their first two games. Still, they had trouble finding the end zone, settling for three Nedney field goals before Smith found Taylor Jacobs on a 21-yard touchdown when the game was out of reach.

"Red zone killed us," Hostler said. "We're not putting points on the board. We've got to get that (rectified)."

Head Coach Mike Nolan's Week 3 Monday News Conference - Click this link

http://cbs5.com/sports/local_story_221142527.html

Lawson Out For The Year

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Linebacker Manny Lawson will miss the rest of the San Francisco 49ers' season after tearing a ligament in his left knee.

Lawson, a starting outside linebacker in the 49ers' 3-4 defensive scheme, went down with the injury during Wednesday's practice. The injury didn't initially appear to be serious, and Lawson rode on a stationary bike for the rest of the team's workout. But tests determined Thursday that Lawson tore his anterior cruciate ligament. Lawson is second on the team with 14 tackles, showing impressive improvement from his rookie year. He started 11 games last season after San Francisco chose him with the 22nd overall selection, making 65 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks.

Veteran Hannibal Navies and seldom-used second-year pro Parys Haralson are the top candidates to replace Lawson.

Gore Ready To Roll

Frank Gore missed a month with a broken right hand, but insists he won't be thinking about the injury Monday night. Gore said he has not yet decided whether he will play with the padded glove he has at times worn in practice this week. One of the worries is that it will affect his grip on the ball, a problem Gore has had in each of the past two seasons. His fumbling issues have been particularly acute against the Cardinals.

Gore lost the ball in three of four games he has played against Arizona, all of them losses. In the lone game in which he didn't fumble -- a 26-20 loss on Christmas Eve -- Gore couldn't handle a short pass from Alex Smith that was intercepted by the Cardinals' Antrel Rolle. Coach Mike Nolan said Thursday he expected the hand injury might prompt the Cardinals to put a little more emphasis on stripping the ball Monday night. Though Gore had four touchdowns against Arizona last season, the Cardinals are the only NFC West opponent to have held him to fewer than 100 rushing yards in every meeting. The good news for the 49ers is that Gore's hand is healing well and his legs definitely will be fresh Monday night. He practiced this week like a colt that has been stuck inside the barn all summer, bursting from the line of scrimmage, high-stepping past safeties and finishing his runs 40, 50, 60 yards downfield.

Catching the ball out of the backfield doesn't seem to be an issue, either. During down times in practice, Gore has stepped aside to catch an array of passes from running backs coach Bishop Harris -- high, low, to the side -- and Smith this week said he would not hesitate to whip a pass to his running back in the flat. Gore led the 49ers last season with 61 catches and was third with 485 receiving yards.As for overall readiness, Nolan said he didn't see any difference between Gore this year and last. In fact, he said it's entirely possible Gore won't see any action in future exhibition games, either. His idol, San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson, hardly ever plays in exhibition games, while St. Louis' featured running back, Steven Jackson, made what amounted to a cameo appearance this summer.Gore said his main concern is that he is able to practice with teammates, something he is doing for the first time since July 30.

Roster Down To 53 Saturday, Moore, Cohen Done For The Year

The 49ers made their final cuts on Saturday, waiving 13 players and placing two on injured reserve to get down to the 53-man roster.

The 49ers waived eight veterans, two first-year players and three rookies. A couple of these cuts were a bit surprising. WR Bryan Gilmore (right), was cut after having a very good camp and preseason by all accounts. Certainly he was better than Ashley Lelie or Brandon Williams, who both kept spots. The other head scratcher was rookie RB Thomas Clayton, who led the team in preseason rushing and showed good skills when called upon. Once again, two veterans, Maurice Hicks and Michael Robinson, neither of whom has done much so far, were kept ahead of Thomas. The 49ers waived veterans S Darnell Bing, LB Colby Bockwoldt, T Harvey Dahl, T Damane Duckett, TE Zachery Hilton, DE Sam Rayburn and S Vickiel Vaughn, first-year players FB Zak Keasey and T Tavares Washington and rookies TE Zack Herold and LB Mark Washington. The 49ers can begin signing players to their eight-man practice squad on Sunday.

Two rookies that were injured in the preseason-finale against San Diego were placed on injured reserve. Fourth-round picks LB Jay Moore and DE Joe Cohen suffered season-ending injuries in the loss to the Chargers. Moore injured his ankle, and Cohen suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee.

Gore, Starters Will Sit Against The Chargers

Frank Gore, who led the NFC with 1,695 yards rushing last season, hasn't suited up since breaking his right hand on the second day of training camp. With his hand almost completely healed, he has participated in certain drills during practice in the last two weeks. Nolan has resisted Gore's pleas for playing time so far in the preseason -- and if he wants to cite a precedent Thursday for his eager tailback, he can point across the field at San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson, who hasn't played in a preseason game since a cameo appearance in 2005. Gore carried the ball 312 times last season and caught a team-leading 61 passes for 485 yards.

He's the engine driving the 49ers' offense -- but he also has a lengthy injury history, including reconstructive surgery on both knees and both shoulders. Gore might wear a protective guard on his hand this season, but isn't sure whether such a precaution would affect his ability. He hasn't tried it yet in practice, where he mostly sticks to individual drills.

In all likelyhood, Gore, along with the majority of the starters, such as Alex Smith will be spectators on the sideline for the final exhibition game. That is opposed to being spectators IN the game, which most of the starters were against Chicago on Saturday. Traditionally, the last preseason game is simply a showcase for players on the bubble to have one more chance to snag a roster spot, or at least show their wares to the other 31 teams.

Wide-out Brewer On The Shelf - Talent show to remember Herrion

San Francisco wide receiver C.J. Brewer is expected to miss this season after tearing a ligament in his right knee.

Brewer, a second-year pro who spent last season on the 49ers' practice squad, said he'll have surgery on Friday.

A longshot to make the San Francisco roster, Brewer was injured during practice on Tuesday when he caught a pass, attempted a violent cut and his knee buckled.

"It's just a road bump," Brewer said. "I'll be back in the offseason, ready to compete again."
Brewer, who wasn't drafted after his senior season at Wyoming in 2005, wasn't allowed to play in NFL Europe this summer, because league doctors couldn't detect an ACL in his left knee. He tore that ligament four years ago.

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The 49ers marked the second anniversary of Thomas Herrion's death with a team talent show Tuesday named in his honor. Coach Mike Nolan said last year the team paid tribute to Herrion, but it was a sorrowful occasion. Nolan said this year's talent show was something that the good-natured Herrion (left,in 2005) would have appreciated. Rookie Patrick Willis was among the standout performers. He wore a wig and tried to do a musical impression of James Brown, Nolan said. Nolan noted of Willis' singing, "The high notes were tough for him to get to, but he tried." Nolan thoroughly enjoyed the comic performance, and afterward he passed along his compliments to Willis.

Herrion provided special memories during training camp of 2005. Herrion made a memorable impression when he came to the rescue of quarterback Alex Smith, his former Utah teammate. Smith was supposed to sing the Utah fight song. When Smith was clearly struggling, Herrion came to the rescue. Herrion stood at the back of the room and starting singing along in quite animated fashion.

Several days later, Herrion died of a heart attack in the moments after an Aug. 20, 2005, exhibition game against the Denver Broncos.