Blogs

49ers Named Week 12 Top Protectors

For the second time in an eight-week span, the San Francisco 49ers offensive line has been selected as the Week 12 Madden Most Valuable Protectors by Hall of Fame coach John Madden.

San Francisco’s  line allowed no sacks in a 31-21 win over the New Orleans Saints. It was the first no-sack effort turned in by the line since a Week 5 win over Buffalo. Coincidentally, it was the last time the 49ers won Madden’s award.

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Bowman Eager to Build Legacy

Third-round draft picks carry boulder-like chip on their shoulders, just ask Frank Gore.

But another San Francisco 49ers third-round pick, 2011 All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman, also continues to carry the memories of being passed over through two rounds of the NFL’s annual draft.

The chip will stick with the third-year linebacker even after Tuesday’s big news: A five-year contract extension that’ll keep Bowman in a 49ers uniform through the 2018 season.

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49ers Place Hunter, Williams on IR

The San Francisco 49ers announced they have placed WR Kyle Williams and RB Kendall Hunter on the Injured Reserve List. The team also announced that RB Jewel Hampton has been added to the active roster from the Non-Football Injury List. The team also added WR Chad Hall to the practice squad, and waived S Eddie Whitley from that unit.

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Week 13 #Vote49ers Pro Bowl Update

The 49ers boast arguably the best quartet of linebackers in the NFL. Ahmad Brooks might not get the national publicity of the other players in his position group — Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith — but those around the 49ers know how valuable Brooks is on the left edge of the defense.

On Sunday, the seventh-year veteran showed why the 49ers signed him to six-year extension in the offseason, recording five tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception return for a touchdown. Brooks, who is vying to be named to his first Pro Bowl, is among a host of 49ers that are making strong cases to be nominated to the NFL’s annual All-Star game. You can vote for San Francisco’s finest at 49ers.com/ProBowl.

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Morning Tailgate: Nov. 27

Patrick Willis has been long regarded as one of the NFL’s elite defensive players. Each season of his six-year career, the San Francisco 49ers linebacker has been in the discussion for the league’s Defensive Player of the Year honors.

This year is no different, only Willis is not alone in receiving DPOY publicity. Second-year linebacker Aldon Smith, the NFL’s leader with 16.5 sacks, is also receiving praise for his elite play.

ProFootballFocus.com’s cast of writers recently listed Smith and Willis as their No. 8 and No. 9 candidates for DPOY honors.

There’s still five games to play and Smith (16.5 sacks) is chasing the NFL’s single-season sack record (22.5) held by former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan.

Jim Harbaugh believes it’s great to be mentioned with some of the game’s all-time greats, but the 49ers coach believes there’s more important accomplishments left on the table.

“I think I’ve told you what I think of team effort and records and it doesn’t need to be compared with anything that happened previous years or with previous great players,” Harbaugh said on Monday. “I mean you’re talking about great players that accomplished great things. It’s great to be mentioned with that, but I think I could speak for Aldon if I could for minute. Statistics aren’t what motivates him, it’s winning games.”

In the month of November, Smith totaled 9.0 sacks in three games, while the league’s No. 2 and 3 sack leaders, J.J. Watt and Von Miller, totaled five and eight sacks, respectively, in four November contests.

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Week 12 Game Notes

The 49ers moved their record to 8-2-1 with a 31-21 victory on the road at New Orleans. 49ers Public Relations presents the following game notes from the Week 12 matchup.

With a Win…

• The 49ers improved to 47-24-2 overall and 24-13 on the road against theNew Orleans Saints.
• San Francisco improved to 10-3 on the road under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
• In the month of November under Harbaugh, the 49ers improved to 5-1-1.
• The Niners improved to 16-4-1 vs. NFC opponents under Harbaugh.
• San Francisco improved its regular season record under Harbaugh to 21-5-1.
• The 49ers have won 8 of their first 11 games for the 2nd consecutive season (9-2 in 2011), the first time the team has accomplished that feat in back-to-back years since 1997-98.

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Morning Tailgate: Nov. 26

The 49ers are simply spoiled at quarterback. Second-year signal-caller Colin Kaepernick is gaining believers nationwide after he helped lead the 49ers to a 31-21 road victory at New Orleans in his second career start on Sunday, following San Francisco’s 6-2-1 start to the season with Alex Smith.

Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group examined the big 49ers win, while his colleague Mark Purdy focused on the quarterbacks situation after the game.

“It’s all quite entertaining to discuss,” Purdy wrote. “We keep learning more about Kaepernick with every passing day. Donte Whitner, the 49ers safety who also scored on an interception return, has become friendly with Kaepernick because the two often find themselves working out simultaneously at the team’s practice facility in Santa Clara. Whitner said that Kaepernick is often the first man to show up on the premises.”

Today’s Morning Tailgate rounds up more headlines from New Orleans and shows you why it pays to wear a 49ers jacket when walking around the Bay Area.

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Harbaugh Not Announcing Starting QB

Jim Harbaugh’s not saying who will start at quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday in New Orleans. He’s also not saying if he’s even informed Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick of the decision.

What the 49ers coach is saying is that his veteran quarterback is close to being cleared to return to action. Smith passed his final contact test on Friday and will be officially cleared for contact by the team’s Medical Director, Dr. Dan Garza, if he shows no symptoms on Saturday.

Harbaugh also said Smith has felt no concussion symptoms since Tuesday. Smith suffered the concussion on Nov. 11 vs. St. Louis.

“That’s a real positive,” Harbaugh went on to say.

As for naming Smith or Kaepernick as Sunday’s starter, Harbaugh felt there was no benefit to releasing the information in the days leading up to a big NFC matchup.

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Morning Tailgate: Nov. 23

Contrary to reports, no decision has been made on who will start at quarterback for the 49ers this Sunday in New Orleans. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman reiterated the team’s stance on Thanksgiving Day that the team is confident in both of the team’s top quarterbacks and that Alex Smith has to be cleared for contact.

Colin Kaepernick has taken the same amount of practice reps this week leading defensive players to believe he will make his first road start this weekend in New Orleans. That’s according to safety Donte Whitner who told The Dan Patrick Show via ProFootballTalk.com this morning that he and his teammates are under the impression Kaepernick will get the nod.

Jim Harbaugh will address the media at 1:45 p.m. and tight end Vernon Davis expects his coach to name a starter according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Maiocco also notes that Smith’s final contact test could take place any time before kick-off. Team Medical Director Dr. Dan Garza could administer the test when the team lands in New Orleans to see how Smith responds to the altitude change.

Harbaugh’s press conference will be covered promptly on http://www.49ers.com/live.

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Roman: Alex Smith Not Cleared for Contact

Quarterback updates are all the rage at 49ers headquarters these days. On Thursday, offensive coordinator Greg Roman offered the latest news on Alex Smith, saying he hopes the signal-caller will finally be cleared for contact on Friday.

Smith wore a black jersey designated for non-contact players during the Thanksgiving practice session, before Roman briefed reporters on the latest developments between Smith and Colin Kaepernick.

“No decision has been made,” Roman said. “We’re hopeful that Alex gets cleared tomorrow, physically. We’re confident in both quarterbacks to be on the field. We’re always going to weigh all the information as we have it and make the best decision for the team at the time. We have ultimate confidence in either.”

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