Blogs

MT: Minicamp Rounds Out 49ers Offseason

Before we begin today’s Morning Tailgate, we’d like to reiterate the condolences felt by the entire 49ers organization following a morning incident at the team’s new stadium construction site.

The team will hold a three-day mandatory minicamp and will come together to finish off the 2013 offseason. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman are both scheduled to speak in the afternoon.

More 49ers headlines can be found in today’s Morning Tailgate.

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MT: 49ers Reach 90-Man Roster Limit

Following a third week of “Football School,” the San Francisco 49ers will finish the month of May with two sets of Organized Team Activities (May 21-23, May 28-30).

Those voluntary workouts are expected to have a great turnout. The 49ers offseason program has been heavily attended every step of the way from many of the team’s veterans. Now, the rookie class can participate in the offseason schedule. With the signing of fullback Jason Schepler, the 49ers are at a 90-man roster.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee analyzed San Francisco’s personnel and noted the holdovers from the 2012 NFC Champion squad. Wide receiver and inside linebacker are two positions with the most change heading into 2013.

More 49ers headlines and upcoming appearances can be found in today’s Morning Tailgate.

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Morning Tailgate: Frank Gore Turns 30

Happy Birthday Frank Gore.

The San Francisco 49ers all-time leader in carries (1,911), rushing yards (8,839) and rushing touchdowns (51) is coming off his fourth Pro Bowl season and has much to celebrate over the course of his eight successful seasons in the NFL.

Gore has rushed for more than 1,000 yards six times and had a hip fracture end his 2010 season after 11 games. He was on pace to surpass the 1,000-yard mark that year, too.

The 5-foot-9, 217-pound running back continues to prove doubters wrong. It started when he was a third-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft and has continued all throughout his time with the 49ers. Gore’s 30th birthday should only serve as more motivation for the physical runner to continue his dominance.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, Gore ranks 34th on the NFL’s all-time rushing chart with 8,839 yards. He is No. 3 on the active list behind Steven Jackson (10,135) and Adrian Peterson (8,849).

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MT: 49ers Top NFL Team Sales

The San Francisco 49ers sold the most team gear in the National Football League last season.

That’s according to a report from NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal, who also shared the top 15 jersey sales from the 2012 season. According to Rosenthal, the NFL’s tracking of team sales showed the 49ers last finished atop the NFL’s rankings in 1979 and also finished No. 2 back in 1994 and 1995.

Colin Kaepernick and Patrick Willis made the top-selling jersey list at the No. 4 and No. 10 spots, respectively.

ESPN sports business reporter Darren Rovell also weighed in on the team’s booming merchandise sales.

“49ers sell more gear than any other NFL team this year,” Rovell wrote on Twitter. “Congrats @JedYork.”

The 49ers have made an effort to make team merchandise more accessible to fans with the creation of the 49ers Team Store in Palo Alto, Calif., plus an official Facebook account for the store that keeps fans up to date with the latest arrivals.

The team is also offering jerseys of recently acquired wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

More 49ers headlines can be found in today’s Morning Tailgate.

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2013 Winter Fest Photo Blog: Saturday

Following a fun night full of charity auction bidding for the 49ers Foundation, the 13th annual Winter Fest kept the good times going into Saturday. Friday night’s silent and live auctions brought in nearly $400,000, setting a record for a one-night donation total in the event’s history.

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2013 Winter Fest Photo Blog: Friday

The 13th Annual 49ers Winter Fest is in full swing at Lake Tahoe.

The fun-filled weekend got off to a great start on Thursday when families of players, coaches and guests of the 49ers Foundation arrived and took part in a lively welcome reception. Winter Fest marks one of the biggest annual events for the 49ers Foundation, as last year’s gathering raised more than $1 million for local causes in the Bay Area.

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Morning Tailgate: Jan. 25

As the 49ers make their Quest for Six, it’s appropriate to remember the central figures who were behind previous five Super Bowls in franchise history. Along with former owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr., coach Bill Walsh was the face of the 49ers as they became one of the NFL’s most storied organizations.

Walsh, who was also a friend and mentor to Jim Harbaugh, has left his fingerprints all over the league. From his teachings of the West Coast Offense to his impressive coaching tree of former assistants who have shaped the NFL over the years, Walsh will always be remembered as one of the sport’s greatest innovators.

Seth Wickersham of ESPN the Magazine detailed Walsh’s legacy and how a book written by Walsh captures the coach’s dedication to his craft.

“Walsh began writing alone at his beach house in Monterey, Calif., always at 8 a.m., on yellow legal pads, in pencil, in all caps, his penmanship so clean that it could be its own font,” Wickersham wrote. “He would tear off sheets and stack them neatly in piles on the floor. This was in 1995, and Walsh didn’t know what kind of book he wanted. A leadership guide? A playbook? A coaching manual? A blueprint for front offices? Walsh told (Roger) Craig he wanted it to be a ‘real football book,’ not some light autobiography, waxing poetic about Super Bowls and Montana-to-Rice touchdown passes. He wanted his first book to motivate coaches, not delight fans.”

The 49ers would also like to announce that the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority is offering a Super Bowl special on pet adoptions. Select cats can be adopted for $4 and select dogs can be adopted for $9.

The rest of today’s Morning Tailgate also features the latest Super Bowl headlines, Patrick Willis’ strong relationship with his foster family, a historical look at the biggest games in 49ers postseason history and more.

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Morning Tailgate: Jan. 24

We’re just getting into the swing of things for Super Bowl XLVII, but after the 49ers held their first workout to prepare for New Orleans, it seems like gameday will be here before we know it.

Spirits were high on an overcast day at 49ers headquarters. The team appeared to be very upbeat about what lies ahead, a Feb. 3 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

The matchup is undeniably interesting based on the Harbaugh family dynamic. The passion the football family has is also quite unique. Jack and Jackie Harbaugh, along with daughter Joani Crean, discussed their relationships with Jim and John Harbaugh in a national conference call Thursday morning.

By the end of the call, it was quite evident how special the Harbaugh family is and how much they mean to each other. For Jackie and Joani, Super Bowl XLVII is a truly proud moment for the family.

More Super Bowl headlines can be found after the jump.

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Morning Tailgate: Jan. 9

Patrick Willis’ potential role against the Green Bay Packers has already been discussed at great length this week. But to his credit, the six-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers said he’s eager to carry out whatever responsibilities are asked of him from defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

If the Packers elect to use four wide receivers at a time in Saturday night’s Divisional Playoff matchup, Willis could very well be on the sideline in the 49ers dime defense in favor of fellow Pro Bowl linebacker, NaVorro Bowman. San Francisco’s “Mike” linebacker, played by Bowman, covers the middle of the field in the 49ers dime defense.

However, the likelihood of the Packers throwing even more against the 49ers isn’t a guarantee. After all, Green Bay has evolved into more of a balanced offense ever since San Francisco opened up the 2012 regular season with a solid, 30-22 road victory at Lambeau Field. Furthermore, wide receiver Jordy Nelson was reportedly missing at Tuesday’s open portion of Green Bay’s practice. Nelson suffered a leg injury in Week 17 and later limped off the field late in Green Bay’s Wild Card win over Minnesota. Both teams will release the first injury reports of the week later today.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Packers test their improved running attack against the 49ers or utilize their numerous playmakers at the wide receiver position. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com and Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee both examined the possibility of Willis being on the sideline in situational packages against Green Bay.

Regardless of the personnel Green Bay utilizes on Saturday, Willis will surely find ways to impact the game.

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Morning Tailgate: Dec. 11

A Week 15 road win over New England and a Seattle road loss to Buffalo (in Toronto)… and the San Francisco 49ers are in, the playoffs that is, as NFC West Champs. If that scenario happens this week, the team would be happier than Anthony Dixon after a 1-yard touchdown run.

A win over the Patriots and a Seattle win over the Bills… and the 49ers can make their way into the dance with a postseason bid, just not a division title.

The 49ers can make the playoffs if the following scenarios take place:

San Francisco clinches NFC West division with:

1)      SF win + SEA loss

San Francisco clinches a playoff spot with:

1)      SF win OR

2)      SF tie + DAL loss or tie + WAS loss or tie + MIN loss or tie OR

3)      SF tie + DAL loss or tie + WAS loss or tie + GB-CHI does not end in tie OR

4)      SF tie + DAL loss or tie + MIN loss or tie + CHI loss OR

5)      SF tie + NYG loss + MIN loss or tie + CHI loss OR

6)      MIN loss + DAL loss + WAS loss + SEA loss or tie

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