Blogs

Morning Tailgate: July 17

The closer we get to training camp, the more we come across last-minute predictions for the 2012 season. Not to worry, 49ers Faithful would approve of these opinions.

The latest offering, NFL Network’s season preview of the San Francisco 49ers as part of their “32 Teams in 32 Days” series, touches on the 49ers chances of improving on last year’s NFC title game appearance.

NFLN analysts Jamie Dukes and Daryl Johnston spoke positively about the team’s chances of reaching a sixth Super Bowl in franchise history. In fact, Dukes has gone on the record as predicting the 49ers being the NFC’s representative in this year’s Super Bowl.

More analysis on the 49ers heading into camp and the latest team headlines can be found after the jump.

Read more »

Morning Tailgate: June 1

Justin Smith’s run of under-the-radar dominance is slowly starting to fade.

With NFL writers taking the time to acknowledge the efforts of San Francisco’s All-Pro defensive tackle, it’s clear that Smith’s name will continued to be mentioned in greater detail throughout the 2012 season.

In the latest offering of praise, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah listed Smith atop his interior defensive linemen rankings because of his ability to play the run and the pass.

“Against the run, he is too physically strong to move off the line of scrimmage and quick enough to shoot gaps and wreak havoc in the backfield,” Jeremiah, a former NFL scout, wrote.

“As a pass rusher, he might have the best bull rush of any defensive lineman in the league. He constantly pushes the pocket and forces the QB off his spot. He was always a solid player in Cincinnati, but he has taken his game to new heights in San Francisco. In four years with the 49ers, he’s compiled 29 sacks and made each of the last three Pro Bowls.”

In addition to NFL writers acknowledging Smith’s presence on the field, teammates have shed light on Smith’s behavior off of it. In fact, several 49ers have called Smith the funniest player in the locker room.

This is what Michael Crabtree had to say in a 49ers.com live chat when asked to name his funniest teammate.

“Justin Smith,” Crabtree said. “You know when you go to a comedy show and they’re telling the truth? He’s like that. It’s better when the truth is funnier than jokes.”

Fullback Bruce Miller had a similar response in his chat earlier this offseason.

“The funniest person on the team by far is Justin Smith,” Miller, the second-year player said. “He might be one of the funniest persons I’ve ever met. He’s so clever.”

It’s doubtful opposing offensive linemen find Smith to be so humorous, they’re too busy finding ways to slow down his never-ending motor.

More 49ers headlines can be found after the jump.

Read more »

A. J. Jenkins Learning From Rice, Moss

A.J. Jenkins is yet to conquer “The Hill,” but he’s stayed in contact with the greatest of all time, 49ers Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.

The legendary 49ers wide receiver has offered to take Jenkins on a run up the notorious South Bay hill which Rice made famous, but the Illinois alum has been waist-deep in his first NFL offseason.

“We’ll get to the hill,” Jenkins said following Thursday’s Organized Team Activity at 49ers headquarters. “I don’t know when; I’m always out here doing things. But eventually, I want to do it with him. “

Read more »

Morning Tailgate: March 14

March Madness is officially underway.

The NCAA tournament’s play-in games have begun so the previous statement is technically correct. But in the NFL world, the phrase applies to the opening day of the NFL’s 2012 free agency period where several teams welcomed in new players, including the San Francisco 49ers.

In total, 532 players hit the market with the right to negotiate with 32 clubs.

The 49ers added one of those 532 by signing cornerback Perrish Cox to a two-year contract to start the day. The team later re-signed linebacker Tavares Gooden to a two-year contract as well.

But before we dive into the top headlines from the first day of free agency, there’s also a special voting tournament taking place on NFL.com that 49ers Faithful will certainly want to know about.

More on free agency and the NFL’s tournament after the jump.

Read more »

NFL, Smith Honor Jim Harbaugh

On the eve of Super Bowl XLVI, the National Football League held its inaugural postseason “NFL Honors” award show Saturday night. The primetime television event, hosted by Alec Baldwin, saw a blend of current and former stars of pro football being highlighted throughout the show.

Read more »

49ers-Giants to Golf at Pebble Beach

All in the name of charity and competition, of course, members of the San Francisco 49ers and San Francisco Giants will compete in a Charity Shoot-Out on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Read more »

Walking with the Champs at Pebble Beach

I spent Tuesday afternoon walking five holes at Pebble Beach with a camera and a cell phone (to Tweet of course) with several football and baseball stars from the 49ers and Giants.

It was all for a good cause of course. The goal of yesterday’s Google Charity Shootout was to raise money for the 49ers Foundation and the Giants Community Fund.  I was there to report on the event for 49ers.com and share the uniqueness of the event.

The 49ers team boasted a combined 11 Super Bowl rings between them while the Giants squad came to the tee with glistening 2010 World Series rings to their credit.

Read more »

Montana and Rice on Radio Row

You can’t get through Super Bowl week and all the media attention surrounding it without discussing the history of the big game.

Who better to share their insights on the magnitude of the event than 49ers Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Jerry Rice? Not a bad choice considering the quarterback-wide receiver duo hold a combined seven Super Bowl rings between them.

Read more »

Saturday Photos From London

What a day. A walk through at Wembley Stadium followed by a pep rally at Trafalgar Square with 20,000 screaming fans (many in 49ers red) made this Saturday a very unique and memorable day.

Read more »

Rice Inducted Into Hall of Fame

CANTON, OH – Team owner John York described the night well.  ”When you put Steve Young, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice together on stage…that’s what makes it great to be a Forty-Niner,” he said.

The current members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame welcomed seven new members to their elite fraternity on Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium.  The 2010 Class adds several elite names of its own.  Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Dick LeBeau, Floyd Little, John Randle and the NFL’s all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, were joined by the league’s all-time leading receiver, Jerry Rice.

Rice, always  concerned with fashion, told the media earlier in the week that he made sure he had his gold jacket tapered.  With the same approach he took to his sharp looking uniform during his 20-year career, Rice had to look the part as he went into the Hall of Fame.

“I made a mistake tonight, I have a blue and a black sock on tonight,” Rice told the crowd as he took the podium. “Just joking guys!”

Read more »