Blogs

Monday’s Locker Room Talk: Nov. 7

Ricky Jean Francois had big shoes to fill on Sunday.

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Ricky Jean Francois Visits AT&T Park

Although defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois is far from his Miami home during the season, he’s done quite well acclimating himself in the Bay Area.

In his second year with the 49ers, Jean Francois has been making strides on and off the field. He already has set career highs this year with 11 tackles 1.0 sack and a forced fumble. And on Tuesday, the 6-foot-3, 295-pounder traveled to the home of the World Champion San Francisco Giants to gain perspective on another professional sport.

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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.

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49ers Wear Pink with a Purpose

For many of the 49ers who will wear pink cleats, gloves and sweat bands this Sunday against the Oakland Raiders, the opportunity to spread breast cancer awareness was something too good to pass up.

For defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois, it’s a chance to honor his late grandmother.

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Rookies Enjoy ‘49 U’

While most of the veterans on the 49ers roster left town at the conclusion of the team’s offseason program, the rookie class stuck around the last week of June for Player Development Week.

Or as 49ers Director of Player Development Tyrone Knott dubbed it, “49 U.”

The week consisted of daily meetings between Knott and the rookies, a visit to a local business, an investment simulation seminar and wrapped up with a trip to the NFL Rookie Symposium.

The entire week brought the group of rookies even closer.

“I knew all the guys prior to that, but I feel like we know each other 10 times more from going through that experience,” rookie tight end Nate Byham said. “We all know each other on the field already, and have become friends, but this was a good experience all around to build on that brotherhood that we’re developing.”

The week began with a visit to local video game manufacturer Namco Bandai, located a couple of blocks from 49ers headquarters in Santa Clara. The players toured the Namco facility and listened to a presentation from offensive lineman Tony Wragge, who recently concluded a six-week internship in the offseason with the help of Knott and Namco’s operations analyst Charmaine Morena.

“I wouldn’t have went on this type of tour if I had a regular job or if I was in college,” cornerback LeRoy Vann remarked. “I think it was a great opportunity to experience something cool.”

Although he’s entering his second NFL season, 49ers defensive tackle and avid video gamer Ricky Jean Francois wanted to be a part of the Namco tour. He also wanted to get first-hand knowledge of Wragge’s experience in the gaming industry.

“It opened up your eyes to the real world away from football,” Jean Francois said. “That’s something all of us needed.”

Another highlight of the week was the investment simulation, which featured teams of rookies investing Monopoly-like money in various stocks to learn about the ramifications of long-term investments. The winning team ended up being linebacker Mike Balogun and offensive lineman Matt Kopa.

“That’s that University of Oklahoma education right there!” Balogun proudly stated to the group upon being announced as the winners.

At the conclusion of “49 U” the drafted players took part in the NFL’s four-day Rookie Symposium, a staple of the NFL’s Player Development programs since its birth in 1997. The gathering of players from all 32 teams in Carlsbad, Calif., provided a great opportunity for players to understand the best way to conduct themselves as they enter professional football.

“It was definitely a long couple of days, that was to be expected, but I really got a lot out of it,” Byham said. “When you think of the Symposium, you think of 12-hour days full of meetings. But now that I’ve gone through it, I was able to take a lot away from it.”

Byham especially enjoyed the lectures from former NFL stars and Commissioner Roger Goodell, but found the separate meetings with the rookies from the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints to be most interesting.

“We did a bunch of activities and brainstormed ideas. We talked about stresses and realities of being rookies in the NFL and how you have to live your life. It was pretty cool. It was nice to have other people to talk to who weren’t just your teammates. You see how we’re all going through the same stresses coming in as a rookie.”

Having graduated “49 U” the rookies hope to take the next step and become members of the 49ers 53-man roster. They’ll have their chance when training camp opens Aug. 2.

‘Niner Jan’ Remembered For Loving Support

The 49ers haven’t played any games this offseason, but they’ve just suffered one of their biggest losses in recent years.

Jan Boehm, who was one of the most loyal, passionate, and caring members of the 49ers Faithful, passed away on Friday, April 30th after a difficult battle with central nervous system lymphoma.

“Jan was arguably our most visible and outwardly supportive fan,” said 49ers Co-Chairman Dr. John York. “She helped each of us appreciate – every single day – what it meant to be a member of the 49ers.  She reminded us of how lucky we were to be a part of this great organization and she made us want to be a part of her life, too.”

Perhaps no member of the Faithful was more spirited about their beloved football team than Boehm, who was simply known around team headquarters as “Niner Jan.”

But she was more than that. To us, she was our “Niner Mom.” It said as much on the birthday and holiday cards she routinely sent to players, coaches and members of the front office.

“She was such a die-hard fan, but cared about everyone on the team,” left tackle Joe Staley recalled. “She would write us nice cards every year, and they were all personal. There was never a generic card, everything was personalized. She really cared about the team, and it’s really sad that she’s not going to be with us anymore, but she’ll always be with us in spirit.”

Beyond the numerous cards of well wishes personalized with her unrelenting spirit, Boehm would spend countless hours in her nearby kitchen in Sunnyvale preparing tasty treats to personally deliver to team headquarters each week of the regular season.

Win or lose, for the past 20 seasons, Boehm has been there to support her team. Ever since she witnessed the 49ers dominant performance in Super Bowl XXIV over the Denver Broncos, Boehm became fascinated with the franchise.

She would soon begin collecting memorabilia that would nearly reach 1,000 items proudly displayed in her home. But Boehm’s passion for the team wasn’t based on the performances on the field; it was rooted in the character of the players and coaches that she observed off of it.

Once Boehm got more involved in following the team over the past decade, she began bringing home-made baked goods to players and staff members as part of her weekly visits to 4949 Centennial Blvd.

Boehm’s annual arrival was eagerly awaited by many in the building, including security staff member Dario Montenegro, who recalled seeing Boehm deliver baked goods for 10 of the 12 seasons he’s worked for the 49ers.

“She was always upbeat, always happy. No matter what the 49ers did, she would always say, ‘We can do better!’” Montenegro remembered. “That’s what you want your fans to be like. No matter what the team went through, she was there for us all of the time, no matter what. She was always holding up the team.”

Boehm also held up the 49ers efforts in the community by frequently contributing to the 49ers Foundation. As an English teach for over 20 years, Boehm took a particular interest in helping the 49ers keep kids safe, on track and in school.

“She saw the difference you can make when you give a child the support they need to be successful in school,” said Joanne Pasternack, Director of Community Relations and The 49ers Foundation. “She didn’t just talk about being a fan; she really supported us on and off the field. Jan showed the personal touch that really makes people feel appreciated.”

In her memory, Boehm has continued her personal touch, requesting that 10 percent of her estate be donated to the 49ers Foundation to support low income youth.

But it wasn’t the first time Boehm had made such a generous gesture towards a 49ers-related cause.

When 49ers defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois felt the devastation left by a lethal earthquake which rocked his homeland of Haiti, Boehm stepped in with a $5,000 donation to the American Red Cross. As a native of Louisiana, Boehm was all too familiar with the devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina. She felt it was necessary to help out.

“It was so nice, she didn’t have to do it, but the fact that she would do things for all of us, we really appreciated it,” Jean Francois said. “To see all the love that she gave us, that comes from something deep down, something out of your heart.

“She’ll never be forgotten by us. She’ll always be remembered. We know we can’t see her in the physical form, but we know she’s here in spirit.”

Boehm wrote this in a Christmas card she sent me this past season:

“Taylor, Keep up the good work! The 49ers are so lucky to have you!”

But really, we were all so, so lucky to have her.

Jean Francois Visits Little Haiti

Miami, site of Super Bowl 44 and last week’s Pro Bowl is also home to the largest proportion of Haitians living in the United States.

Like their homeland, the Haitian community in South Florida was greatly impacted by the earthquake in Haiti. The Little Haiti community in Miami was especially affected; many lost family members and friends in the disaster. Now, families in Little Haiti are taking in orphans and others who were injured in the earthquake.

To help support the Little Haiti community, NFL players including 49ers defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois visited with community members this past Wednesday at the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center in Miami. The NFL also presented the Center with a donation to those families most in need.

The players spent time with students speaking of their experiences on and off the football field. In addition the players toured the Center to get an update of how South Florida’s community has been impacted by the earthquake and how they’re responding to it.

The issue was especially important to Jean Francois, who is of Haitian decent.

Jean Francois had never visited his father’s homeland, but had a trip planned before the devastation hit Haiti.

“I want to give back to my people because my whole dad’s side of the family is over there. I’ve never had a chance to see them and finally when I had planned to go see them the disaster happened.

“I want to give all the support I can to make sure people continue to support Haiti with whatever they can, whether its food, money, or any support possible. We need to continue to give to help the country get better.”

Click here to help donate to the Red Cross’ Haitian Relief Fund.

Work Ethic a Theme Behind 53-Man Roster

On Saturday, head coach Mike Singletary held a conference call with the media to discuss the decision behind releasing 20 players to get down to the mandatory 53-man roster.

The 49ers will keep only two tight ends in Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker, but Singletary said the possibility remained open that the team could still add a blocking tight end.

After a good preseason, the 49ers released running back Kory Sheets.  On the decision, Singletary simply said, “We wanted to have the 53 guys that give us the best opportunity to win.”

Linebacker Diyral Briggs was the only undrafted free agent from this year’s draft class to win a roster spot.

“He’s young, he has talent and going foward we wanted to see it develop,” Singletary said of Briggs.

Micheal Spurlock also impressed during the preseason and his ability on special teams and at wide receiver make him a valuable addition to the roster.

“Spurlock has just continued to show up,” Singletary said.  “He’s a versatile guy and he can help you in the special teams area.  It was a good opportunity and a good fit.”

The 49ers also kept its two seventh-round draft picks out of LSU, DE Ricky Jean Francois and S Curtis Taylor.

“[Jean-Francois] is a big guy who is talented,” Singletary said. “He studies and the maturity he has is important to him.  When you look at [Taylor], with his size alone, you’re hoping he can play.  He has nice range and good speed.  He’s become more physical since he’s been here.”

The overarching theme behind the roster decisions for Singletary and his coaching staff was work ethic.

“You want guys on the team that have a common denominator – that football is important to them and they have a great work ethic,” Singletary said.  “As a coach, I was pleasantly surprised that all of these guys had a great work ethic.  Certain guys just stepped up in certain areas and did things that made you look twice.  Whether it be Spurlock, Jean Francois or Curtis [Taylor], I just think they did a good job.  As we sat down as a staff, their names just kept coming up.”

Going forward, Singletary said, “We’ll keep one eye on the roster and we’re thankful that the season is about to start.”

Harris Placed on IR

The San Francisco 49ers announced Wednesday that they have placed CB Walt Harris on the Injured Reserve List. Harris suffered an ACL injury on May 19, 2009, and subsequently underwent surgery.

Harris is a 13-year veteran of the NFL, after originally being selected with the 13^th overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears out of Mississippi State. He joined the 49ers in 2006 after spending time with the Bears, Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins.

The team also announced that they have placed DL Ricky Jean-Francois on the Non-Football Illness List.