In a fitting Veteran’s Day tribute, the 49ers will be recognizing the men and women serving the United States across the world this Sunday when they face the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park.

A camouflaged ribbon sticker has been placed on each gold helmet this week, along with the player’s choice of another sticker to recognize the five branches of our armed forces. Of the 53 49ers, 13 chose Marines or Navy stickers, 11 chose Army, nine chose Air Force and seven chose Coast Guard.

For Tavares Gooden, picking an Army sticker was a no-brainer.

Gooden joined the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps as a high school student in Florida, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who served in the Army, and a brother who served in the Navy. Gooden reached the rank of Sgt. 1^st Class during his time with the ROTC, and has since tattooed the Sgt. 1^st Class patch on to his left shoulder.

“I was raised in a military family so that’s why I did ROTC,” Gooden said. “I learned leadership, discipline and how to defend myself – key characteristics of life.”

Daniel Kilgore also had a good reason to pick his Marines sticker. Two of his best friends from college at Appalachian State have already served two terms in Iraq, but have since returned safely. One is currently stationed in San Diego, while the other is in South Carolina.

“It’s always nice when you can pay tribute to them for serving our country,” Kilgore said. “I’m so blessed for what my boys have done and enabled me to do. I look at that, for sure.”

Meanwhile, Ian Williams has different logic for choosing to represent Navy’s emblem.

“They beat us three times while I was in college, so I had to show them some respect,” the Notre Dame alum said. “But it’s an honor to be representing those guys and show respect for all they do for us.”

The 49ers also hosted nearly 40 servicemen and women to watch Wednesday’s practice at the team facility, before Sunday’s Salute to Service at Candlestick Park.

The 49ers and USAA have teamed up for a day-long celebration of our military that includes a Wounded Warriors presentation, a tribute to veterans, the swearing-in of new members of the United States Army, and a stadium card stunt honoring those who have given of themselves to protect our freedom.  To download and share exclusive photos of Sunday’s card stunt, visit millionfansalute.com.

There’s nothing Tavares Gooden wouldn’t do to bring down an opposing ball carrier, or make a block to spring one of his players (See photo atop this post). The 49ers special teams standout has endeared himself to teammates and coaches for his relentless pursuit to the football whether it’s on kickoff or punt coverage teams. Gooden’s unselfish play as a blocker is also well-respected.

The 49ers linebacker explained his all-out mindset in the latest Niner Talk podcast on 49ers.com. In addition, the 6-foot-1, 242-pound, fifth-year pro also explained how the birth of his newborn son, Kadence, has already made a major impact on his life.

Also on the show, San Francisco Chronicle 49ers beat writer Eric Branch previewed two of his feature stories set to hit the newspaper this week. Branch also previewed things to look for in Thursday night’s preseason finale, including the No. 3 quarterback competition between Scott Tolzien and Josh Johnson.

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee writes that Anthony Dixon just might have worked his way on to the team’s 53-man roster. Barrows: “Dixon led all rushers Sunday in Denver with 58 yards on 13 carries, including a 26-yard touchdown run in the third quarter in which he followed key blocks by fullback Will Tukuafu and pulling guard Derek Hall. Earlier in the game, Dixon had followed a Tukuafu block to the outside for a minimal gain. When he returned to the sideline, position coach Tom Rathman told him to break inside the next time, and that’s what Dixon did.”

Barrows also shares his 47 “locks” to make the 49ers roster at this stage of the preseason.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com notes that seventh-round pick Cam Johnson returned to Thursday’s practice.

Maiocco, along with CSN Bay Area’s Mindi Bach, discussed Dixon’s recent surge in a “Matt and Mindi” video segment.

Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News caught up with Tolzien to find out how he’s approaching the preseason finale under unique circumstances. Inman: “A year ago, when these same teams met in San Diego, Tolzien played quarterback for the Chargers as an undrafted rookie. He didn’t survive the final cuts in San Diego, but that final audition caught the eye of the opposition and helped him land on the 49ers roster.”

Inman also shared the Madden ’13 player ratings for 49ers players, which includes 98-rankings for Patrick Willis and Justin Smith.

Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com predicts Kendall Hunter to be his breakout star of 2012. Rosenthal: “San Francisco 49ers running back Kendall Hunter can be the next Darren Sproles, but with more power between the tackles.”

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com shares 47 things to look for before team’s embark on reaching Super Bowl XLVII, including this item on Willis. Rapoport: “They’re over quickly, but those moments when San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis spots an opening in the line and darts through are truly special. The poor running backs on the other side of the collisions that follow probably don’t share the sentiment, though. Willis’ recognition skills and a well-tooled ability to close turn him into a missile on the field.”

Michael Lombardi of NFL.com lists his blue and red-chip defensive players, a list which includes many San Francisco defenders.

Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com predicts Aldon Smith to have 20 sacks this season.  Schrager: “There’s an incredibly promising young crop of young pass rushers in this league right now. Jason Pierre-Paul and Aldon Smith are two of the best. Both will top 20 sacks, but will fall short of Michael Strahan’s single-season record.”

Esquire Magazine lists Alex Smith among the top 15 best-dressed NFL players. “Because, while many of his peers go for flash, he dresses like he plays: clean, understated, and reliable.”

49ers.com’s Tuesday coverage included a story on Michael Crabtree maximizing his first preseason action, a video on Dixon’s hard-working ways and a must-see highlight video from the team’s 29-24 win in Denver.

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#49ers ranked #2 of THE 122 OF 2012: THE UNIFORM MONITOR'S RANKING OF AMERICAN PRO SPORTS UNIFORMS nfl.com/photos/09000d5…—
Benjamin Mayberry (@49Dzn) August 28, 2012

Looks like the 49ers made another best-dressed list.

Trent Baalke, however, has a pretty good idea. The 49ers general manager said last week that there’s one player the team has in mind for its first-round pick. Yet, the rest of us continue to debate over potential 49ers on our water cooler visits.

Thankfully, respected NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock has revealed his top 100 draft prospects and rankings by position. Mayock’s opinions will give fans a better idea of which players will be available when the team drafts at No. 30, No. 62 (second round) and No. 91 (third round).

Mayock’s rankings, 49ers draft needs and more headlines can be found after the jump.

Roger Goodell will announce San Francisco’s first-round pick, but Jesse Sapolu, a 13-year veteran on the 49ers offensive line, will be at the draft to announce the team’s second and third round selections. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com shares a list of all the former NFL players who will be announcing second- and third-round picks for their respective clubs.

Mike Mayock’s top-100 draft prospects and positional ranking on NFL.com are a great primer for anyone seeking draft insight.

Evan Silva of ProFootballTalk.com lists guard, wide receiver, defensive line and cornerback as the 49ers biggest needs heading into the draft.

Peter King of Sports Illustrated foresees the 49ers being inclined to take the best player available regardless of position. King referred to Baalke as a “traditionalist” when it comes to the draft.

ESPN.com NFC West blogger Mike Sando shares the results of ESPN blog network’s mock draft. On behalf of the 49ers, Sando selected North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins.

Wes Bunting of NationalFootballPost.com continues his week-long mock draft and has the 49ers selecting Pittsburgh guard Lucas Nix in the fourth round (No. 125 overall) and California defensive end Trevor Guyton in the fifth round (No. 165 overall).

NFL Network analyst and NFL.com contributor Michael Lombardi shares 10 draft predictions which includes a note about Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones being a “hot commodity.”

Safety Colin Jones became the first 2011 draft class member to share reflections from his rookie season with 49ers.com.

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Welcome to the family. 49ers linebacker Tavares Gooden shares the news of his son’s birth.

At this point of the offseason, the 49ers have addressed needs on both sides of the ball by adding depth on offense and retaining key free agents on defense.

The offense has added two downfield threats at the wide receiver position in Randy Moss and Mario Manningham along with power running back Brandon Jacobs. Defensively, the team ensured all 11 starters will return to the club in 2012 by franchise tagging safety Dashon Goldson and re-signing linebacker Ahmad Brooks and cornerback Carlos Rogers to multi-year contracts. Now, it appears free agency signings are approaching a standstill across the league as players are contemplating trying to sign on with a team last minute before the draft, or waiting to see what the demand is like for their services after the draft dust settles.

In the case of the 49ers, it remains to be seen if the team will add more veteran talent in free agency. That could all depend on what the 49ers accomplish with seven draft choices.

One 49ers beat writer believes there’s no pressure for those draft picks to produce immediately based on the collection of talent already on the roster. More on that line of thinking and additional team and league news can be found after the jump.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com believes there appears to be only two starting positions unsettled on both sides of the ball for the 49ers, right guard and wide receiver opposite of Michael Crabtree. Maiocco also examines the production of late first-round picks from AFC and NFC Championship game teams since 2010.

Speaking of needs, Evan Silva of Rotoworld.com believes guard, wide receiver and defensive linemen stand as the 49ers’ biggest needs in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com unveiled his annual “Better-Than Team,” made up of players he likes better-than most scouts.

Charley Casserly of NFL.com shares a unique perspective on how NFL clubs evaluate mock drafts prior to the draft. In his time as a general manager with the Washington Redskins and Houston Texans, Casserly would use the mock drafts a week prior to the draft to see what other teams might do in the first round and which players would potentially be around in the second round.

Lastly, in case you missed our live chat with tight end Delanie Walker, here’s the transcript which features a number of topics being answered by the versatile 49ers player.

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Linebacker Tavares Gooden continues a solid first week on Twitter with a fun message for his followers.

Let the Madden curse debate continue.

Patrick Willis has advanced to the semifinal round of the 2013 EA Madden video game cover tournament where he’s pitted against Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.

In a recent appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Willis spoke openly about wanting to grace the cover and becoming the first defensive players to solely be on the Madden cover since Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

For those scoring at home, Willis has already defeated Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew and New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz.

Voting in the semifinal round lasts from now until April 18.

More insight on Willis’ quest for the Madden cover and a busy day of 49ers headlines are recapped after the jump.

Matt Barrows of The Sacrament Bee explores the recent track record of Madden cover athletes and wonders if Willis will fall victim to the so-called “Madden curse.”

Don Banks of SI.com released his fifth mock draft of the 2012 offseason and like many of his counterparts, Banks lists Stanford tight end Coby Fleener as San Francisco’s choice with the No. 30 overall pick.

ESPN.com NFC West blogger Mike Sando takes the mock drafts a step further by listing 14 different mock draft offerings and their respective choices for NFC West teams. Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler was the clubhouse leader with four different mock drafts penciling in the Big Ten lineman to the 49ers.

Wes Bunting of NationalFootballPost.com examines 10 players he considers to be safe draft picks.

In 49ers news, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes that tackle Alex Boone could be given a chance to compete for the team’s starting right guard position.

Maiocco also offers a rundown of prospects with local college and high school ties that’ll potentially attend the 49ers local pro day set for next Wednesday.

With veteran safety Madieu Williams signing with the Washington Redskins on Tuesday, Barrows took a look at the 49ers depth at the position.

Lastly, the 49ers will compete with the New York Giants once again as the teams are featured in ProFootballHallofFame.com’s “Jersey Showdown” tournament. The uniforms worn by the 1973 49ers are in competition with the threads worn by the 1936 Giants.

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49ers cornerback Cory Nelms shared big news on Twitter last night: special teams standout Tavares Gooden has created his own account.

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.

This year, NFL.com is offering fans the chance to determine the greatest team in NFL history. With 64 all-time teams included in the field, the 49ers are represented by six of their own teams: ’81,’84, ’88, ’89, ’90, and ’94. First round voting concludes March 15 at 2 p.m. PT.

One of the players largely responsible for many 49ers teams making the tournament, Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, was recently named as the greatest draft pick in the No. 16 slot in NFL Draft history by SI.com.

Now on to free agency news where the Chicago Bears made two moves that directly affected the 49ers. First, the Bears traded a pair of third-round picks to acquire Pro Bowl MVP wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Miami Dolphins. Later in the day, Chicago signed linebacker Blake Costanzo away from the 49ers to a two-year deal. The Bears and Dolphins are scheduled to visit the 49ers at Candlestick Park in the 2012 regular season.

Wide receiver Joshua Morgan also has left the 49ers in free agency after signing a two-year contract with the Washington Redskins according to ProFootballTalk.com.

With moves across the league continue to happen throughout the day, all the free agency movement is being tracked by ProFootballFocus.com.

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Joe Staley continues his European vacation.

The San Francisco 49ers have signed LB Tavares Gooden to a one-year deal. To make room on the roster, the team released LB Antwan Applewhite, who had joined the team on July 31, 2011.

Gooden (6-1, 242) was originally drafted in the third round (71st overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008 NFL Draft. In three seasons with Baltimore, he played in 26 games (12 starts), logging 66 tackles on defense and 22 tackles on special teams. In 2010, Gooden appeared in 10 games and recorded 14 tackles. He started all 12 games in which he appeared in 2009, as he posted 52 tackles. Gooden appeared in four games as a rookie on special teams before being place on the Injured Reserve List with a hip injury. He has made three postseason appearances.

The 26-year old native of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, starred collegiately at Miami, where he tallied 216 tackles, one sack, 11 tackles for a loss, eight hurries and one interception, in 49 games (25 starts).

Gooden’s position coach in Baltimore from 2008-09 was 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who served under John Harbaugh, brother of 49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, at the time.