The club will likely make a game-time decision whether Gore will play Sunday. Coach Mike Singletary said the fact he is just 22 yards shy of 1,000 yards will have no bearing on the decision whether Gore plays in the game.
Singletary said he does not want Gore to play unless his left ankle is completely healthy. He said his fear would be that Gore over-compensates for his ankle injury and runs the risk of another injury.
All six 49ers players on the team's injury report are listed as probable for Sunday's game: Gore, C Eric Heitmann (abdomen), S Michael Lewis (abdomen), OT Adam Snyder, S Mark Roman (knee) and LB Ahmad Brooks (back).
Roman did not practice, but he's expected to be ready to play. Brooks, Gore and Snyder were limited. Sims will likely start at right tackle. Brooks will not suit up for the game, Singletary said.
The Redskins' injury report: LB London Fletcher (foot), DT Kedric Golston (ankle) and T Jon Jansen (knee) are questionable; and G Pete Kendall (knee) is probable.
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Singletary was asked today about the Sac Bee report that he will fire offensive coordinator Mike Martz after the season. Here was his response:
Singletary: "Because of all the controversy about it and all the distraction that it's had on our team already . . . I just came in this morning and got our team together first thing this morning and told them, 'You know what, guys? All the speculation, all the talk, whatever, we want to focus on
Q: Have you discussed this with Mike Martz?
Singletary: "Uh, very little. We talked a little about it. But no big deal."
Singletary added: "I'm going to stay on
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It sounds odd to me!! Sing and 49ers are heading to finish the last game of the season in a few days. Why stired up the distraction about firing the OC? Singletary has not been officially offered the permanent HC job, why the heck he sounds like he is already the man. He also sounds like the media is trying to distract him from the Red Skins, but it was him to stir up everything. Nevertheless, Martz deserved some respect and recognition for the improving offense. Can Singletary handle the matter with more class? It's less likely but it is funny if Singletary himself is rejected from the permanent HC job.
There would'nt be anything funny about Singletary not getting
the HC job. A better description would be disappointing considering how the team has responded. This is nothing more than business, nothing personal. Singletary has the right to sink or swim with his own staff and I for one can not
wait to see his hirings as well as his draft picks.
I, for one, would be very disappointed if Sing fires Martz. Martz has done nothing but be successful as a coah. The offense has really improved with him (and without a star QB on the team - two journeymen). He also seems (in interveiws) like a nice, thoughtful guy who demands the best from his players. Should I also add that it's never boring with him (as it had been for most of the 5 years before). Of course, in the end it all depends on who he is replaced with. But if it's going to be a run, run, manage game type of offense.....jeez....the ravens have been the only modern team to win a SB that way, and they had one of the greatest defenses of all time. I'd rather follow the model of the Pats, Colts, Steelers, etc - you know, excellent defense AND excellent offense.
Hi Matt, I was initially against the Martz hiring but as the season progressed he adapted to the situation. I believe he is flexible enough and his offensive mindset is without question. Except for two endzone calls on the last plays of games we would be in the playoffs. My only worry is that if he is fired we regress. Another year he would probably bring out the best in the players. In the end he may be too smart for any head coach to want on the sidelines and Sing picked that up in a heartbeat and that's one of the reasons he got the job.
I understand that the Yorks and Nolan have set the bar so low, that even the slightest appeearance of competence looks like a mirage in the desert. But Lowell Cohn's column yesterday was a rational person addressing an emotional topic. The 49ers' organization is rotten at the top. Look at the past nine years under the Yorks, and one will see the coming nine years. Singletary is a class person and maybe in college he could be a quality head coach, but in todays NFL, the head coach has to be the smartest guy in the room. With Lucky Sperm Jed, Scotty Mc. and P. Marathe running the organization, Singletary is being set up to fail. The bar is set so low, that a questionable 4-4 is seen as success. Last week's game against the Rams was an imbarrassment for 3 1/2 quarters. Our QB is the definition of a back-up QB. In perfect conditions indoors, any pass over ten yards looked like a wounded duck. Boycott the stadium! Do not renew season tickets! Send the Dorks a message!
The most important decision is a team president people.
Yes HC is the hot topic, but look at the BIG picture.
Nolan was handed the keys to the kingdom, they realized he couldn't do it all, they pared down the duties, then realized he couldn't lead.
In a perfect world, we get a bonafide 'Football' executive to work with Scot and get the front office in order and speaking the same language.
Look no further then the NYG and what Reese did when he replaced Acorsi.
When smart peersonnel decisions are made at the FA and Draft levels, good coaches teach and bond the talent into what good teams become, winners.
We may have found the best teacher and leader for this team in Singeltary because a young coach with HOF credentials provides a beacon of inspiration to a young team. His dynamic persona has already bonded these guys and I see him as a master motivator, something Nolan could not accomplish.
KezarMike I'm in the same class with you, improvements were obvious with Martz, but, we had nowhere to go but up after Hostler.
I like the Parcells approach, vanilla defense, solid fundamentals, killer defense. Singletary has that model in mind too I believe. Add the NT, a nasty RT and a little more LB depth and I see us owning the NFC West for awhile.
Once Frank becomes as dominant as Jacobs in NY, Stewart in NC or any other good running team, our Defense stays fresher, the passing game becomes that much more dominant.
Like the OC ideas shared here, Linehan makes sense, Billick too for that matter because of his WCO experience and ties to Singletary and Walsh.
Right now, I'd be ecstatic to finish 7-9 and feel good about my chances next year.
Hoping for Mike to get the job. Sadly we leave the field on Sunday for the off season, but I'm very impressed with everything Mike has done since taking over for The Suit.
Of course I meant to say vanilla offense, sorry for not proofreading folks.
Oh man what a Christmas gift for Martz huh? I personally don't understand why Singletary announced he was getting rid of Martz in the offseason before the last game of the season, especially if they have only talked a little. There must be something going on between the two of them much worse than how Singletary has been describing their relationship with each other. Bad timing, you can focus all you want on Washington, but Martz will assuredly be focusing on something else.
I don't imagine for a second that Singletary leaked word to the press that he intends to fire Martz. So I see two remaining possibilities:
1) Someone VERY high up in the 49ers organization leaked details of the plan Singletary laid out for the ownership.
2) The press fabricated the story out of thin air so they'd have something to sell newspapers with.
Not to mention Singletary isn't denying anything 'post-game' either.
Seems to me his canned response should be 'I'm an interim coach with no input on hirings or firings, including my own'.
That in itself suggests the hiring of Singletary might have already been completed behind closed doors.
The rest as they say, is all about dotting the I's and crossing the T's.
I'm gonna lobby for Brian Billick. WCO, ties to Walsh, HC experience with no one looking for his services, ties to Singletary, won a SB and isn't shy about running the ball down your throat. Not te mention, he knows a good defense and might help recruit Suggs/Scott et al.
Matt - Did the game sell out for Sunday? Its not showing on my Tivo as being aired on Sunday and was wondering if you know if the game will be on TV or not. I like to re-watch them on Monday but don't want to waste the space on my DVR if its not on. If it's not on FOX, do you know if another station which will replay the game?
Happy Holidays, Matt,
What a season! And we got a Christmas present from the 9ers. Singletary stays as coach! I hope it's not too early, but who do you think the 9ers will be looking at in the draft? The obvious is a pass rusher. But, what about a strong running back to compliment Gore. Do something like the Giants, so Gore can last longer? And since Sing wants to run, what linemen are out there?
Matt,
Just curious. When a reporter runs a controversial story with an anonymous source I imagine his relationship with some members of the team and coaches are strained. Have you ever caught any flak or been interrogated under a bright light in an attempt to get you to reveal your sources?
This story was a great scoop for Bee Rows but why in the world would anyone inside the 9er organization leak this info before the last game? They must have known it would cause alot of problems. All I can assume is that someone really doesn't like Martz.
we're starting to be competitive again, and scoring points! heck.. we're even WINNING games again... so, why fire Martz??!
That would be a very, very, VERY dumb move for the entire organization (like the Mariucci firing). Keep Martz to his contract. If we have a good season next year, resign him for another 2 years.
Yorks: STOP CHANGING OC, IT HURTS US!!
we're starting to be competitive again, and scoring points! heck.. we're even WINNING games again... so, why fire Martz??!
That would be a very, very, VERY dumb move for the entire organization (like the Mariucci firing). Keep Martz to his contract. If we have a good season next year, resign him for another 2 years.
Yorks: STOP CHANGING OC, IT HURTS US!!
i agree with 88.why rock the boat?both mikes have done a great job.how anyone could believe billick would be an asset is beyond me .no passer, nno stud receivers,9 in-the box,use up your running back.[ think we just liberated ourselves from this boring,.loserly type of offense.even if we had a raven defense and a stud o-line,niner football is about balance.