July 2009 Archives

    **Updates with new player signed.**

     

    It's the eve of the first practice of training camp, and you can bet the players are eager to get on the field and hit somebody. (And they'll get plenty of chances in the next few weeks.)

12

    ***Includes roster addition***

    The 49ers veterans have been reporting all day, and they've taken a look at the practice schedule. And their jaws have dropped.

34
    The Raiders have signed Darrius Heyward-Bey, the top receiver chosen in the draft, to a contract. That means the 49ers' deal for Michael Crabtree can't be far behind, right?
42
    After countless hours of research, it has been revealed that not once was the word "diva" used to describe former 49ers first-round draft picks Jimmy Webb or Ted Kwalick.
20
    The 49ers placed cornerback Walt Harris on injured reserve today, officially ending his season before it ever started.
12

    Niners coach Mike Singletary can relate to what's happening with Michael Crabtree, the 49ers' first-round pick who remains unsigned.

     

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    The 49ers' rookies, quarterbacks and veterans rebounding from injuries are scheduled to begin trickling into the team's training camp headquarters later today. Receiver Michael Crabtree is the only rookie who does not yet have a signed contract.
49
    Niners rookies, quarterbacks and selected veterans are set to report to training camp in Santa Clara on Tuesday. Four days later, the team will hold its first practice.
95

    Quarterback Nate Davis, a fifth-round pick from Ball State, signed a four-year contract with the 49ers today. Davis' contract includes a $150,300 signing bonus.

     

13

    Tonight is the only night of the week that our household routinely records multiple TV programs.

     

    Thursdays are a good night for television, and that's exactly what the NFL has in mind with its decision to change the format of the draft.

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    Coach Mike Singletary has not said it in exactly these terms, but he wants the 49ers to take on his personality.
43
    The 49ers have averaged a tad more than six victories a season over the past three years. Are the 2009 Niners a 6-10 team? Or is this the year they finally bust over the .500 mark with a 10-6 record?
56
    Niners rookies are scheduled to report in eight days, but the 49ers have a built-in cushion. Sure, they'd like to get everybody signed for the July 28 reporting date, but their first practice is scheduled four days later, Aug. 1.
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    We could not believe he was still there?

     

    You hear just about every team in the league say something similar to those disingenuous words after making their selection in the first round. And while the 49ers probably could believe Michael Crabtree would still be available with the No. 10 overall pick, they had every reason to be surprised.

36
    The 49ers have two first-round picks in the 2010 draft, and they would be wise to assess their needs this season before deciding the best way to use those selections.
55

    If you want to see the 49ers practice during training camp, we have two words that might be helpful: Good luck. The 49ers have announced only four practices this summer will be open to the general public.

    (The 49ers and their South Bay media partner, the San Jose Mercury News, have devised a system for allocating the tickets to the four practice sessions. Click here for all the information.)

     

    Back in the days when the 49ers had training camp in Rocklin and Stockton, every practice was open to the public. And because of the ample seating capacities at Sierra College and University of the Pacific, nobody got turned away.

     

    The 49ers are one of 13 teams in the NFL to hold training camp at the same location as their in-season practice facility because of convenience and cost.

     

    This will be the fifth year the 49ers have held training camp in Santa Clara at their practice facility at the cul-de-sac on Centennial Boulevard. They have opened approximately a dozen practices every summer with attendees required to hold a ticket for admittance.

     

    This summer, the 49ers' complex is undergoing a significant remodel. Because of the on-going construction, the 49ers are opening just two days to the public. Both practices on Saturday, Aug. 1, and Saturday, Aug. 8, are scheduled to be open.

     

    The team is scheduled to conduct two days of workouts this summer with the Raiders in Napa. The 49ers will have double-day practices with the Raiders on Tuesday, Aug. 18, and Wednesday, Aug. 19. Those practices will be closed to the public. The 49ers and Raiders play Saturday, Aug. 22, in the exhibition season.

     

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    The 49ers have all but three of their draft picks signed. There does not figure to be any problems getting running back Glen Coffee and quarterback Nate Davis signed to their deals. I've heard those contracts are pretty much completed, other than waiting for a few more draft picks to sign in the third and fifth rounds to finalize the exact amount of their signing bonuses.

     

    Receiver Michael Crabtree, chosen No. 10 overall, will be the final 49ers pick to sign. Niners rookies are scheduled to report Tuesday, July 28, for training camp. The negotiations with the 49ers and Crabtree's agent, Eugene Parker, are expected to heat up in the days leading up to the reporting date, as more top-10 draft picks sign their deals to establish the slotting.

     

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46
    I'm thumbing through my Athlon Sports Pro Football 2009 Preview, and I pause on Page 126 to look at the NFC predictions.
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    Every year the NFL sends a memo to its 32-member teams reminding them that people are actually paying to watch the preseason games. And every summer, 32 teams understandably ignore the plea to give substantial playing time to their starters.
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    Bob Titchenal, a charter member of the 49ers and former San Jose State head coach, died Sunday in Santa Rosa. He was 91.
1
    Allen Rossum enters training camp as the 49ers' main man on kickoff and punt returns. But who else can handle the chores?
13
    Jimmy Raye is the 49ers' seventh offensive coordinator in seven years. Mike Martz, Jim Hostler, Norv Turner, Mike McCarthy, Ted Tollner and Greg Knapp held the position from 2003 to 2008.
23
    There is no handbook on being a leader. And there certainly is not just one way to go about that duty. While the 49ers might have leaders on the team, there are not many who fit the traditional label.
14
    Several years ago during training camp in Stockton, I witnessed an undrafted rookie with whom I had spoken several times leaving the 49ers' executive office with his bags packed.
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Who is Matt?

Matt Maiocco is in his 14th year covering the 49ers. He has reported for The Press Democrat since 2000. He is a three-time winner of Pro Football Writers of America awards. Rotoworld.com ranked "Instant 49ers" as the No. 2 NFL team blog in the country in 2007. Maiocco has written two books, "Roger Craig's Tales from the 49ers Sideline" and "San Francisco 49ers: Where Have You Gone?" Matt can also be heard regularly on KNBR (680-AM) during the season. He is also been added this season as a regular guest on ESPN's "First Take."

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