Starting left guard David Baas had a great excuse for skipping the first day of 49ers organized team activities today. He is not under contract to the 49ers for the 2010 season. But that did not prevent him from signing a waiver and showing up to work.
“We’ve got something to prove and I’ve got something to prove,” Baas said. “And I’m covered while I’m out here, so that’s good.
“I want to be here, I’m out here working with my teammates and out here working with my team so we’ll go from there. I’m making sure that I’m safe while we’re out here.”
When asked what he has to prove, Baas answered:
“There are a lot of people out there that don’t believe in our offensive line, but I do. I think with (new offensive line coach Mike) Solari and (assistant) Ray Brown, it’s a new attitude. It’s different and I think it’s good. We’re just going to keep getting more aggressive and keep working on our technique. We have something to prove. A lot of the heat fell on us last year, and we have to step up and be accountable.”
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The 49ers say these two days of OTAs are for the new coaches, the new players and young players. The new additions thus far this offseason are: QB David Carr, FB Jehuu Caulcrick, TE Tony Curtis, G Brian de la Puente and CB Karl Paymah.
Most of the veterans were not scheduled to get a lot of reps. Coaches told those players that are entrenched in off-site workout routines to continue on with those because the number of reps would be limited, a team spokesman said.
RB Frank Gore and TE Vernon Davis, who had not taken part in the 49ers’ offseason conditioning program, attended today’s practice, as did veteran LB Takeo Spikes and S Michael Lewis. The team’s entire offensive line is here, too.
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Here is a rundown of the players on the 49ers’ official roster who were not in attendance this morning:
–WR Isaac Bruce: Yes, he remains under contract to the 49ers in 2010. He has yet to make his retirement official. But, clearly, he won’t be back with the 49ers after he tumbled off the bottom of the 49ers’ depth chart late in the season.
–LB Ahmad Brooks: He’s a restricted free agent who has yet to sign his $1.759 million tender for 2010. Brooks remaisn able to negotiate with other teams. Unlike Baas, Brooks has not signed a waiver as protection to participate in the offseason program.
–CB Nate Clements: His agent, Todd France, replied via email that there was nothing that should be known about Clements’ absence today. Word is that Clements is working out in
–NT Aubrayo Franklin: He remains unsigned and available to negotiate with other teams after the 49ers tendered him at $7 million this season as their “franchise player.”
–LB Manny Lawson: When asked if there was anything that should be known about his client’s absence, agent Jonathan Feinsod replied via email declined to comment. I can’t think of a football reason Lawson would not attend. He is entering the final year of his contract, and with a big season can make some very good money as a free agent.
–RB Michael Robinson: His future seems secure as the team’s special-teams captain. His agent did not respond when asked if there was anything that should be known about Robinson’s absence from today’s on-field work.
–CB Shawntae Spencer: He had a good season, and he is scheduled to make a reasonable $2.85 million this season. His agent did not immediately respond when asked for an explanation behind Spencer’s absence, but there’s no reason to suspect anything is going on. Spencer is clearly penciled in as a starter. With Clements and Spencer not participating, Tarell Brown and Keith Smith lined up as the first-team corners.
–LB Patrick Willis: He is unable to practice after undergoing recent surgery to remove a bursa sac in his knee.
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Defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer did not participate in the drills. But he was on the field, as he continues to rehab after season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. When Balmer had the surgery on Dec. 9, he was expected to have a six-month rehab.
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Carr said he has spoken to his former Texans teammate, free-agent guard Chester Pitts. Carr said, “He sounded like he wanted to be a Niner.” Carr said Pitts is working on his rehabilitation from his knee injury so he can pass a physical. Pitts is apparently has options among the 49ers, Texans, Lions and Seahawks.
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