Past 49ers players

There is no escaping the 49ers. After a week of offseason practices, I’m breaking away from your favorite team to help cover the Toyota Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. And as I mentioned previously, former 49ers running back Roger Craig is serving as Grand Marshall.
Craig was in high spirits during a short pre-race press conference, sharing the podium with perky HNL anchor Robin Meade, who just sang the National Anthem.

One day it may look like a swindle. The 49ers traded a potential Hall of Fame wide receiver to a division rival and got absolutely nothing in return. But this was no ordinary deal. San Francisco traded Isaac Bruce to the Rams so that he could officially finish his career with the team that made him famous.

Roger Craig always was one of the most versatile guys on the field. Apparently, he still is. Craig already has been involved in a fishing show this spring, and today Infineon Raceway announced that the former running back and three-time Super Bowl champion will serve as Grand Marshall of the Toyota/SaveMart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend in June.

The links are on me: Soon-to-be Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson thinks Patrick Willis is the best linebacker in the NFL right now. Where are they now: Former DE Kevin Fagan is a successful high school coach in Florida. But it’s not football.

The links are on me: Rookie RB Anthony Dixon’s finds time to watch his kid brother on the mound back in Mississippi.   Where are they now? Ed Galigher, DT (1977-78) and his wife are in real-estate development.   Another former Niners DT, Ronald Fields (2005-08), now with the Broncos, apparently has been arrested on a weapons charge.

Everyone has been talking about T Alex Boone’s physical transformation this offseason. Turns out he got a major assist from former NFL O-lineman LeCharles Bentley.

Former DT Matt Mitrione, who was with the 49ers during much of the 2004 offseason (they cut him at the beginning of training camp that year), has moved on to a different line of work. You think it was tough knocking helmets with Justin Smiley during minicamps? Look who Mitrione is going up against now.

Look who’s batting .468 and hitting scoreboard-clearing home runs for Palo Alto High: Christoph Bono, son of former 49ers QB Steve Bono. No word yet on whether he has faced Elvis Grbac’s son.

Here’s a quickie interview with former 49ers cornerback Darryl Pollard (1987-1990). Not sure I’d call him an “NFL legend” like the author, but he has some good things to say about charitable giving and personal responsibility.

Jerry Rice, Roger Craig and Charles Haley have a combined eight Super Bowl rings with the 49ers. All three are finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.   Rice, the holder of every significant receiving record in NFL history, is a lock to be among the four to seven enshrines who will be announced as part of the Class of 2010 Hall of Fame on Saturday at 2 p.m….

There has been plenty of competition at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., this week. And a lot of that competition took place among individuals seeking jobs on NFL coaching staffs.   Former 49ers linebacker Jeff Ulbrich said he feels fortunate to land a coveted position on Pete Carroll’s coaching staff with the Seattle Seahawks. Ulbrich confirmed ESPN’s report that he accepted a position as assistant special teams coach.  …

Tom Wittum, a two-time Pro Bowl punter who played for the 49ers from 1973-’77, died Friday, Jan. 22, the team announced this afternoon. He was 60.

Billy Wilson, who led the NFL in receptions three times in the 1950s despite playing in the shadow of the 49ers’ famed “Million Dollar Backfield,” died this morning. He was 81.

The 49ers will be represented for the second consecutive year during the Super Bowl coin toss ceremony prior to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa on Feb. 1

Bryant Young might be heading back to Notre Dame.

When it comes time to fill out my ballot for postseason awards, I have a pretty good idea whom I’m going to tab as “Comeback Player of the Year.”   Right now, Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant has my vote.

Six former 49ers, including running back Roger Craig, took a step closer to induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it was announced today.