The myth I wish to dispel this evening is the whole idea that "jobs are on the line." OK, maybe there might be one opening still undecided, but if the team does not know which players are going to comprise their regular-season roster at this point, those decision-makers aren't doing their jobs.

The exhibition finale is a time for the coaching staff to set up a team for the regular season. Therefore, most of the (bubble) players who get a significant amount of playing time are so far down on the depth chart that there's not much they can do to win a roster spot.

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I have to leave my perch pretty soon to do the pregame show on 107.7 "The Bone," but I'll try to answer some questions prior to kickoff.

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Guard Larry Allen has signed a ceremonial contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Allen spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Cowboys. He played his final two years with the 49ers. Allen has maintained a very close relationship with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Here is my article, "NFL great, SSU product Allen decides to retire."

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Although J.T. O'Sullivan is scheduled to start, the word on the sideline before the game is that Alex Smith will play all of this game.

David Baas starts at LG for Adam Snyder (ankle); and Barry Sims starts at RT for Jonas Jennings (hand).

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49ers who will not play: RS Allen Rossum (ribs/back contusion), S Keith Lewis (illness), LG Adam Snyder (ankle), RT Jonas Jennings (hand) and WR Josh Morgan (illness).

Chargers who will not play: QB Philip Rivers, RB LaDainian Tomlinson, FB Andrew Pinnock, LB Shawne Merriman, C Nick Hardwick, T Marcus McNeill, DT Jamal Williams, WR Vincent Jackson, WR Buster Davis, TE Antonio Gates and WR Chris Chambers. (Maybe it would've been easier to just type in the names of the players who will suit up for this game.)

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Obviously, this is the most meaningless game of the entire year. We're 15 minutes away from kickoff, and there might be 10,000 people in the stands here at Candlestick. Let's all wish for a really quick game -- a lot of running plays.

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Eleven-year-old Gabi Wilson just belted out the national anthem while wearing a No. 52 Patrick Willis jersey.

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The wind is whipping pretty good here at the 'Stick.

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There are two 49ers QBs warming up on the field in front of team's bench: Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. J.T. O'Sullivan is wearing his baseball cap.

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Mike Nolan has decided to hold O'Sullivan out of the game, a team spokesman just told me. Also, Nate Clements, Walt Harris and Patrick Willis are among the players who aren't even wearing shoulder pads.

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FIRST QUARTER

--The 49ers' starting defense is: LE Sopoaga, NT Franklin, RE McDonald, OLB Haralson, ILB Thomas, ILB Ulbrich, OLB Lawson, CB Strickland, CB Spencer, FS Roman, SS M.Lewis.

--Justin Smith is not wearing shoulder pads, either.

--NT Aubrayo Franklin just limped off the field on the Chargers' first drive. Ronald Fields replaced him. I'm sure that's the last we'll see of Franklin until the start of the regular season. It looks as if they're working on Franklin's right knee. He made it off the field under his own power.

--A few plays later, play is stopped because Fields is injured. He looks to be OK, though play was stopped. It looks like it might be his left elbow. Atiyyah Ellison has entered the game at the nose.

--Smith opens at QB. He hits Bryant Johnson on a 23-yard pass on the first play. Isaac Bruce and Frank Gore are not playing tonight. Johnson and Battle start at the WR spots.

--On third-and-18, Ashley Lelie is on the field. Pass goes to Johnson for 10 yards. Lelie ran a nice route. He might have just guaranteed his spot on the team.

--Joe Nedney hits 52-yard field goal. It's CHARGERS 7, 49ERS 3 WITH 4:35 remaining in the first quarter.

--More defensive changes for the 49ers: Balmer, Fields and Curry are the linemen, Banta-Cain and Spikes enter at linebacker for Lawson and Ulbrich, and Goldson and Hudson are at the safeties in place of Roman and M.Lewis.

--Haralson beats (third-string) right tackle Corey Clark for a sack of third-string QB Charlie Whitehurst. Dontarrious Thomas makes the recovery for the 49ers.

--Smith nearly picked off by CB Clevis Gordon, who drops it. The 49ers gain a first down at the Chargers' 11.

SECOND QUARTER

--Smith had Hill open in the end zone, but he threw slightly behind him, allowing Steve Gregory the chance to get his hand on the ball and knock it out of Hill's hands.

--On fourth-and-5 from the 6, the 49ers go for it. Smith's pass to Lelie in the right back corner is broken up by CB DeJuan Tribble. Chargers take over at their own 7.

--More shuffling on the defensive side: CB Tarell Brown enters for Strickland.

--Chargers just kicked a long field goal. It's CHARGERS 10, 49ERS 3 with 5:55 remaining. Is it possible to keep a running clock for the duration of this "game"?

--Delanie Walker with a 101-yard kickoff return. Nate Kaeding, the kicker, wanted absolutely no part of Walker along the sideline. (And who can blame him?) Michael Robinson with a huge block. That is why he's guaranteed a spot on this roster. It's 49ERS 10, CHARGERS 10.

--Smith throws another pick. At halftime, he's completed 7 of 12 for 76 yards and two interceptions. His passer rating is 37.5, and I'm really wondering if Shaun Hill is going to get a chance to win the No. 2 job.

THIRD QUARTER

--Smith is back out there to start the third. The 49ers' O-line looks like this: LT Joe Toledo, LG Brian de la Puente, C Cody Wallace, RG Chilo Rachal and RT Alan Reuber.

--Michael Robinson doesn't get much going on the ground, but he caught back-to-back passes of 8 and 11 yards.

--Thomas Clayton enters the game and immediately scampers 11 yards on a misdirection.

--On the next play, Smith is nearly picked off again. However, TE Billy Bajema wrestled the ball away from Chargers safety Paul Oliver and turns up field for a 22-yard scoring pass. It's 49ERS 17, CHARGERS 13.

--Smith has raised is passer rating to 76.7 after that drive.

--It's a wrap for Alex Smith. Shaun Hill is jogging onto the field with 6:13 remaining in the third.

--INJURY UPDATE: OLB Jay Moore has a right torn biceps. He could be going on injured reserve for the second straight season.

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