The 49ers’ five sure things

Thanks for your generous responses to my earlier post. Our discussion of the top 49er storylines turned into a lengthy list of concerns. Adam, among other readers, pointed out the defensive backfield and the offensive line as two more areas of anxiety for the 49ers. Thank you, Adam. Let’s look at the team from the opposite angle now. Injuries aside, what are the Niners’ locks? Where are they strong? What…

July 24, 2011
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Players respond to 49ers’ coaching change

In the wake of a coaching change, NFL players are expected to (1) express respect for the outgoing coach, (2) praise the new guy in equal measure, (3) utter the words “you understand this is a business” and (4) express confidence in management. The 49ers checked all the appropriate boxes Monday – not surprising when you consider that the players who addressed the media were handpicked by the team.

December 27, 2010
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Back up the Brink’s: More on Vernon’s payday

A few odds and ends from Vernon Davis’ extension that I didn’t get into the story for the newspaper: • Singletary on if the big money would change Davis: “He’s one of the hardest-working guys on the team, if not the hardest-working guy on the team. What’s going to change? He was like this the first day he got here. That’s been the mark of Vernon Davis since he’s been…

September 11, 2010
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Vernon Davis signed to five-year extension

Four months after signing linebacker Patrick Willis to a long-term contract extension, the Niners did the same today with Vernon Davis, another franchise cornerstone, who will become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history. Davis was signed to a five-year extension through 2015. Multiple sources, including the Sacramento Bee, have reported that Davis will receive $23 million guaranteed and could earn as much as $37 million overall. The deal is…

September 11, 2010
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Davis ‘not ready’ for fewer targets

After Mike Singletary alluded to an offseason conversation with Vernon Davis earlier this week, I asked the Niners tight end about the confab Thursday.
Singletary said he discussed being selfless in regards to sharing catches – particularly because Davis will no doubt attract more attention this season after tying the NFL record for TD catches by a tight end (13) last year.

September 10, 2010
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