There were a few other issues discussed today besides Ratgate, which, I must say, was quite riveting.
A sampling of other news:
• Singletary remained vague on who will assume Ted Ginn’s kickoff- and punt-return duties. Rookie Phillip Adams seems like the likely candidate to handle the punts after his strong preseason, but Singletary threw out Dominique Zeigler as a possibility. He said Josh Morgan, Delanie Walker and Zeigler were candidates to handle kickoffs. Morgan averaged 28.2 yards on 13 returns last year. Walker averaged 17.0 yards on five kickoffs.
Zeigler, in his second season, did not return punts or kickoffs at Baylor. He returned two punts for no gain for the Niners in 2008. WR Kyle Williams (turf toe), who practiced for the first time since mid-August today, is a strong candidate to return punts when he returns. Williams was limited in practice.
• The 49ers will retire Jerry Rice’s No. 80 during halftime of Monday night’s game. Rice will serve as an honorary team captain and will be formally presented with Pro Football Hall of Fame ring before the game.
Rice was invited by Seattle coach Pete Carroll to training camp and spoke with the Seahawks. Singletary was asked today if the 49ers had extended a similar invitation. He seemed mildly annoyed by the question.
“Jerry’s been here a number of times, but you know, where Jerry goes is his business,” Singletary said. “So the fact that he was with Pete Carroll, that’s great. Great for Jerry. But yes, he’s been invited here.”
• LB Ahmad Brooks (lacerated kidney) is expected to play Monday after miss the past six weeks with his injury. Singletary said he didn’t know who might be the odd man out when Brooks returns.Travis LaBoy had the Niners’ only sack Sunday.
“It’s going to be a tough call,” he said. “We just have to continue to evaluate throughout the week, and we’ll see how it looks and what’s better for the team at the end of the week.”
Brooks was involved in a practice scuffle with CB Shawntae Spencer, who decked Brooks during a drill and sent him sprawling on his left side, where he had suffered his kidney injury. The altercation was quickly broken up.
• Singletary termed CB Will James (ankle) “questionable.” James did not practice. Given the Saints’ abundance of four wide-receiver sets, Adams could see plenty of action if James can’t play.
Said Singletary, “I think if he has to play, we’ll create the right matchup and we’ll go from there, but if Phillip has to play, he’ll do fine.”
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