Niners sign Haralson, Nedney to contract extensions

The 49ers used some of their cap space this morning to sign outside linebacker Parys Haralson and kicker Joe Nedney to contract extensions, the club announced.

Haralson, who led the 49ers with eight sacks last season, signed a four-year, $15 million deal that includes $6.5 million in guaranteed money, a source confirmed. He is signed through the 2013 season. Nedney agreed to a two-year extension through 2011.

 

Haralson last month fired his previous agent, Bus Cook, who represents Jay Cutler. He hired agents Sean Kiernan and Mitch Frankel from Impact Sports. The negotiations moved quickly from there. Haralson said he agreed to the contract yesterday.

 

“It was a priority because I’m basically excited about the direction the team is going, and excited about what coach (Mike) Singletary is doing with the team,” Haralson said. “It’s about being somewhere you’re comfortable.”

 

There has plenty of talk about the 49ers adding an outside pass-rusher to the mix in the draft. This extension does not change that. After all, Haralson is a very good pass rusher. It’s the other side of the formation that is the question mark.

 

But Haralson said he believe Manny Lawson can be that guy to provide a better pass rush from the strong side. Lawson was used last season as a one-down player, and rarely was instructed to rush the passer.

 

“I know Manny can pass-rush. I saw Manny pass-rush in college. Manny was one of the premier pass-rushers in college,” Haralson said. “Manny is coming off last season and coming off an injury, and it’s hard to come back off of that. I have all the confidence in the world in Manny Lawson. I know what he can do. And the people around here know what he can do. Manny has that long frame and he’s as fast as a deer. He’s a great pass rusher, to me. I know he can pass rush.”

 

Haralson and whomever rushes the passer from the other side should benefit this season from new pass-rush coach Al Harris, who played 11 NFL seasons, including several years as Singletary’s teammate with the Bears.

 

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