In the wake of Patrick Willis’ contract extension, a lot of people have been talking about the NFL’s 30-percent rule. Apparently, it means that 30 percent of all NFL media coverage must be devoted to Willis. Here are some highlights from the linebacker’s voice time on KNBR and ESPN News.
Stadium suits and 49ers’ youth
The links are on me: Judge dismisses suit against 49ers and city of Santa Clara, while blogger computes NFL teams’ functional age — where do Niners rank?
CB Will James joins the 49ers
OK, it’s not as newsworthy as Patrick Willis re-upping, but the 49ers added another piece to their defense today when they signed veteran CB Williams James to a one-year deal. Or if you have a long memory – Will Peterson, as he was known during his first five seasons with the New York Giants.
LaBoy can bust out that Roger Craig jersey once again
Almost forgot to post it: Here’s my story for the Press Democrat on Larkspur native Travis LaBoy, who finally gets to suit up the team he loved as a boy. His brother/agent says Travis’ four-game suspension last December was due to doctor-prescribed medication he had been taking to rehab an injury he suffered back with Tennessee.
Plummer gets giddy talking about Willis
Everybody had an opinion on the Patrick Willis contract extension yesterday. But some opinions count for more than others. Here’s what 12-year NFL linebacker and current 49ers broadcaster Gary Plummer had to say.
Plummer, of course, played linebacker for 12 years in the NFL, including his final four (1994-97) with the 49ers. More recently, he has witnessed Willis’ growth while doing game analysis for KNBR. Plummer takes a very analytical approach to the game, and it’s not surprising that he had strong opinions on Willis.
Hunters Point vs. Santa Clara
Some say nothing goes better with beer than politics. If that’s the case, consider heading to Pete’s Tavern in Mission Bay tonight at 6 p.m. to hear SF planning commissioner Mike Antonini’s views on the proposed Santa Clara stadium site. Hint: He likes Hunters Point a lot better.
Alex Boone’s secret, and Jeff Stover’s whereabouts
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.
LaBoy on Willis: ‘allows the defense to expand’
A few commenters gave rookie linebacker Navorro Bowman some grief for not knowing much about Patrick Willis, the 49ers’ new $50 million man. Well, rest assured that most players who have spent some time in the NFL know all about No. 52. Just ask Travis LaBoy, the Larkspur native who joined the 49ers as a free agent this offseason.
Ready to bring out ‘the best linebacker that’s in Navorro’
Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes form one of the savviest and most physical sets of inside linebackers in the NFL. But Spikes is 33 years old, heading into his 13th NFL season out of Auburn. The 49ers need to groom a replacement. Maybe Matt Wilhelm or Scott McKillop will emerge as the third man. Or maybe it will be Navorro Bowman. Here’s a Q&A with the third-round pick out of Penn State.
Former Niner in the octagon
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.
Free-agent tryouts produce winners, losers
According to the San Jose Mercury News, the 49ers have offered a free-agent contract to former UC Davis wide receiver Bakari Grant, who was in Santa Clara over the weekend for a tryout. But at least one undrafted rookie who came for a tryout does not expect to be signed.
Anthony Dixon, the 49ers’ 233-pound secret
Here’s my story on rookie RB Anthony Dixon that ran in today’s Press Democrat.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100502/SPORTS/100509942/1010/SPORTS?Title=49ers-have-233-pound-secret-in-the-backfield
Undrafted free agent has famous relatives
Turns out undrafted free-agent cornerback Patrick Stoudamire’s cousins include basketball stars Damon and Salim Stoudamire, plus former NFL player Chris Mims. For the record, Patrick Stoudamire stood out with a pretty good performance at the Niners’ rookie camp this weekend, but not sure about his crossover dribble.
Jimmy Raye grades his new beef
I covered Jimmy Raye for his two seasons in Oakland, 2004-05, and I knew he could spin a yarn. But my exposure was limited; we didn’t get to talk to assistant coaches much in those days. I’m looking forward to hearing Raye on a regular basis — starting with this Q&A from Saturday.
Manusky’s first impressions
Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky spoke to reporters Saturday, ambling to the podium with the use of a cane (I’m told he’s had hip replacement surgery) to discuss his newest defenders. Here are some excerpts.
Rookie minicamp notes
We’re in between practices here on Day 2 of the 49ers’ rookie mini-camp. Tomorrow’s session has morphed from a field practice to team meetings, with no media access, so today’s afternoon work could be the last we see of the young guys for a while. Here are some observations from the morning practice.
Highlights (though not many) from p.m. practice
A lot of you have been asking me for more details from today’s rookie practice – especially, who stood out from the pack.
To be honest, there wasn’t much opportunity to stand out. After position drills, the 49ers went through one session of 7-on-7 and one team period. Then they turned to conditioning and got the rookies running.
That said, I’ll make a few tepid nomination:
BIG things happening in Santa Clara
As the offseason progresses, I will be able to tell you about Anthony Dixon’s cutting ability, Taylor Mays’ ball-tracking skills and Kyle Williams’ fit in the slot. With limited reps in today’s rookie practice, very little intelligence emerged.
But before you really get to know someone as a football player, the first things that stand out are the purely physical measures. And the 49ers have welcomed some very impressive specimens into the fold.
Jarrett Brown’s bad, bad day
A football player’s first NFL practice is a day he’ll never forget. That’s not necessarily a good thing for Jarrett Brown.
35 expected for afternoon practice
Today’s 49ers practices are like a two-seating dinner. The veterans swept through for a voluntary OTA this morning. At 3:45 this afternoon, they will be supplanted by 35 rookies and first-year players: eight draft picks, nine undrafted free agents, 12 rookies getting tryouts and six players who are technically first-year guys though they came out a year ago.
For those of you keeping score at home:
