SANTA CLARA – Maybe Mike Singletary and the 49ers should take a cue from the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates and adopt "We Are Family" as the team anthem.

Singletary hit upon Willie Stargell's famous theme several times Monday, beginning with his explanation for why he didn't give the players the day off following their 35-16 victory over the Rams.

Under former coach Mike Nolan, the 49ers often enjoyed a so-called "Win Monday" that gave them two days away from the team facility.

"I feel like I'd like to see the players the next day," Singletary said, sounding like a doting papa who wants his kids to sit down for dinner together.

"I'd like the players to come in and talk about it," he continued. "Who else are you going to talk to about the win? You can call Mom. You can call Dad. 'Hey, we won the game.' Congratulations. But your teammates the next day, you can come in and talk about it, and laugh about it, watch it together, grow from it and put it behind you."

As is the case with most teams, the 49ers' players mostly confer with their position mates. Linebackers hang out with linebackers, receivers with receivers, offensive linemen with offensive linemen and so forth.

Singletary wants to make sure players on opposite sides of the ball are communicating with one another.

When he played with the Bears, Singletary said he would routinely meet with quarterback Jim McMahon to see if the offensive and defensive game plans meshed.

"That's how we talked, and it got back to the coordinators and coach (Mike) Ditka," Singletary said. "And those things would happen because we were thinking about winning. We weren't just thinking about stats or just how good the defense could be. …

"That's really when you begin to win. And that's when you begin to think as a family and a team. Because that's what it's all about."

Of course, there also is fighting in families.

Singletary acknowledged as much Sunday when asked why tight end Vernon Davis and running back DeShaun Foster had a heated exchange on the sideline. There also has been speculation about friction between Singletary and offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

As the 49ers sank deeper into a losing streak earlier this season, there was a sense that Martz's aggressive offensive style did not suit the defense, which found itself on the field for long stretches.

When Singletary took over, he removed Martz's choice for starting quarterback, J.T. O'Sullivan, and inserted Shaun Hill, a player he felt would give the offense a more methodical approach.

Singletary also has added to that sense of incompatibility by what he's said to reporters when asked about Martz. Following Sunday's game, for instance, Singletary was asked whether he had to remind Martz not to be too aggressive in the second half.

After a smile and a long pause, Singletary said, "You know what, every now and then, you just mention something. It's just 'great job.' "

On Monday, however, Singletary was quick to assure there is no conflict between him and Martz, who directed a nearly flawless game plan in the first 30 minutes Sunday.

"We don't ever have an issue where (it's like) 'I disagree with that' or 'Well, why don't you do that?' We don't have that. It's (more like) 'Mike, I'm thinking about this' or 'What do you think about that?' Normally, we're on the same page. So there has not been even a creative friction. Right now, it just works."

Read Matthew Barrows' 49ers blog at www.sacbee.com/ninersblog.