SANTA CLARA – The 49ers began Sunday by cutting ties with linebacker Brandon Moore and ended it by welcoming Moore's replacement, 10-year veteran Takeo Spikes.

Spikes, who visited the team in March, passed a physical Sunday evening and signed a one-year contract immediately thereafter. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately available.

The 49ers long have been eyeing Spikes to play the "Ted" linebacker position, which lines up on the inside next to second-year player Patrick Willis. Jeff Ulbrich had been the starter at "Ted" during the offseason, but Spikes likely will take over quickly in order to get ready for the Sept. 7 season opener.

Spikes, 31, is a two-time Pro Bowler who has played for Cincinnati, Buffalo and Philadelphia. He suffered a rotator cuff injury last season in Philadelphia, and the Eagles cut him in March. He has had a number of suitors over the offseason, including the Raiders, Lions, Browns and Buccaneers.

Moore, meanwhile, long has been an enigma for the 49ers and their fans.

In the span of two years, he went from defensive MVP to a reserve player to one looking for work.

Midway through the 2006 season, he entered the starting lineup and, along with safety Keith Lewis, sparked a defensive resurgence for the 49ers. He finished the season with team highs in tackles and sacks and was honored with the team's Matt Hazeltine Award for courageous and inspirational play.

He began the following offseason as the starter at "Ted." When then-rookie Patrick Willis was bumped up to the first-string during the exhibition season, however, the 49ers moved Derek Smith to "Ted" and Moore was given a reserve role as a situational pass rusher. His tackle total fell from 114 in 2006 to 30 last season. Sacks dropped from 6 1/2 to 2 1/2.

Asked what happened to the 2006 version of Moore, Nolan said, "I think the biggest thing is we've gotten better since then from a personnel standpoint. Obviously, (having) Patrick Willis inside – that exposes the guys next to you a lot."

Willis declined to comment on the prospect of playing beside Spikes.

"I don't want to comment on that," he said. "I want to give myself time to embrace that."

Justin Smith, who played with Spikes for two seasons in Cincinnati, wasn't as reserved.

Smith said no one from the 49ers had sought his opinion about Spikes, but he gushed about him to reporters. "Great guy," Smith said. "As far as football goes, he's just a leader. He's got that quality about him. He knows his stuff."

Asked about the prospect of a Spikes-and-Willis inside linebacking corps, Smith said, "That's going to be one of the strongest inside linebacking corps in the middle."

Smith isn't the only familiar face Spikes will find in the locker room. Cornerback Nate Clements and tackle Jonas Jennings both played with Spikes in Buffalo.

With a number of young players at inside linebacker, Nolan said he had an inkling that he would have to cut Moore, and he said he wanted to give the six-year veteran a chance to catch on with another team.

"He wasn't getting as many repetitions as I know he would like to have," Nolan said. "He has not said anything about it. He has not complained. I know that anybody that's played wants to play more, so I felt at this time to give him an opportunity to hook up with another team and possibly play for somebody."

With Spikes, the 49ers now have six players at inside linebacker.

Willis and free-agent acquisition Dontarrious Thomas are at "Mike" linebacker while Ulbrich and rookie Larry Grant play "Ted." Dennis Haley is fighting for a roster spot.

Grant, who played at Foothill High School, had four tackles in Friday's exhibition opener in Oakland, tying him for second on the team.

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