49ers Blog and Q&A

Ask any 49er and they'll tell you every game they play is a big game. Well, the one on Sunday is bigger. There are currently six teams clumped together for an NFC Wildcard spot and the 49ers and Packers are two of them. The Packers are favored in the game, but the 49ers should be better prepared and more fresh. I was on the radio in Sacramento this morning and the host drew a comparison to last year's game in Buffalo. The 49ers are hoping that turns out to be a good analogy. The game presents a lot on interesting matchups. Here are a few ...

• Cornerback Charles Woodson vs. quarterback Alex Smith - Woodson is listed as a cornerback, and the cagey veteran will be matched up on Michael Crabtree from time to time. But he's more of a jack of all trades for the Packers defense. The 49ers expect to see Woodson playing safety at times and rushing the passer from the edge. Woodson may be 33 years old, but he's still big, physical and fast. He has five interceptions on the season and is second to linebacker Nick Barnett in tackles. The first thing Smith needs to do as he lines up under center is figure out where No. 21 is lining up. The 49ers all watched the Packers beat the Cowboys on Sunday by forcing turnovers. Keeping mistakes to a minimum is the No. 1 goal heading into Green Bay.



• Outside linebacker Aaron Kampman vs. right tackle Adam Snyder. The Packers' conversion to a 3-4 defense meant a change for Kampman, one of the league's top sack masters in recent seasons. Whereas Kampman rushed from a three-point stance in Green Bay's 4-3 scheme, he's a stand-up outside linebacker in the 3-4. The Packers like to move Kampman all over the field, but he'll most commonly be rushing from the quarterback's right side. That will put him against Snyder, who struggled last week to contain Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. The Packers also will try to overload the left side of their defensive line, meaning that Frank Gore will be asked to step forward and block the 260 - pound Kampman from time to time. Gore is an excellent blocker, but that is a mismatch the Packers will look to exploit.



• Young receivers vs. old cornerbacks - The 49ers' starting receivers, Crabtree and Josh Morgan, are 22 and 24 respectively. They'll be matched against cornerbacks, Woodson and Al Harris, who are 33 and 34. Look for the wily veterans to play a lot of press coverage in an attempt to disrupt the 49ers' passing game from the start. The 49ers like to draft big, physical receivers with the thought that they should be able to overpower their opponents at the line. The question is whether the youngsters can handle a couple of cagey veterans like Woodson and Harris at this stage of their careers. The 49ers are still waiting for Crabtree to catch a slant pass and take it the distance.



• Tight end Vernon Davis vs. linebacker Brandon Chillar - For years Davis has bragged that he's too fast to be covered by linebackers and too strong to be handled by defensive backs. This season he's living up to his words. Davis leads his team in touchdown catches, most of which have come on deep-over-the-middle passes in front of a linebacker. Chillar, meanwhile, is an excellent cover linebacker, especially against tight ends. But Chillar will be working with a disadvantage Sunday. A broken hand means he'll be playing with a plaster club - not so handy for engaging route runners and breaking up passes.

Meanwhile, don't forget to log in to our game-long chat Sunday morning at 9:45 a.m. I'll have the inactives, the weather report, the barometric pressure, the dew point, Singletary's pre-game meal, the meaning of life etc., etc, etc. Log onto www.sacbee.com/live.

-- Matt Barrows

Mike Singletary today said he thought his team has taken full advantage of its "second bye" following last Thursday's win over The Bears. They began their practice week on Tuesday, giving them an extra day to prepare. "I think that went really well for us because Green Bay, on offense and defense, they do some different things." The 49ers will have walkthroughs tomorrow and Saturday before hitting Lambeau on Sunday.

Are his players more fresh because of the extra rest? Singletary said that was a mixed bag. The time off may have created a little rust that had to be shaken off on Tuesday. "You gain something and you lose something, so it balances out," he said.

Still, the 49ers only seem to have one lingering injury from Thursday's game. Linebacker Takeo Spikes (hamstring) sat out another practice today. Singletary still called Spikes "day to day" but it seems likely that Matt Wilhelm will start on Sunday. The mood in the locker room also is very good. With some instigation from class clown Joe Staley, rookie Ricky Jean-Francois treated everyone - reporters, included - to a rousing dance routine that brought down the house. If he ever scoops up a fumble and runs it into the end zone, the world is in for a real treat ...

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Michael Crabtree (knee) showed up on the injury report this week, but the rookie sloughed it off as a mere bruise. He hasn't missed any time. Crabtree has had a couple of drops this season, including one at the Chicago four-yard line onThursday, and he said those weigh heavily on his mind.

"It bothers me," he said. "Sometimes I can sleep at night when I drop passes. I feel like if I keep it on my mind, the next play I'm going to make sure I catch it, so it's that kind of situation."

Do you replay the ones you don't catch?
"I'm always looking for that negative on the field, that stuff that I haven't really (grasped) right now, that I really don't know right now. I try to keep that with me. By the time the game comes, I'm thinking about that and I (say), 'I gotta make a play, gotta make a play.'"

What haven't we seen from you yet?
"YAC (yards after the catch). That's what I was really big on in college, and football period. I just want to get that YAC."

What about TDs?
"You're going to have those concerns. But my concern is winning. If we're winning, then I can't complain."

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Along with Spikes, Michael Robinson missed today's practice, but it was not injury related. Robinson was excused for personal reasons, but will make the trip to Green Bay. Justin Smith (back) was limited for the second straight day. The following players have been in the training room but went through a full practice:

WR Isaac Bruce (ankle, elbow), RB Glen Coffee (concussion), Crabtree (knee), DT Demetric Evans (shoulder), S Michael Lewis (quadricep), S Mark Roman (knee) and T Adam Snyder (shoulder)

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Sunday's forecast in Green Bay: partly cloudy with a high of 51 degrees and a low of 40 degrees. In other words, downright balmy ...

-- Matt Barrows

Jay Cutler threw five interceptions the last time he played. Aaron Rodgers has thrown five interceptions all season. The flip side, however, is that Rodgers tends to take sacks. A lot of them. His tendency to hang on to the ball this season, coupled with a dinged up Packers offensive line, has added up to a league-worst 41 sacks this season.

It's the kind of situation that has 49ers' outside linebackers Parys Haralson (one sack) and Manny Lawson (one and half sacks) dreaming about boosting their statistics. Lawson said that on a normal pass play, he and his fellow pass rushers figure they have four seconds to find the quarterback before he gets rid of the ball. Rodgers tends to have it for a few more ticks.

"He holds the ball a little bit," Lawson said. "That gives us a little bit more time to get to him. He's holding the ball for a reason because (he thinks) a play's going to open up downfield."

The 49ers have 17 sacks on the season, tying them with the Bills, Lions and Buccaneers for 23rd in the league. Still, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky today noted that his defenders still have managed to pressure the quarterback.

"Even though the quarterback is not sacked, we are looking at that all the time," Manusky said. "We want to get as much pressure on him as possible and sometimes those are just as good as a sack because sometimes he throws it not in the right spot, which is great for us."

As for Rodgers, he rejected the notion that he was trading interceptions for sacks. "I think my history as a quarterback has been (one of) taking care of the football and not throwing a lot of interceptions. You can go back to junior college and then to Cal and my time here with Green Bay. I feel like I'm pretty smart with the ball and make good decisions. I think it's more that than taking a sack to avoid interceptions."

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Takeo Spikes (hamstring) did not take part in today's practice, and it seems increasingly likely that Matt Wilhelm will play "ted" instead. Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin was given the day off from practice ... The early forecast is that Joe Staley (knee) will return to the lineup before Nate Clements (shoulder). Clements' shoulder fracture is more severe than Brandon Jones' was ...

-- Matt Barrows

Mike McCarthy today declined to answer whether he thought it was a bad idea to have started Alex Smith his rookie season. But it's clear from his other answers today that his experience with Smith and the 49ers in 2005 shaped McCarthy's outlook on the start-or-don't-start debate regarding young quarterbacks. I asked Smith later in the day whether McCarthy, the 49ers' offensive coordinator in 2005, ever objected to Smith being thrown into the fire as a rookie. He didn't, Smith said, at least not to him. After all, Smith reasoned, it wouldn't have made sense to raise that doubt in a young quarterback's head. Here's McCarthy:

On weather McCarthy hopes for bad weather with a California team coming in. The forecast for Sunday calls for partly cloudy skies with high temperatures around 50 degrees.

MM: I'm sure you could look at it that way. But I think I'd be a hypocrite if I ever complained about good weather in November playing in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was great getting up and going to work today. I think it's going to be about between mid 40s and 50 degrees. But, yeah, I think any time you play a California team, you would like it a little colder.

What do you think Aaron Rodgers gained by watching from the sideline for three seasons?

MM: I think he definitely benefitted from it. There's no question about it. There's the argument where you talk about getting on the field and getting the playing experience or sitting back and learning. I had an opportunity to go through it on both sides and I think A.) You clearly benefit from sitting back just from a pure quarterbacks position, but probably the bigger question if you're going to play a young quarterback early, the most important variable involved in my opinion is, is your football team ready for that? I think you've seen that the quarterbacks that have played early, there are a lot of positives on the team that they played on, whether that's a strong running game or so forth because having a young quarterback and putting him in a position where he has to win games for you week in and week out, I think it's a huge challenge.

So you're saying there needs to be a strong supporting cast before that quarterback comes in?

MM: I just think, going through it, every situation is different, every young quarterback is different. I recognize that. But it's not a matter of if the quarterback's ready. I think it's more if the team is ready. Because the young quarterback is not ready. I think it's obvious - a young rookie quarterback, it's not possible to get the young man ready for everything he's going to endure in one NFL season coming out of college.

Having said that, do you think Alex Smith should have been put in as early as he was in 2005?

MM: Well, I'm not going to go backwards and revisit those decisions. That's not what my answer to the questions are leading to. You're asking how I would do it in the future. It's like anything - you learn from it. I've had an opportunity to watch a young man jump into the fire his first season and I've had an opportunity to watch a young man sit and learn for three years. I just think that you're trying to develop a quarterback, it definitely benefits him to sit and watch for three years.

Have you followed the career ups and down of Alex Smith?

MM: Yeah, I'm aware of everything that's gone on out there. It's an organization I spent some time with. They're a lot of people in the organization I'm very fond of and have a lot of respect for. So, I've kept up with those guys.

Are you impressed that Smith has been able to recover from the toll his body took early in his career?

MM: I just think he's taken a very challenging path. I mean, he's had so much change throughout his career. I think it speaks volumes about the type of individual he is. He keeps fighting. And I do wish him success because he has definitely had a different path than most quarterbacks.

Have you ever sat down with Aaron Rodgers and explained to him why the 49ers passed him over in 2005?

MM: When I first became the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, Aaron and I had a conversation probably the first or second or maybe the third time we were together. So we discussed it at that time. It's been three and half, four years ago now.

You get the sense that it's all water under the bridge for him?

MM: I would think so, yes.

-- Matt Barrows

Matt Wilhelm added a nice jolt of energy to the defense last Thursday when Takeo Spikes left the game with a gimpy hammy. Spikes is still recovering from that injury and is "day-to-day," according to Mike Singletary. If he can't go, Wilhelm, 28, will get his first start since Dec. 14 when he was a member of the Chargers.

I thought Wilhelm's answer to the third question was interesting for a number of reasons. One, it illustrates how the defense is designed to funnel ball carriers to the inside linebackers. It also shows that the role of the outside linebackers is more than just rushing the passer. Setting the edge on running plays is critical, and it's something that up-and-coming OLBs Ahmad Brooks and Diyral Briggs are still learning. Here's Wilhelm:

Did fresh legs contribute to his performance Thursday night?
"There was the excitement for the opportunity. And, you know, coach (Al) Everest on special teams does a great job. Once he saw that Takeo was probably not coming back in the game, he relieved me on some of those (units) so I don't have to run down on kickoffs and have to stay out on defense.

And I'm assuming your familiarity with the defense (Wilhelm played under Manusky in San Diego) helped you be aggressive.
"Well, definitely. I prepare each and every week - playing or not playing. I realize I'm one play away as I was in that game. That's my approach. I understand my role here on this football team and I do it to the best of my abilities."

It looked like you were having fun out there.
"I really was. And the biggest part was understanding that, with the three d-linemen in front of me along with Parys and Manny setting those edges, that ball's not going anywhere. So it allows Patrick and myself or TK and Patrick to stay within (the offensive tackles) .... We knew the Bears extremely well and right now we're focusing on knowing Green Bay the same way."

How much is your background with Manusky benefitting you now?
"It definitely is and, again, that's a key part of the reason why I am here and why I'm getting the opportunity. I do understand it extremely well."

Any differences from what San Diego runs?
"Yes there are. There are some wrinkles and things they do here differently. The d-lineman technique is a little different or angles are a little different. But those are the things you're paid to understand and know so that if an opportunity does arise, you can go out and play to the best of your ability.

The Packers use a lot of screen and slants. As an inside linebacker, will it be your role to jump those?
"Well, definitely. I think last week the Chicago Bears made some heavy yards in screen plays alone, so the Green Bay Packers are going to definitely see that, and it's going to be something they do within their game plan to defeat us because they understand we're going to focus on stopping the run and have them beat us with the throw or beat us because we bring so much pressure. So it's definitely something we're focusing on, and we realize the task at hand."

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Coffee, corn flakes and ... Barrows? It's true. I could be part of the most important meal of the day Sunday if you join me for an in-game chat that'll begin before kickoff. Together we can second-guess Jimmy Raye, bad-mouth the officials and discuss the merits of Purell in an increasingly germy world. If you're lucky, I'll provide clues to the whereabouts of Maiocco's missing laptop. (I want small, unmarked bills and NO COPS, dammit!) All this while you're still tucked safely in that warm comforter you've dragged from your bed to the living room sofa. Lemme know if this interests you and we'll get the ball rolling for this weekend ...

-- Matt Barrows

The last time the 49ers beat the Packers at Lambeau Field? You have to go all the way back to 1990. To break that streak, the 49ers will need a big day from quarterback Alex Smith and from a pair of neophyte receivers, Josh Morgan and Michael Crabtree. Mike Singletary reiterated today both his commitment to Smith and to Morgan, who will take over the starting receiver role from veteran Isaac Bruce.

Morgan is a guy with an abundance of athletic talent who just hasn't put everything together yet. When I asked Singletary about Morgan's development, he said, "I just want to see it happen faster. I want to see that with Josh Morgan and Michael Crabtree, they (defenses) have issues on both sides."

Morgan today heaped praise on Bruce for being a mentor on the field and what he described as "life coach." In college, Morgan played in an offensive system that didn't pay much attention to the passing offense. As a result, he admitted he arrived in the NFL behind most rookie receivers as far as route running. In that regard, Bruce has been the perfect mentor. "He's one of the best route runners to play the game," Morgan said. "He's real patient. He knows what he wants to do, and he sets them up a little bit. He's a technician." The word "technician" is perfect to describe what Morgan needs to become. Right now he's a raw athlete, who is being given seven games to master his skills.

Other tidbits from Monday ...

Takeo Spikes (hamstring) is a day-to-day, meaning that good-looking newcomer Matt Wilhelm could see a lot of playing time in Green Bay. I'll have a Q&A w/ Wilhelm later this week. Glen Coffee (noggin) will be available.

Nate Clements (shoulder) and Joe Staley (knee) are out, but Demetric Evans (shoulder) will be back up. I don't recall Evans' replacement, Ricky Jean-Francois, getting any playing time in Evans' absence. As for Clements ... I spoke to him last week. At the time, he said he was due for some tests this week that would better pinpoint when he could return to action.

Singletary said that Barry Sims has been "outstanding" at left tackle since Staley got hurt. MM asked whether, given that assessment as well as the 49ers' struggles on the right side, Staley could return to right tackle when he recovers. Singletary's response: "I may consider it but I don't think it would happen."

Singletary said he was concerned that his starting outside linebackers have just 2 ½ sacks between them. "I always want to get sacks, you settle for pressures," he said. "Still, he said there was no thought of replacing one of the two starters with Ahmad Brooks. "Not at this point. Ahmad Brooks is continuing to learn the system, continuing to learn how to be a consistent pass rusher. He's still getting his feet under him, but he's coming hard and he's coming fast."

-- Matt Barrows

Replay today's live chat with Matt here. Look for his chat weekly, usually at 11 a.m. Tuesdays at www.sacbee.com/live.

What are the 49ers' chances of making the playoffs? When's the last time they won in Green Bay? Will we see Kory Sheets on Thursday night now that Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown is nursing an ankle injury? These answers and much, much more if you tune in an hour from now to our Niners Fireside Chat ... www/sacbee.com/live

-- Matt Barrows

I've been getting a lot of questions about Aubrayo Franklin, who becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season, so I thought I'd use the 49ers' "second bye" to update their free agency situation. If you feel like discussing this or any other matter, you can extend your weekend a few hours by joining me for a chat Monday at 11 a.m. Just log onto www.sacbee.com/live.

G David Baas. Baas is one of the players who gets caught if there is no salary cap in 2010. His contract is up after this year, which normally would make him an unrestricted free agent and thus eligible to hit the open market. In an uncapped year, however, players need six accrued seasons to become an unrestricted free agent. Baas will have five. That makes him a restricted free agent, which would allow the 49ers to match any offer Baas receives from another team.

The question is how far the 49ers would go to bring Baas back. He was the first pick in the second round in 2005, which is just about the earliest you ever would take a guard. Yet he hasn't lived up to his draft slot. It took Baas a while to win a starting role, and he has been inconsistent since. Still, the 49ers have little depth at that position, and if they could retain Baas for a modest sum, the continuity might be worth the expenditure.

WR Arnaz Battle. Battle is a tough receiver, a good blocker and he has a lot of respect from teams around the league. With Michael Crabtree, Morgan, Jason Hill and Brandon Jones on the roster, Battle realizes that his opportunity for playing time is diminished in San Francisco. Look for him to go to the team for whom he thinks he can get the most offensive snaps.

CB Dre' Bly. Bly's plan this season was to sign a relatively small contract and hope his play makes him a commodity on the free-agent market next season. So far that hasn't happened. Bly has been the team's nickel cornerback, and as far as pecking order, you'd have to put him behind Shawntae Spencer, Tarell Brown and Nate Clements. Clements is the key to the 49ers' cornerback situation next season. He'll be out until mid December. If the 49ers do well without him, it might be hard to justify his massive 2010 salary. If that's the case, Bly becomes a little more valuable to the 49ers. How soon Clements returns and how well he plays upon his return will answer a lot of questions.

LB Ahmad Brooks. Brooks is in the same boat as Baas - if there's no new CBA he'll be a restricted free agent. If I had to guess, I'd say that he and Aubrayo Franklin are the priorities for the 49ers. The team sees real potential in Brooks as a pass rusher, and after beginning his career as an inside linebacker he is finally playing at his best spot, outside linebacker. The Brooks-Mike Singletary pairing also is a good one for a player who teems with talent but who has lacked motivation.

WR Isaac Bruce. Mike Singletary said Friday that Josh Morgan would be taking over Bruce's starting spot. With so many young receivers in need of playing time, and with Bruce having trouble separating from defenders, it's very difficult seeing the veteran receiver in a 49ers' uniform next season.

NT Aubrayo Franklin. No 49er has received better press this season than Franklin. And it's great timing for the unrestricted free agent. Some observers might be suspicious of a player who starts playing his best in his contract year. The truth is that Franklin has been playing well since the midpoint of last season. The nose tackle wants to test his worth on the open market, and a run stopper like him will have many, many suitors. But in an uncapped year, teams have more ability to retain players. The 49ers will have the use of both a franchise tag and a transition tag, both of which allow them to keep a player for another year as long as they pay him the average of the top players at his position. (franchise = avg. of the top 5, transition = avg. of the top 10).

CB Marcus Hudson. Hudson is well-liked in the 49ers' locker room, but he has been a special teams player and nothing more. The 49ers would welcome him back, but certainly wouldn't pay a lot. Hudson also would be a UFA in an uncapped year.

OT Tony Pashos. Like Bly, Pashos was trying to parlay a one-year deal into a big free-agent salary next year. Though he succeeded in winning a starting spot, he immediately injured his shoulder and was lost for the season. The 49ers almost certainly will try to upgrade the right tackle spot in the offseason. Pashos' desire to be a starter likely hasn't changed and he will look for a team that will give him a chance to compete for a starting role.

S Mark Roman. Roman got an interception Thursday night, but the fact that he went almost three years without one crystallizes the fact that he is not a playmaker. With good-looking youngster Reggie Smith elbowing for playing time, it's hard to see the 49ers laying out a welcome mat for Roman.

OT Barry Sims. Sims will be interesting to watch as the season progresses. At one point this offseason, he seemed like a long shot to even make the team. Now, however, he is the starter at the most critical offensive line position, and he is playing well. Sims is experienced and he can play on both the right and left side. As I said before, the 49ers almost certainly will upgrade the right tackle position in either free agency or the draft. But having Sims as a back-up could be smart move.

LB Jeff Ulbrich. It should be an easy decision for someone who suffered such a severe concussion. That Ulbrich is deliberating on whether to retire shows just how much he loves football.

-- Matt Barrows

Just finished watching the replay of Thursday night's game, and I paid close attention to Alex Smith's performance. How'd he do? I'd have to agree with Mike Singletary who said yesterday he thought Smith "did a good job." Sunday against the Titans, I don't think you could have said that. The difference in that game was the four turnovers, three of which could be blamed, at least partially, on Smith. In Thursday's game, Smith threw the ball away twice but he was otherwise on target with his throws. A lot of commenters have criticized him for settling on short screens or dump offs instead of going downfield more. All of those instances were either designed plays or plays in which Smith was dealing with a heavy pass rush. The reason Smith's numbers were so modest was not because Smith played poorly but because the game plan became very cautious in the second half.

I thought he could have done three things better:

1.) On the play after Aubrayo Franklin's interception, Smith holds the ball too long and takes a five-yard sack. He didn't have a lot of time to throw, but enough time to throw the ball away.
2.) On the second-quarter interception, the ball is underthrown. Still, Michael Crabtree needs to do a better job of contesting that pass. Smith said after the game that the play showed that he and Crabtree need a lot more work on timing.
3.) After the 49ers drive to the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter, Smith looks to his left, sees no one is open and throws the ball away. He is dealing with a pretty heavy pass rush, but if he drifts to his right, he could have bought another second and found Vernon Davis and Josh Morgan open on the right side of the end zone.

Otherwise I thought Smith did a good job of improvising. On the same drive that he takes that sack, he is flushed out of the pocket on third down by pressure to his right. He shows nice athleticism by drifting to the left and throws on target to Frank Gore, who runs for a first down. That play overcomes the sack on first down and a Vernon Davis false start on second down.

Smith's flip to Michael Robinson on the 49ers' final drive also showed good awareness. Smith again is dealing with pressure from his right - a theme all night - and he shovels a pass to Robinson, who has a ton of green grass ahead of him. Robinson obviously is aware of this, and he starts running before he secures the ball. He catches it, but stumbles and gains only four yards. Catch it cleanly and, at the very least, the 49ers end that drive with a field goal.

Smith had seven incompletions on the night. They were:
1.) Out of bounds on 25-yard toss to Crabtree on the first offensive snap of the game. If the officials originally had ruled that a catch, would it have been overturned?
2.) Drop by Crabtree at the 4-yard line.
3.) Blitzing Bears linebacker deflected pass at the line of scrimmage.
4.) Interception on pass to Crabtree.
5.) Josh Morgan slips on a third-down out pattern.
6.) Smith rolls left and throws the ball out of bounds. Davis is the closest receiver
7.) Smith throws the ball out of bounds in the end zone.

Other observations:

I thought Barry Sims had another good game at left tackle ... Singletary also was correct when he said that although the defense had no sacks, pressure contributed to three of Cutler's five interceptions ... Morgan needs to become a more reliable receiver. But he is a very good run blocker. He helped spring Gore on a couple of big runs, and he recovered Gore's fumble on the 49ers' field-goal drive because he was in the vicinity blocking downfield. ... The two best Bears were Adewale Ogunleye, who was perhaps inspired by Vernon Davis, and Lance Briggs. A Patrick Willis-Briggs duo would have been deadly, but I wonder how they would have used Briggs on third downs. The 49ers' "Ted" linebacker usually comes off the field ... Eric Heitmann and David Baas both had great blocks on Gore's 14-yard touchdown run ... Matt Wilhelm looked like he had very fresh legs in substituting for Takeo Spikes, who has been nicked in recent weeks.

Some of you have been wondering about Aubrayo Franklin's contract status. Franklin is in the final year of his contract, and he does not seem to be interested in an extension. He wants to see what he can fetch on the open market. He picked a good game - national television - to have his first career interception. What are the 49ers' chances of re-signing him? Put it at 50-50 ...

-- Matt Barrows

Why did the 49ers raise their umbrella of caution in the second half of last night's game? It was as we suspected. The 49ers saw a mistake-prone quarterback on the other team, saw that their defense was playing well and decided not to make any mistakes. "Because I thought our defense would do a good job with their offense - that's the reason I chose to run the ball and not take risks," Singletary said.

To me that's the equivalent of staying put with a six and four in blackjack and hoping the dealer goes bust. Singletary indeed watched the dealer (Jay Culter) go bust last night, but he was oh-so-close to hitting 21 with his final card.

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Singletary said that when Isaac Bruce returns from his ankle injury, he'll play but that Josh Morgan will continue to be the starter. Of the five players injured last night, Takeo Spikes' hamstring injury appears to be the most serious. Michael Lewis has a shoulder stinger, Arnaz Battle - who gave the team a bit of a lift on kickoff returns - has a quad contusion, Adam Snyder has a sprained ac (shoulder) joint and Mark Roman has a knee contusuion.

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Singletary said that Alex Smith did a "a good job," especially at managing the game in the second half. Smithy threw an interception in the second quarter on a deep pass to Crabtree in which the receiver and quarterback didn't appear to be on the same page. "If your going to get (an interception), hopefully it's like a punt," Singletary said. "But on that particular play, I can certainly understand it. I just think Alex threw it more outside and it should have been more inside. ... When the safety it coming over like he was, it was a tough throw to make. It has to be right on the money to make that throw, and maybe his (Crabtree's) body position wasn't just right."

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Singletary said he wasn't happy about the penalties his team incurred. Vernon Davis was flagged for two false start penalties while Tarell Brown had an unnecessary roughness call late in the third quarter. Singletary said that Davis' midweek remarks about the Bears defense, coupled with his jawing session with Adewale Ogunleye before the game, may have put too much pressure on Davis . "I think he (Ogunleye) got in his head a little early on," Singletary said. "He wanted to make sure he got the best of the guy. That's the kind of stuff you don't want to get into. Because it makes it about you." Singletary said he intended to have a talk with Brown about his penalty.

This marks the second straight season, Davis has been baited during pre-game warm-ups. You'll recall that Joey Porter did the same thing last season. Asked if he was concerned that opposing teams feel they can get in Davis' head, Singletary said, "He just has to remember that the Vernon that got him to this point (i.e. as a possible Pro Bowler) is the Vernon who goes out there and just gets it done."

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Singletary said he elected to punt the ball from the Chicago 34 late in the game for several reasons. He believed in his defense. He believed that Andy Lee could pin the Bears deep in their own territory and he remembered that Joe Nedney had missed a 39-yard field goal in the first quarter. Singletary also said it was very windy on the south end of the stadium and he didn't want a situation where a 52-yard Nedney field goal was caught and returned 100-plus yards for a touchdown. Did he have visions of Nathan Vasher dancing in his head? "Absolutely," Singletary said. "From time to time."

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Singletary called nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin "probably the most consistent player this year." That assessment was heartily seconded by linebacker Jeff Ulbrich who later in the locker room stated that Franklin was one of the league's top 3 nose tackles. Franklin, of course, had his first career interception last night, his first since high school. The ball was in his locker. He said he planned to send it to his mom, Chantini Carter, in Tennessee.

-- Matt Barrows

Two jokes while we smart alecky reporters were waiting for Mike Singletary to arrive for his press conference after tonight's game:

1.) I bet Singletary drops to his knees and thanks another J.C. tonight.
2.) The only one who comes out of this game looking good is Josh McDaniel.

Which is to say, the story of the game was not the 49ers but Jay Cutler, who threw five interceptions, some of them pretty terrible. The bottom line, however, is that the 49ers have snapped their losing streak and their playoff dreams are still alive. Here's some other food for thought: One of the theories as to why both teams played so poorly on offense is that they only had one real day - Tuesday - of practice in such a short week. If that's true than the converse also has to be true: The 49ers should be more fresh and more prepared for their Nov. 22 game against Green Bay.

Here were the interceptions
1. Aubrayo Franklin: First of the year, first of his career
2. Tarell Brown: First of the year, third of his career
3. Dashon Goldson: Second of the season, second of his career
4. Mark Roman: First of the season, fifth of his career. (First since Dec. 14, 2006)
5. Michael Lewis: First of the season, 12th of his career.

Takeo Spikes appeared to have the most serious injury. He strained his hamstring and did not return. Scott McKillop initially filled in though Matt Wilhelm ended up playing most of the game. He finished with five tackles. Adam Snyder (AC joint), Roman (knee contusion), Arnaz Battle (quad contusion) and Lewis (stinger) also were nursing injuries, but have nine days to recover.

Here are some quotes:

TE Vernon Davis
Post -Game-Quotes - November 12, 2009
San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears

On whether it was tough to put an offense in on such a short week:
"It was tough because we didn't really have time to prepare like we wanted to, so we just had to dig into our pockets and use plays that we used in the past."

On his exchange with DE Adewale Ogunleye:
"I was just trying to get my team fired up. I just told him to get ready because we are coming hard and we are coming to win."

On whether there was a sense of relief getting this win:
"We have a lot of momentum now and that's what we wanted going into the next game. We wanted to win this game, get some momentum, get our confidence level high and continue to win."

NT Aubrayo Franklin
Post-Game Quotes - November 12, 2009
San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears

On the importance of winning the game:
"It was real big. We were on a four-game losing streak and we needed a win to get us back on track for a run to the playoffs."

On his interception:
"That was real big. I was pretty tired out there, we had been on a long drive. Luckily, God blessed me to get the pick. I tried to run with it but I didn't have any legs left to go anywhere."

On whether this win can spark the team going forward:
"Yeah, I think so. I think we got back to doing the things that we were doing to them earlier in the season on defense. We played like we did the first half of the season, creating turnovers and getting good field position for our offense. We had five turnovers and we came out with the win."

S Dashon Goldson
Post-Game Quotes - November 12, 2009
San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears

On his interception:
"We were in a man coverage. It was a combination route and I knew what they were going to run based on the alignment and I just made a good call. The nickel and I were doubling on the slot receiver, he released inside and I picked him up. [QB Jay] Cutler made a mistake throwing the football and I picked it off."

On the five turnovers generated by the defense:
"We came out there and showed what this defense is made of. In the beginning of the year in training camp, we stressed turnovers and every day we practice turnover drills. Today was a great opportunity for us, coming out at home after four losses in a row. We know what we can do and we showed it out there."

On the final possession of the game:
"After that penalty, I was telling them that we need to tighten up on D. We needed to win this game and to do that we needed to tighten up on defense at the end."

-- Matt Barrows

2Q

CHI 2nd and 3 from 33 ... Forte gains two yards ... 3rd and 1: Forte squirts through for 1 yard ... 1st and 10 from 30: Pass to Olsen caught out of bounds ... 2nd and 10: Forte breals loose, gains 16 yards ... 1st and 10 from SF 14: Forte stopped for no gain ... 2nd and 10: Cutler to Bennett, mistackle by Spencer, gains nine ... 3rd and 1: Cutler keeps, gets the first down, gains two ... 1st and G from three: Forte gains 1 ... 2nd and G from two: Forte stuffed, no gain ... 3rd and 1: Cutler tries to hit TE Kellen Davis, pass is intercepted by Aubrayo Franklin ... 49ers take over at 11 ...

49ers at own 11 ... Smith sacked by Harrison, loses five ... 2nd and 15: Vernon has another false start, makes it 2nd and 18 from SF 3: Screen to Morgan, goes upfield for 11 ... 3rd and 7: Pass to Gore, runs for first down ... 1st and 10 from SF 23: Nice dump from Smith to Gore gains nine ... 2nd and 1: Gore gains one .... 1st and 10: ball batted in air at line of scrimmage, nearly int'd by Roach ... 2nd and 10: Gore rushes for four yards ... 3rd and six: Smith over the middle, finds Morgan for nine yards ... 1st and 10 from SF 46: Smith goes deep for Crabtree, but the rookie doesn't make a play on the ball and it's intercepted at the CHI 19 ...

CHI takes over from 19 ... 1st down: False start on Hester ... 1st and 15: Forte has a nice run but holding on Hester ... 1st and 19: Pass to Forte, knocked out of bounds by Lewis ... 2nd and 15: Pass to Forte with blockers. Spencer misses another open-field tackle and Forte gains 37 yards ... SPIKES SHAKEN UP ... 1st and 10 from SF 49: Brown intercepts pass for Hester, returns it to the CHI 14 ... Gore breaks through line untouched, scores touchdown. Gets a nice block by Baas ... 49ers 7, CHI 0

SPIKES HAS HAMSTRING STRAIN AND IT OUT FOR REST OF GAME

CHI from own 17: Spencer almost comes up with pick but pass is inc. ... 2nd and 10: Forte gains two ... 3rd and 8: Screen to Forte gains 12 ... 1st and 10: Pass over the middle to Bennett gains 17 to the SF 49 ... Chi calls 1st t.o. with :37 left ... 1st and 10: Brooks bats down Cutler's pass ... 2nd and 10: Delay of game ... 2nd and 15: Pass to Knox, runs out of bounds after gaining 11 ... 3rd and 4: Pass to Olsen for first down ... CHI takes 2nd t.o. at SF 39 with :20 left ... 1st and 10: Cutler inc. to Hester in the end zone ... 2nd and 10: Cutler to Bennett; pi on Spencer at 35 ... 1st and 10 w/ :09 Pass to Hester to the 27, gain of eight ... sets up 45-yard field goal with :06 ... Delay of game on Bears makes it a 50 yarder ... which is GOOD 49ers 7, Chi 3

1Q

Niners win the toss, but for the second game in a row they elect to defer to the second half ....

Chicago from their 18 ... 1st: Pass to Forte, corralled by Lawson after 2 yards ... 2nd and 8: Cutler no where to go, throws inc. to TE Clark ... 3rd and 8: Good pass rush, pass to Forte but hit immediately by Willis after 2 ... 4th and 6 ... PUNT ... Jones returns a couple of yards to the SF 41

SF from own 41 ... 1st: Smith to Crabtree 25 yards down the sideline. Crabtree makes a one-handed reception that is ruled incomplete but challenged by Singletary ... Ruling stands -- incomplete pass ... 2nd and 10: Slant to Crabtree goes for 15 yards ... 1st and 10: Out of the shotgun, Gore runs for 5 yards ... 2nd and 5: Gore gains three with Norris leading way ... 3rd and 2: Pass to Crabtree for eight yards, offsides on Bears; Crabtree very animated ... 1st and 10 from Chi 28: Pass to Davis, breaks tackle of 234-lb lb Nick Roach and picks up six yards ... 2nd and 4: Gore up the middle; offsides defense ... 1st and 10 from Chi17: False start on Vernon Davis ... 1st and 15: Gore carries right side, gains eight ... 2nd and 7: Smith hits Crabtree on slant but Crabtree drops it ... 3rd and 7: Harris sacks Smith (minus seven) but it's Ogunleye who pressures the QB ... Nedney misses 39-yard FG ....

CHI from own 29 ... 1st: Forte held for no gain ... 2nd and 10: Forte hit by Haralson ... 3rd and 9: Pass to Olsen, held in check by Roman ... PUNT ... Jones allows it to bounce, downed at SF 26 ...

SF takes over at own 26 ... 1st: Gore up the middle for four ... 2nd and 6: Gore hit by Ogunleye, no gain ... 3rd and 6: Pass to Hill, jukes and stretches for first down but comes up a foot short ... PUNT ... illegal block in the back gives Chi ball at own 10

Chi takes over at 10 ... 1st: Pass to Clark gains seven ... 2nd and 3: Forte gains two ... 3rd and 1: Forte hits hole, gains two ... 1st and 10: Screen to Hester too high ... 2nd and 10: Cutler to Olsen, gains 15 yards ... 1st and 10: Forte carries, gains two ... 2nd and 8: Cutler to Olsen along sideline, gains 20 ... 1st and 10: pass to Olsen, gains 7 ... END 1st Q

NFL Network just showed a clip of Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye approaching tight end Vernon Davis during pre-game warm-ups. The two exchange a few heated words before Bears center Olin Kreutz comes and restrains Ogunleye and brings him back to the Chicago side of the field.

Davis, of course, called out the Chicago defensive line earlier in the week by saying the 49ers would "destroy" the Chicago front. But Ogunleye was the one Bears defensive lineman Davis said he respected. "I like (Adewale) Ogunleye," Davis said. "I like the way he's playing up front. He's about the only player I like on their defensive line. I think he's doing a good job."

The two teams are set to take the field in a few minutes. Let's get ready to RUUUUUUMBLE!

-- Matt Barrows

Isaac Bruce (ankle) is inactive for tonight's game against Chicago. Expect Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan to start at wideout for the 49ers and for Jason Hill to take over Bruce's role as the No. 3 receiver. Arnaz Battle and Brandon Jones also are available. Rookie outside linebacker Diyral Briggs also is active for the first time this season.

The other seven inactive players are:
Nate Clements (shoulder)
Glen Coffee (concussion)
Demetric Evans (shoulder)
Joe Staley (knee)
Cody Wallace
Keith Smith
Nate Davis (3rd QB)

For the Bears, starting safety Al Afalava is inactive. Josh Bullocks will start in his place.

The other inactives:
WR Juaquin Iglesias
RB Garrett Wolfe
S Keith Payne
LB Pisa Tinoisamoa
G Lance Louis
DT Matt Toeaina
DT Jarron Gilbert
The Bears don't have a third quarterback ....

-- Matt Barrows

The top quote from Mike Singletary's Wednesday press conference went like this: "I'm excited that the country will have a chance to see the 49ers - the young 49ers - come of age in the second half of the season." Singletary has used the "y" word a few times in recent weeks. It's a word that Mike Nolan also would use in explaining why his teams made mistakes and went on long losing jags. Nolan could use the word because it was true. He was truly rebuilding a team from scratch and Nolan's 49ers truly were young.

Singletary's 49ers? The following list is from the beginning of the season. Yes, the average age for the 49ers is going to fluctuate a bit with Allen Rossum leaving and Michael Crabtree being added. And, yes, some veteran players like Isaac Bruce (37) and Nate Clements (29) have been replaced in the lineup by youngsters like Jason Hill (24) and Tarell Brown (24). But the 49ers are by no means the coltish team they were three or four years ago.

1 Redskins 28.02 (2-6)
2 Saints 27.99 (8-0)
3 Cardinals 27.74 (5-3)
3 Patriots 27.74 (6-2)
5 Lions 27.62 (1-7)
6 49ers 27.51 (3-5)
7 Steelers 27.50 (6-2)
8 Vikings 27.48 (7-1)
9 Seahawks 27.41 (3-5)
10 Falcons 27.39 (5-3)
11 Titans 27.29 (2-6)
12 Browns 27.18 (1-7)
13 Jets 27.16 (4-4)
13 Broncos 27.16 (6-2)
15 Bears 27.02 (4-4)
16 Cowboys 26.93 (6-2)
17 Bills 26.93 (3-5)
18 Chargers 26.93 (5-3)
19 Texans 26.89 (5-4)
20 Giants 26.88 (5-4)
21 Ravens 26.83 (4-4)
22 Raiders 26.82 (2-6)
23 Eagles 26.81 (5-3)
24 Rams 26.73 (1-7)
25 Jaguars 26.61 (4-4)
26 Bengals 26.60 (6-2)
27 Dolphins 26.47 (3-5)
28 Bucs 26.46 (1-7)
29 Panthers 26.39 (3-5)
30 Chiefs 26.36 (1-7)
31 Colts 26.34 (8-0)
32 Packers 26.16 (4-4)

-- Matt Barrows

This evening on the NFL Network, former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz - who, by the way, has been excellent as a TV analyst - was asked whether the 49ers have a solid quarterback future with Alex Smith and Shaun Hill on the roster. His not-so-surprising answer given that he chose JTO over those two in 2008: a qualified No.

"I think that Shaun Hill is a winner," Martz said. "But I think that he has some limitations in terms of getting the ball down the field. You love him - he's everything you want in the locker room as far as leadership qualities. Alex, when I was there, was injured. And he was very inaccurate in practice, he missed some throws. He didn't have the arm strength he has right now. Certainly when you look at him against Houston, he looks like a different player to me.

"So I think you have to hold off and really analyze the last eight games before you come to that conclusion. But at this point, you have to say, no. The other thing I would say ... those receivers he has now. Those three or four receivers with the tight end - Vernon having a Pro Bowl year --- there are plenty of pieces for him to really take off and have an excellent year."

Host Rich Eisen: What do you think is the aspect of Alex's game that's missing?

Martz: "He has to win. And he has to be the reason why you win a big game. The really good players in the league, the guys that have won for a long time and win championships, they step up. When things are at their worst, he's got to be at his best."

Eisen goes on to note that Smith did that once - three years ago on Thursday night when Smith accounted for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter in a road win against Seattle. Smith also engineered a nice game-winning drive in the 2007 season opener against Arizona. Other than that? Crickets chirping. Martz is right - Smith has eight games to prove he's a winner.

-- Matt Barrows

Isaac Bruce rolled his already-sore ankle in practice yesterday, according to Mike Singletary, and the veteran receiver is not likely to play tomorrow against the Bears. Singletary initially called Bruce "questionable-doubtful." He officially is listed as questionable on the team's injury report. If Bruce doesn't play, Jason Hill will get the snaps that would have gone to Bruce. Hill, of course, caught all four passes that went his way Sunday against Tennessee, two of them for TDs.

Meanwhile, Michael Crabtree continues to get his crash course in NFL 101. he and Alex Smith spent time throwing one-on-one today, something they typically do when the 49ers are practicing special teams. Said Crabtree: "Just that timing. You know, when you get on the field, you need that timing, that trust, especially on Sundays, that trust to just throw the ball up." Did he work out one on one with Graham Harrell at Texas Tech? "Oh, every day. My quarterback at Tech - it was non-stop one on one. The whole summer, we'd go 20 plays just me and him on the field, no water. That's different."

**************************
Singletary was asked today whether he was bothered by Vernon Davis' comments from yesterday during which the tight end said the 49ers would "destroy" the Bears' defensive front.

"I'll put it this way, I think that fact that he said it ... I talked to him about it. I know what he meant. He's a little frustrated. And I think you really have to translate or sort of read through the lines, read between the lines. I don't think he was being disrespectful at all. I think basically he was saying, 'You know what? We can do this. Let's not sit back and talk about what the Bears are going to do. Let's go out there and be what we can be.' Vernon - you know him as well. He can get a little excited and that's what he did."

*************************
Here is the injury report for tomorrow's game. With Coffee out, Singletary said Michael Robinson is the No. 2 RB; Moran Norris is the No. 3. He said Brandon Jones would return punts.

OUT: CB Nate Clements (shoulder), RB Glen Coffee (concussion), DT Demetric Evans (shoulder), T Joe Staley (knee)

QUESTIONABLE: WR Isaac Bruce (ankle).

PROBABLE: G David Baas (shoulder), CB Tarell Brown (rib), TE Vernon Davis (shoulder), RB Frank Gore (eye lid), WR Jason Hill (ankle), WR Brandon Jones (knee), S Michael Lewis (quadricep), RB Michael Robinson (shoulder), LB Takeo Spikes (shoulder), S Curtis Taylor (shin), TE Delanie Walker (shin, knee)

Bears

OUT: S Kevin Payne (back), LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee), RB Garrett Wolfe (back)

QUESTIONABLE: S Al Afalava (shoulder)

PROBABLE: TE Desmond Clark (neck), DT Tommie Harris (knee), CB Charles Tillman (shoulder)

-- Matt Barrows

When Eloise Poehler of Ventura dreamed of winning the lottery, she might have imagined piles of cash, fancy yachts and strings of pearls. Poehler won the lottery recently, but her prize is a little different: a luxury suite for the 49ers-Lions game Dec. 27 at Candlestick Park.

Poehler was one of the winners of the California Lottery's deal with the NFL's three California franchises. The game allowed participants to win team-related prizes from Sept. 8 through Oct. 25 by logging onto the lottery web site, registering "non-winning" Scratchers tickets (the 49ers are in the midst of a non-winning streak) and clicking on their favorite team's logo. The California deal eventually will allow the Lottery to sell tickets with the logos of the 49ers, Raiders and Chargers, although they aren't expected to go on sale until next year.

In total, 1,777,364 ticket codes were entered by 38,377 people for the drawing. Which is California's favorite team? The 49ers led the way with 13,606 fans, followed by the Chargers with 13,503, and then the Raiders with 11,268. The other "non-losers" for the 49ers were Tammy Castleman of Riverside who won an "Ultimate Game Day Experience" for the game against the Lions and Arthur Hall of Waterford who won a road trip package to see the 49ers take on the Seahawks at Qwest Field in Seattle.

-- Matt Barrows

The Chicago Bears might want to clear some space on the old locker-room cork board. One of their Thursday opponents, Vernon Davis, was asked about the Bears defensive front this morning, and he didn't exactly mince his words.

"I think we can destroy their front," said Davis, who is one of the 49ers' team captains. "The guys up front, I think we can destroy them. I don't see anything spectacular about their front line. Their linebackers, I think we can handle them pretty well. I like (Adewale) Ogunleye. I like the way he's playing up front. He's about the only player I like on their defensive line. I think he's doing a good job."

Davis also saw an opportunity to exploit the Bears secondary. "They've given up a lot of points," he said. "There's an opportunity for us, especially there in their secondary, for us to make plays. We just have to go out and do it. Enough talking, go do it. "

Davis later admitted that he also had respect for linebacker Lance Briggs, who nearly became a teammate of Davis' two years ago. "He can't check me," Davis said laughing. "... I think Lance is a good player. I totally respect Lance Briggs. He's a good player. He's been around before I came in this league and I respect his game. But we still have an opportunity. If he's matched up against me one-on-one, I'm going to try my best to beat him."

Briggs also had nice things to say about Davis during a morning conference call. "Eighty five's having a great year," Briggs said. "You know, he shows up on film a lot. A Lot. He's in position to get the ball thrown to him in tough coverages, and he's still coming up with the ball, getting in the end zone."

How does No. 55 match up with No. 85? "It matches up well," Briggs said. "It matches up four Pro Bowls well. I've been in the league going on seven years. So at some point the savvy and the know-how start to take over."

********************
Asked about the possibility of a new wide receiver rotation on Thursday, offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye said the team would first look at how Isaac Bruce's ankle responds in today's practice. Bruce sat out the second half of Sunday's game after aggravating the ankle.

Bruce said today that he first sprained the ankle in Week 4 against the Rams. He aggravated the injury in the first half Sunday and also hurt his knee on the play. Bruce seemed to be moving around well in the locker room and had no wrapping on the ankle or knee. Bruce called the injury "not a real big deal."

*****************
Frank Gore's right eye was red today, but not nearly as swollen as it was following Sunday's game. Gore was poked in the eye at the bottom of the pile in the first half against the Titans. He said he watched the tape but couldn't figure out who did it.

-- Matt Barrows

Because of a scheduling conflict, Matt Barrows will be unavailable for his weekly chat about the 49ers at 11 a.m. today.
Look for him to return Nov. 17.

Lance Briggs was so sure he'd become a 49er in 2008, he and then-rookie Patrick Willis talked about playing next to one another at the 2008 Pro Bowl. Back in those days, Briggs was so upset about the Bears that he vowed he would never play in Chicago again. The team that was the strongest suitor for the Sacramento native? The 49ers. Briggs made it clear on a conference call this morning that he thought a trade was imminent.

"Yeah, I thought it was a done deal," Briggs said. "I thought when the trade was offered (in 2007) I didn't think I'd be back in a Chicago Bears uniform. The way things worked out, they just worked out I was able to come back."

Given the trade talks, were you surprised when the Bears levied tampering charges against the 49ers?
"I was. I didn't see any of that stuff coming. You know, when I was questioned there was nothing that I could say to help anyone because I had no idea about it. Whatever information they said they had, that's what the NFL decided and, you know, I'll leave it at that."

What was your understanding of why charges were levied if there were already trade talks going on?
"I'm not sure. I really didn't get into it. I was more focused on free agency at the time and the 49ers kind of pulling out on me at the last minute and trying to find out what's going to happen. And for me, my whole focus was on other things."

What do you mean when you say the 49ers "pulled out on you?"
"Like I said, the 49ers was the team that I believed I was going to be going to. And I think a lot of people around the league figured that's the team I was going to go to. And I got a call from my agent right before free agency, saying it's probably not going to happen and that we're going to have to go elsewhere. So I started to look at New Orleans - that was the next squad that I was going to take a trip to. Then I see it scrolling at the bottom (one the television): "New Orleans trades for Jonathan Vilma." And that kind of puts me back in the race, puts the Chicago Bears back in the picture. ... It was a domino effect."

Why did you think the 49ers were going to be your next team?
"Because I was more heavily pursued by them than any other organization."

At the trade deadline?
"Right. The trade deadline. You know, and with free agency coming around. That was what all the analysts said. Plus my agent said, 'Hey, you're going to be a Niner.'"

Were you privy to what the trade offer was?
"It was a first-round pick. It was a first-round pick - straight up, a first-round pick. And to me, that's quite an honor to have. To have a team willing to trade you for a first rounder."

Did you have the terms of the deal set up?
"I don't know. All I know is that ... No, I'm not sure about that. I just know that that was the offer."

Would that have been a dream come true for you?
"It would have been great. I mean, it would have been nice to play next to Patrick. We set up a talk with each other at the Pro Bowl and we talked about that a little bit, that we were excited to get a chance to play with each other. But that's life. Life works in mysterious ways. I'm back here with all my boys, and we just have to move on."

Are you bitter at the 49ers?
"No. I don't hold grudges. I was a little upset at the time, but all in all I'm happy with how things worked out."

So why were the 49ers ultimately docked a fifth-round pick and forced to switch third rounders with the Bears? Just because teams are discussing a trade doesn't allow a team to start negotiating with a player's agent, which is what the league ultimately ruled the 49ers did. The Bears also likely were irked that the 49ers were on the verge of a trade and pulled out at the last minute, thus placing them in the driver's seat for signing Briggs as a free agent. That would have left the Bears without Briggs and without any compensation ...

-- Matt Barrows