Dre Bly said today there were no hard feeling in losing out to Shawntae Spencer for the starting job at right cornerback. Then again, he still wants the job. "I've been used to playing my whole life," Bly said. "I started the last three years. Been productive. But still, he (Singletary) made a decision. I'm going to support it." Earlier, Singletary seemed to imply that Spencer's knowledge of the defense separated him from newcomer Bly, who started all of the preseason games for the 49ers. He said that Spencer didn't have a lot of "mental errors." "He knows our defense, he plays our defense, he continues to get better," Singletary said.
It's not as if Bly will be standing on the sideline Sunday. Singletary said that Bly would open the season as the 49ers' nickel cornerback, and against the pass-happy Cardinals, that position promises to see a lot of work. Bly agreed, noting that he played nickel cornerback a few years ago and led his team in interceptions.
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Some roster maneuverings ... The team rounded out its practice squad with guard/tackle Drew Radovich, who spent the first eight games last season on Minnesota's active roster last season before going on IR with a shoulder injury. Radovich is from USC and lined up next to Chilo Rachal there ... The 49ers showed interest in tight end Tony Curtis in the offseason. Curtis was recently released by the Eagles. The 49ers, however, are prepared to head into the season with two tight ends and, as Singletary noted, employ an extra tackle in situations that normally call for a third tight end.
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Neither Brandon Jones (shoulder) nor Ahmad Brooks (knee) will play Sunday. The time frame for Jones' return is still October. Brooks will be re-evaluated next week. Michael Lewis, meanwhile, is projected to start at strong safety despite having two concussions in quick succession in August. Lewis was blindsided by a Raiders fullback during a scrimmage and 11 days later took a knee to the helmet against Dallas. Lewis said he went through a battery of tests and was declared fit to play against the Cardinals.
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Shaun Hill said there was an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude toward Michael Crabtree with the regular season just four days away. Hill: "No matter who's here or who's not or no matter who's injured or who's playing, somebody steps in, and that's who you go with. It's tough - it's a tough part of this league that you're kind of an afterthought if you're injured or if you're not here. That's how it is, somebody steps in and somebody plays. And they're the ones that you're concerned with."
Crabtree isn't exactly out of sight. He has a locker in the team's newly expanded locker room. It's between Isaac Bruce's and Jason Hill's locker.
-- Matt Barrows
