Gore returns to 49ers practice; contract work continues

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Frank Gore practiced Tuesday with the San Francisco 49ers for the first time this offseason, breathing life into an offense that has been working this summer without several top players.

The two-time Pro Bowl running back ended his four-day holdout Monday and was back on the field a day later as the 49ers conducted their second padded practice of camp.

Gore was welcomed back by a new coaching staff and several players who have been anticipating his arrival.

"I almost hugged him and gave him a kiss, but I tried to play it cool," wide receiver Josh Morgan said. "It was really exciting to see him."

Gore, who missed San Francisco's final five games last season with a fractured hip, is in the final year of his contract with the 49ers that will pay him $2.9 million this season with a $2 million roster bonus. He is seeking a contract extension.

Gore said the holdout was a mutual decision between him and agent Drew Rosenhaus. But a few days away from the team was all it took to convince Gore to return.

"I love the game and I missed the game," Gore said. "I'm a football player and I missed being out here with my team. I'm here to get better and try to take this organization where it needs to go."

Gore has led the 49ers in rushing every year since being drafted in 2005, including a team-record four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 2006-2009. Gore was on his way to extending that string last season before his injury. He finished the season with 853 yards rushing and 46 receptions for 452 yards.

The 49ers are installing a new offense this summer under new coach Jim Harbaugh, and Gore once again figures to be a key component of San Francisco's attack. Harbaugh wasted no time giving Gore extensive duty with the first-team offense during his first day back.

"There's quite a difference in communication when he's in the huddle," Harbaugh said. "I'm very impressed with the way he hits the hole extremely quick and fast. It raises the competition and gives some of our young backs an example of what a top-notch pro looks like."

The 49ers had second-year player Anthony Dixon and rookie Kendall Hunter taking most of the snaps at halfback with the first unit during previous camp practices.

Gore was a welcome addition to an offensive huddle that also has been missing incumbent starting quarterback Alex Smith and No. 1 wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

Smith and other free agents who recently signed contracts with the team can't practice until Thursday, and Crabtree has a foot injury that could keep him out several weeks.

Gore spent the offseason working out near his home in Miami and did not participate in player-organized 49ers workouts in June that were attended by most of his offensive teammates at San Jose State University.

The entire offensive tempo seemed to pick up with Gore back on the field.

"Frank's a leader on this football team and the energy is up," tackle Joe Staley said. "Any time Frank's back there, he's going to take care of business. Just having him back on the field, his presence, is good for everybody and it raises spirits. The way he prepares and the way he communicates is a standard to live up to."

Harbaugh said "diligent" contract negotiations continue with Gore's representatives and he expects there to be a resolution on a new deal "sooner rather than later."

"Frank's a 49er and we want Frank here," Harbaugh said. "We want Frank happy, too."

Said Gore: "I want to be a 49er forever, and if the contract comes, it comes. I felt like a kid out there today, and I'm just happy to be back. I'm sorry about the little holdup, but I'm back and I'm ready to go to work and get better."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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49ers RB Gore to terminate holdout and report to team Monday

The San Francisco 49ers say running back Frank Gore will return to the team Monday after missing the first four days of training camp due to a holdout, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

A team spokesman confirmed late Sunday that Gore has spoken with coach Jim Harbaugh and has decided to practice while he attempts to negotiate a contract extension with the team. Gore is scheduled to earn $2.9 million in base salary and $2 million in a roster bonus during the final season of his current deal.

Under the terms of the NFL's new labor agreement, Gore is subject to $90,000 in fines for his holdout. The 49ers are off Monday, putting Gore back on the field with the team on Tuesday.

The former Miami Hurricane has led the 49ers in rushing in all six of his NFL seasons, but he is coming off a hip injury suffered in November.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Alex Smith concludes 49ers workouts, happy with progress

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Camp Alex II is officially over.

Nobody knows for certain when the San Francisco 49ers will begin training camp. Or if Alex Smith can be as successful a quarterback this fall as he has been this summer.

The 49ers' former and apparently future quarterback ended his final scheduled informal team workout Friday. After organizing two separate four-day minicamps at San Jose State that included most of the team's offensive players, Smith said he has installed about as much of new coach Jim Harbaugh's West Coast system as he can this summer.

All he can do now is wait for the NFL lockout to end so he can show how much the workouts really accomplished.

"I know what I installed and everything I basically threw at the wall. I don't know how much of it stuck to the wall," said Smith, a free agent expected to re-sign with the team. "And I think that's going to be the test when these guys come back, whenever this thing ends, how much of it stuck."

At the very least, Smith believes the workouts have put the 49ers in a better position.

San Francisco has among the most to lose the deeper the labor disagreement goes, with so much under Harbaugh that is unknown and unsettled. Smith spent just a few hours with Harbaugh and his staff when the lockout was briefly lifted, leaving the team's headquarters with boxes of game highlights and a playbook.

The countdown concludes with a two-hour special revealing the top 10 on NFL Network on Sunday, July 3 at 8 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for a reaction show right after.

Smith studied the information and relayed that to his teammates during classroom sessions he taught on a drawing board. He even quizzed them when it was over and awarded undisclosed prizes, revealing only that receiver Kevin Jurovich left happiest.

The two dozen or so players at most of the workouts -- down to 10 offensive players on the last day because of the upcoming holiday weekend -- also went into Spartan Stadium for about 90 minutes to run plays each day.

"I got put in a position where I just kind of felt like I needed to do it," Smith said. "All of a sudden, I didn't know how long the lockout was going to go, as it got longer and longer, more and more I felt like we were behind the eight ball and needed to do something."

That leadership quality has been sorely missing from San Francisco's quarterback.

The 49ers haven't had a winning season or reached the playoffs since 2002, and inconsistency at the position might be the biggest reason why. With the exception of receiver Michael Crabtree, who has openly questioned whether Smith is the presumed starter, players at the workouts have said all the right things about Smith.

There's still little from his past play to suggest he will be the franchise's long-term solution, and the presence of second-round pick Colin Kaepernick figures to ignite the fan pessimism that revolves around Smith the first time the 2005 No. 1 overall pick throws an interception.

Smith will be the first to acknowledge the workouts he organized will be meaningless if he can't finally deliver consistently when it counts. The only action from this summer Harbaugh will see will be on video from the workouts Smith taped. The rest will be up to the quarterback to prove in front of the new coach.

Smith is flirting with the idea of holding another minicamp or even a larger session to mimic training camp if the lockout persists into late July. With so many free agents on the defensive side, Smith isn't sure he could find 11 players to fill out a roster -- and he wouldn't hold contact drills anyway, for fear of injuries.

Smith and others will continue to lift weights and exercise at San Jose State in smaller groups in the coming weeks, waiting to find out when training camp begins -- and whether Smith can be as accomplished a quarterback against an NFL defense.

"I would feel pretty good at this point if training camp started," Smith said. "Training camp is where the bulk of the work comes in anyway. You love the offseason program, but I think it serves as the same type of thing. It's an introduction to this stuff. The real football starts in training camp."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Heitmann injured neck in 'Nutcracker' drill, 49ers teammate says

Eric Heitmann might miss a second consecutive NFL season because of another serious injury, and teammate Joe Staley believes he knows how this one happened.

Staley, the 49ers' starting left tackle, told the San Francisco Chronicle that Heitmann, the team's former starting center, injured his neck last year during former coach Mike Singletary's infamous "Nutcracker" drill, which requires two players to line up across from each other and violently hit in an effort to push back an opponent.

Singletary, a Hall of Fame linebacker known for his hits and toughness, wouldn't comment on Staley's claim when asked by Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

"I don't know what Eric's prior situation was, so I'm not going to respond to that," said Singletary, who was fired by the 49ers toward the end of last season and now is the Minnesota Vikings' linebacker coach.

According to The Sacramento Bee, Singletary called the drill "pretty foolproof" at the start of 2009 training camp and said it taught players about the importance of leverage. Singletary also said he didn't believe any players would be injured during the drill, but it left linebacker Patrick Willis (ankle), cornerback Tarell Brown (toe) and center David Baas (broken foot) with injuries, according to the report.

Singletary then changed to what he said was a safer version of the drill for 2010 camp, but Heitmann and linebacker Derek Walker were also injured.

According to Staley, Heitmann felt a neck tweak after one of the drills at last year's camp but continued to practice with it. Misfortune struck Heitmann the next day, when he broke his left leg, ending his 2010 season. But he felt numbness and pain in his neck until last month, when he had surgery that could cost him the 2011 season.

Heitmann's agent, Kenny Zuckerman, told CSN Bay Area on Wednesday that it normally takes about six months to recover from the surgery, which repaired a ruptured disk. That would make it late November or early December before his client might be ready to return. Heitmann's contract expires after the 2011 season.

Heitmann, 31, has started 114 games since the 49ers selected him out of Stanford in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Until last season, had missed just two starts in six seasons.

David Baas, who replaced Heitmann as the starting center last season, isn't under contract. According to the Chronicle, unsigned Tony Wragge, rookies Mike Person and Daniel Kilgore, and veteran Adam Snyder are candidates to play center.

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Kaepernick looks good, ailing Crabtree sits at 49ers' practice

Colin Kaepernick decided to skip a symposium for NFL rookies this week to spend time with his San Francisco 49ers teammates and learn some of the playbook.

He's doing a little more than that.

The second-round draft pick out of Nevada was a full participant on the first day of an informal minicamp Tuesday in San Jose, Calif., showing off his strong arm and moving swiftly for the first time since having surgery on his lower left leg in early May. Kaepernick said he doesn't feel limited at all but is waiting for an upcoming doctor's appointment before he resumes his complete training program.

"Definitely have to get back a little of the timing, get back to the pace of the routes, the timing of certain things," he said. "That's just going to take a little bit of time. For the most part, I felt like I was on time with most of my throws today and felt good out there."

Kaepernick was among about two dozen players at the workout led by quarterback Alex Smith, a free agent expected to re-sign with San Francisco once the NFL lockout is lifted. While Smith is the presumed favorite for the starting spot, Kaepernick figures to put some pressure on the veteran next season.

That competition already might have started.

The hard-throwing Kaepernick even knocked down a couple of receivers in some drills, giving a glimpse of an arm that registered the fastest throw during the NFL Scouting Combine four months ago at 59 mph. Kaepernick also took snaps, dropped back and moved in the pocket -- all things he didn't do during the first minicamp earlier this month -- with relative ease.

"He doesn't have that rookie, deer-in-the-headlights mentality," left tackle Joe Staley said. "I think he's going to be a good quarterback."

Kaepernick called his fellow 49ers rookies once he decided not to attend the NFL Players Association-operated rookie symposium this week in Bradenton, Fla. The only rookies at the previous minicamp who didn't attend were running back Kendall Hunter and guard Daniel Kilgore.

Kaepernick said he came to the decision to skip the conference after seeking advice from his agent, Scott Smith, and other rookies and teammates.

"We thought it would be best if I was here for this camp, especially being able to fully participate now, just being with my teammates," Kaepernick said. "Also, we had heard that a lot of the rookies weren't going. We thought this would be a great reason to miss that. Not to say that that wouldn't be very helpful, but we thought that this would be more important at this time."

The 49ers' workouts this week are still heavily focused on offense.

The countdown concludes with a two-hour special revealing the top 10 on NFL Network on Sunday, July 3 at 8 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for a reaction show right after.

The group on hand included most of the key offensive players and almost all the receivers, including Michael Crabtree. He was part of the classroom session but mostly watched on the field at San Jose State's Spartan Stadium while he recovers from sore feet, teammates said. He didn't speak to reporters.

This is similar to the 49ers' first round of workouts earlier this month, when Crabtree sat out all workouts but one because of discomfort in both feet. Teammate Josh Morgan said at the time that Crabtree had developed the sore feet because of new sneakers he had worn in his initial June 6 workout, according to The Sacramento Bee.

The primary difference in this workout was the addition of film from new coach Jim Harbaugh's West Coast offense. That included Harbaugh's offense at Stanford and NFL clips from Steve Young's 49ers and Rich Gannon's Oakland Raiders.

Smith has primarily led the classroom sessions with receivers, and Staley is breaking off into groups with the offensive lineman.

"I think everything is going good so far," Morgan said. "Camp Alex is a success."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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49ers' Crabtree offers lukewarm support of veteran QB Smith

As San Francisco 49ers players wrapped up Day 1 of their offensive minicamp under the guidance of Alex Smith, wide receiver Michael Crabtree offered less-than-firm support of the veteran quarterback, according to The Sacramento Bee.

Before Monday's workout, Crabtree was one of the few 49ers wideouts yet to work with Smith this offseason. Smith has thrown to Josh Morgan, Ted Ginn, Kevin Jurovich, Kyle Williams and rookie Ronald Johnson in previous workouts, per reports.

When Crabtree was asked by the newspaper if "throwing with the quarterback was beneficial toward improving chemistry," the wideout responded, "Who's the quarterback?"

When Smith's name was dropped, Crabtree said, "He's the quarterback? I'm just asking."

Pressed on his feelings for Smith, Crabtree continued: "Whoever the quarterback is, I'm gonna do my job. I'm going to do the best I can to get whatever he needs. You know what I'm saying? That's just how it's going to be. I'm not one-sided. I'm for whoever's the quarterback. It's just how I've been. Everybody knows that."

But does Crabtree think Smith will be the guy?

"I wish I could tell you that." Crabtree said. "I know that you're all scratching at it. I wish I could tell you who is going to be the quarterback. I don't know. I don't know. Whoever the quarterback is, I'm 100 percent down with it and I'm ready to go. That's it."

The team drafted Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft in April and Smith will be an unrestricted free agent once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. Still, new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh's public and private comments about the quarterback have left the six-year veteran comfortable that he'll be in San Francisco next season.

"I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for the relationship there, to be honest with you," Smith told the Bay Area News Group last week. "For the feeling I got from Harbaugh, the offensive coaching staff, from every time I've been in there, from before the lockout, from when the lockout ended that day and a half. ... But I have such a good feeling. I feel they've been up front about everything they've told me."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Johnson, member of 49ers' 'Million Dollar Backfield,' dies at 81

Hall of Fame running back John Henry Johnson, who starred for the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Oilers in the 1950s and '60s, died Friday in Tracy, Calif., several relatives and close friends told the San Jose Mercury News.

Johnson, 81, had been in declining health, according to family members.

After one year in the Canadian Football League, Johnson entered the NFL in 1954 as a member of the 49ers' vaunted "Million Dollar Backfield," which also included running backs Joe "The Jet" Perry (who passed away in April at 84) and Hugh McElhenny and quarterback Y.A. Tittle. The group remains the only full-house backfield to have all four of its members enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"I was deeply saddened to hear of John Henry Johnson's passing," 49ers owner John York said in a statement released by the team. "He was a good friend, not only to my family and me, but the entire 49ers organization. As a member of 'The Million Dollar Backfield,' he holds a cherished place in both 49ers and NFL history. His contributions to the game of football will be forever celebrated. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the entire Johnson family."

In 1957, the 49ers traded Johnson to the Lions, who won the NFL championship that year. He was dealt to the Steelers, who originally drafted him, in 1960, then had his finest statistical seasons, running for 1,141 yards in 1962 and 1,048 yards in 1964. He was the first Steeler to break the 1,000-yard barrier.

Johnson spent the 1966 season with the AFL's Oilers before retiring. At that time, he trailed only Jim Brown, Jim Taylor and Perry on the NFL's career rushing yards list. Johnson now ranks 55th.

Johnson also made 186 receptions for 1,478 yards, and he scored 55 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl four times, in 1955, 1963, 1964 and 1965.

Johnson wasn't just a good runner and pass catcher. He also was a feared blocker, leading Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne, who played with Johnson in Detroit and Pittsburgh, to say: "John Henry is my bodyguard. Half the good runners will get a passer killed if you keep them around long enough. But a quarterback hits the jackpot when he gets a combination runner-blocker like Johnson."

Johnson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

"I speak on behalf of all of John Henry's fellow Hall of Famers, our board and staff, in sending our condolences to the Johnson family," Steve Perry, the Hall of Fame's president and executive director said in a statement. "John Henry's place in football history as one of the game's most punishing runners and greatest blockers will forever be remembered through his bronze bust in the Hall of Fame."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Smith confident in place with 49ers despite free-agent status

Alex Smith is leading throwing sessions in the San Francisco 49ers' players-only workouts -- a completely normal development if not for the business of the quarterback technically being a free agent.

It's just another unusual aspect of a very strange NFL offseason.

Smith will be an unrestricted free agent once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, but new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh's public and private comments about the quarterback have left the six-year veteran comfortable that he'll be in San Francisco next season.

"I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for the relationship there, to be honest with you," Smith told the Bay Area News Group on Wednesday. "For the feeling I got from Harbaugh, the offensive coaching staff, from every time I've been in there, from before the lockout, from when the lockout ended that day and a half. ... But I have such a good feeling. I feel they've been up front about everything they've told me."

Harbaugh has been so vocal in his support of Smith that the NFL reportedly told the 49ers to stop talking about the quarterback or any free agents during the lockout.

"I laughed when the article came out that they told Harbaugh to stop talking about me," Smith said.

Smith said it felt good to read about Harbaugh's positive thoughts on him.

"You know, this is the first for me, to have an offensive head coach, especially someone who played the position and really knows what it's like to sit back in the pocket and all the different things that can impact your play," Smith said.

Smith told The Sacramento Bee that plans are in the works for a minicamp-style practice involving the 49ers' offensive players. Smith said the session would begin "shortly" and that the 49ers could have a number of them throughout the summer, depending on the status of the work stoppage.

"Becoming familiar with the terminology, the formations, the motions, the concepts -- things like that," Smith said when asked to describe the goal of the workouts. "So that whenever this (lockout) ends, you're not having to re-learn that."

Harbaugh might have great faith in Smith, but that doesn't mean the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick has a long future as San Francisco's signal-caller. The team drafted Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft in April.

Is it strange to have Smith's future replacement stand next to him during these workouts?

"No question," he said. "Oh, it's new. I guess I've slowly dealt with it, though. I don't think I've had a year without competition really in the last four years, though."

Smith spoke about the circle of life for an NFL quarterback, thinking back to when he was the hotshot from draft day.

"It did remind me a lot of when I came in, and Tim Rattay, to be honest with you," Smith said, referencing the quarterback whom he replaced in the 49ers' starting lineup. "... And I did think back about how good Tim was. How easy it would be to be bitter and to be an ass. Those guys did it the right way with me, and I'm going to do the same thing."

Kaepernick might be the future, but it appears that Smith remains the present in San Francisco. But he's not assuming he's the No. 1 guy just yet.

"I don't really view it like that," Smith said. "You're going to get into camp, and anywhere you go, the best guy's going to play. I mean, that's the way it's going to be. That's the way I view it. I know he (Harbaugh) said that, but for me, this is going to be wide open, and I'm going in with that mentality."

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49ers reportedly told to stop talking about their free agents

No more talk about quarterback Alex Smith, or any of your other free agents, please.

That is the message the league has sent to the San Francisco 49ers and new coach Jim Harbaugh, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported Tuesday.

Harbaugh has stated several times, including two weeks ago on "NFL Total Access," that he would like the 49ers to re-sign Smith. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft has struggled with injuries and inconsistency during his first six pro seasons with the team.

Harbaugh speculated after April's draft -- when San Francisco selected quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round -- that he thought Smith would return.

"I think he's going to come back to the team," Harbaugh said on April 30. "He has not signed a contract."

Harbaugh changed his strategy during an interview with the newspaper last week.

"I'm not answering any questions about Alex Smith," Harbaugh said. "The league has mandated we do not talk about him. The NFL has mandated that we don't talk about players who are not under contract -- who are free agents who haven't signed. We've been sent a memo saying we can't talk about it."

A 49ers spokesman told the newspaper that the league had contacted them. However, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Press Democrat he was not aware of the contact between the league and the 49ers.

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Young gun in town: QB Kaepernick joins 49ers workouts

The San Francisco 49ers welcomed a new face this week with the arrival of rookie signal-caller Colin Kaepernick, who threw to teammates at player-only workouts in the San Jose area, according to The Sacramento Bee on Friday.

Kaepernick first joined Wednesday's practice, but The Bee said Friday's passing session marked his most intense activity yet since undergoing a procedure on his left leg after the 49ers selected him in the second round of last month's draft.

Kaepernick is the second 49ers rookie to work out with veterans after receiver Ronald Johnson, a sixth-round pick, practiced with teammates for 10 days soon after the draft.

It's been suggested that the strong-armed, fleet-footed Kaepernick will find his way into the 49ers' attack, even if he sits behind Alex Smith, who also has actively attended workouts during the NFL lockout, along with 14 other teammates. The Bee reports that Smith has been joined by defensive linemen Isaac Sopoaga and Justin Smith, offensive linemen Joe Staley and Adam Snyder, and receivers Kevin Jurovich and Josh Morgan.

Kaepernick earlier received a copy of the 49ers playbook from a teammate, but is unable to communicate with San Francisco's coaching staff during the lockout. He planned reach out to Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who played under new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh for the previous three seasons.

As for Kaepernick, the newspaper reports that it's not only the playbook and his new team he's getting used to -- the rookie just made the move from his parents house in Turlock, Calif. to the Bay Area.

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49ers' GM search will zero in on experienced candidates

The San Francisco 49ers' search for a general manager following the firing of Mike Singletary on Sunday will focus exclusively on experienced candidates, according to a league source.

Despite a recent, growing trend in the league to take chances on rising, young executives, the 49ers are exclusively focused on men who have served in the role before.

According to the source, candidates include former NFL GMs Floyd Reese, Ted Sundquist and Randy Mueller, as well as the team's current vice president of personnel Trent Baalke.

The 49ers would like to then move forward with the hiring of a head coach, with A-list candidates like Jon Gruden and Jim Harbaugh among the possible targets.

Singletary was fired Sunday night after two disappointing seasons, including a 5-10 showing this year for a franchise expected to win the NFC West.

The team made the announcement late Sunday upon returning to the Bay Area, several hours after San Francisco was eliminated from playoff contention with a 25-17 loss against the St. Louis Rams. 

Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was promoted to interim coach and will run the 49ers in next Sunday's season finale at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Tomsula was to be formally introduced in a news conference set for Monday at 3 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Rams hold off 49ers to set up winner-take-all NFC West showdown

ST. LOUIS -- While Mike Singletary and Troy Smith squabbled on the sideline, rookie Sam Bradford stayed veteran calm.

The No. 1 overall draft pick helped keep the St. Louis Rams' playoff drive motoring along, breaking Peyton Manning's NFL rookie record for completions in a 25-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Singletary out in San Francisco Mike Singletary's days with the 49ers came to an end late Sunday night. The team announced the decision to fire Singletary shortly upon returning from St. Louis, where they were eliminated from playoff contention. More ...

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The 49ers announced hours after the loss that Singletary had been fired and said defensive line coach Jim Tomsula would run the team in next Sunday's season finale against Arizona. San Francisco was eliminated from playoff consideration and hasn't made it to the postseason since 2002.

Eclipsing Manning's 12-year-old mark was nice. Helping the Rams (7-8) stay on track to end a five-year playoff drought in a winner-take-all game for the NFC West title next week was a much bigger deal.

"I guess it's pretty cool," Bradford said of the record. "I'm all fired up about the win. If you don't get excited for a game like this, you're probably in the wrong business."

The Seahawks (6-9) have lost seven of nine after falling 38-15 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck left with a hip injury in the first quarter.

But they still could become the first team to win a division with a losing record. With a victory, Seattle would take the West based on a better division record. St. Louis snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series with a 20-3 victory in early October.

"Here we are, going into our last regular-season game, and we control our own destiny," Bradford said before the Seahawks game.

The Rams' defense kept both of the Smiths on the run, sacking Troy Smith and Alex Smith two times apiece. Singletary gave Troy Smith one more series after a heated exchange late in the third quarter, then benched him after the 49ers (5-10) went three-and-out on their first possession of the fourth quarter.

"Troy's a passionate guy and the way he responded, that's fine," Singletary said after the game. "He's frustrated, I'm frustrated.

"We're both trying to get something to happen on the field. That's all it was."

The 49ers' locker room was closed for about 20 minutes after the game before Singletary emerged, saying he had no regrets about his quarterback choice.

Singletary, who had two years to go on a four-year contract, went 18-22 with San Francisco.

"One of the greatest experiences of my life was having the opportunity to coach the San Francisco 49ers," he said in a statement after he was fired. "What made it so special were the players. They were some of the most outstanding men I have ever been around in my life. The coaches were truly professionals. I wish the 49ers nothing but the best."

The Rams finished 5-3 at home, the franchise's first winning record since 2004. They were 2-22 combined the previous three seasons.

The 49ers were 1-7 on the road, where they were outscored 200-117. They appeared to sag after missing a chance to take a 17-15 lead late in the third quarter when Jeff Reed shanked a 34-yard field goal attempt.

Troy Smith passed for 356 yards in the 49ers' overtime victory over the Rams last month, but did not play the last two games.

"I wouldn't say there was a lot of differences, but you've got to give St. Louis credit," Smith said. "Defensively, they do a lot of things to put the quarterback and team in a not-so-comfortable situation."

James Hall had 1.5 sacks for a defense that totaled four, including a safety in the first quarter when Troy Smith fumbled a poor shotgun snap in the end zone. Troy Smith was 2 for 3 for 85 yards on a second-quarter drive capped by a 60-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree, but was only 7 for 19 for 153 yards when Alex Smith replaced him midway through the fourth quarter.

Bradford broke out of a three-game slump of no touchdown passes and five interceptions. He was 16 for 20 for 168 yards the second half, including a 3-yard pass to Laurent Robinson that made it 22-14 with 9:36 to go, and finished 28 for 37 for 292 yards with no interceptions.

The 49ers stuffed the run, limiting Steven Jackson to 48 yards on 24 carries.

Bradford has 335 completions, topping Manning's record of 326 in 1998. He passed Chris Weinke for second in rookie attempts with 554, needing 22 next week to eclipse Manning.

The Rams scored on their first drive for only the second time, benefiting from an interference call on Nate Clements, with Jackson scoring from the 1 on the next play.

Josh Brown kicked three field goals for St. Louis, giving him 11 the last three games, and has matched his career season best with 31.

The 49ers led 14-12 at the half even though they totaled three first downs and 82 yards in penalties. Ted Ginn was untouched on the punt return for the 49ers' first score in the second quarter.

St. Louis went up 9-0 late in the first quarter on the safety, but then went three-and-out on three straight series while the 49ers caught their stride.

Notes: On their opening possession, the Rams have scored two touchdowns and three field goals, along with seven punts, two lost fumbles, and a blocked field goal. ... 49ers C David Baas injured his left ribcage in the first quarter but returned late in the second quarter in time for the 49ers' lone touchdown drive. ... Ginn returned two kickoffs for touchdowns last year with Miami, and scored on a punt return for the Dolphins in 2007. ... 49ers backup CB Phillip Adams broke his left ankle blocking on the kickoff to open the second half. He was carted off.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Singletary fired after 49ers knocked out of playoff contention

SAN FRANCISCO -- Mike Singletary was fired by the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night after two disappointing seasons, including a 5-10 showing this year for a franchise expected to win the NFC West.

The team made the announcement late Sunday upon returning to the Bay Area, several hours after San Francisco was eliminated from playoff contention with a 25-17 loss at St. Louis. Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was promoted to interim coach and will run the team in next Sunday's season finale at home against Arizona. He was to be formally introduced in a news conference set for Monday at 3 p.m. ET.

Team president and CEO Jed York addressed reporters in St. Louis after the Niners' loss Sunday and was noncommittal about whether Singletary would coach the final game, saying he planned to think about it. Singletary was told of his dismissal back at the team's Santa Clara complex after the trip home.

"I want to thank Mike Singletary for the passion and effort that he brought to this organization," York said in a statement. "He is a tremendous person for whom I will always have great respect."

San Francisco began the year with high hopes of winning the West and reaching the postseason for the first time since 2002. Singletary finished with an 18-22 record in two-plus seasons.

"One of the greatest experiences of my life was having the opportunity to coach the San Francisco 49ers," Singletary said in a statement. "What made it so special were the players. They were some of the most outstanding men I have ever been around in my life. The coaches were truly professionals. I wish the 49ers nothing but the best. I am thankful to the York family for having given me the opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL. I am indebted to them for that. I am also thankful for the Faithful fans, I am just sorry I couldn't give them more."

The 49ers began 0-5 and will finish with a losing record for the seventh time in eight years. They went 8-8 in Singletary's first full season, then produced an unbeaten preseason this year only to drop their first five games. It was the franchise's worst start since losing seven in a row to begin a 2-14 season in 1979 -- in the late Hall of Famer Bill Walsh's first year as coach.

No team has recovered from an 0-5 start to reach the playoffs, but the 49ers would have made it if they had defeated the Rams and won again next Sunday. If that had happened, San Francisco would have won the tiebreaker over Seattle and St. Louis to win the division and become the first team with a losing record in a non-strike season to make the playoffs.

"You know what, I'll put it this way: a personal failure. I'm the head coach of this team and obviously wanted us to do better, felt that we could do better," Singletary said after Sunday's loss. "There are some obvious questions that I hoped would be answered as the season went on, and obviously were not answered. When that happens, you end up out of the playoffs.

"I take full responsibility for every unanswered question."

The 52-year-old Singletary, who first took over as coach on an interim basis when Mike Nolan was fired in October 2008 and soon declared "I want winners!" had two years remaining on his contract. York -- son of owner John York -- seems ready for major change around the Niners despite having to pay Singletary, a Hall of Fame linebacker during his playing days for the Chicago Bears.

"Money is no object," Jed York said in St. Louis. "I mean, our object is to win the Super Bowl, year in and year out be there and compete for Super Bowls. We're going to make sure we get this right."

Initially, Singletary seemed to be the man to do it, with his way of ripping into a player one minute then finding a way to turn it into a positive.

During his debut in place of Nolan -- a 34-13 loss to the Seahawks on Oct. 26, 2008 -- Singletary pulled down his pants in the locker room at halftime to make a point, benched struggling quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan in favor of Shaun Hill, and sent now-Pro Bowl and captain tight end Vernon Davis to the showers early for what he deemed inappropriate behavior following a personal foul penalty. Afterward, Singletary called out his team with the now infamous "I want winners" speech.

"I'd rather play with 10 people and just get penalized all the way until we have to do something else rather than play with 11 when I know that right now that person is not sold out to be a part of this team," Singletary said. "It is more about them than it is about the team. Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win."

This year, Singletary fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye after Week 3, then lost secondary coach and special assistant Johnnie Lynn when he resigned for personal reasons earlier this month.

Singletary switched quarterbacks three different times, starting with Alex Smith, going to Troy Smith for five games even after Alex Smith's hurt non-throwing shoulder had healed, then back to Alex Smith for two games before Troy Smith started Sunday -- only to give way to Alex Smith in the fourth quarter after Troy Smith had a heated exchange with Singletary.

"I'm not worried about individual things like that. What bothers me is we come in here, this is a playoff-caliber game, and we didn't get it done," York said. "And that's the bottom line."

York said he plans to hire a general manager and will open a search to fill the job. Since former GM Scot McCloughan departed last March -- and ended up with Seattle -- in what York called a "mutual parting," San Francisco's football operations have been run by vice president of player personnel Trent Baalke. He was responsible for selecting two offensive linemen with the team's first-round draft picks in April, and both Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati are starters on the Niners' revamped offensive line.

York was asked whether a new general manager would help in a potential coaching search.

"We'll have a general manager, and as we go forward, that will be something that the general manager and I discuss together," York said after the game.

Finding a quarterback will be another priority. Alex Smith most certainly will be gone after this season once the 2005 No. 1 overall pick's contract expires.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Singletary confirms 49ers to start Troy Smith at QB vs. Rams

The San Francisco 49ers are going back to Troy Smith as their starting quarterback while leaving open the possibility they might switch to Alex Smith at any time.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported the move Wednesday, citing a source with knowledge of the situation.

Coach Mike Singletary confirmed Thursday that Troy Smith will start Sunday's pivotal NFC West game against the St. Louis Rams in place of Alex Smith, who started San Francisco's last two games.

The coach also said he wouldn't hesitate to change quarterbacks during the game if the situation calls for it.

"You know what, it's kind of the same thing I've talked about all year," Singletary told reporters. "I feel that Troy has certain strengths, as well as Alex, and I think the way it works out, it is -- you know, we could possibly use them both. ... The game will dictate it.

"Even though Troy is going to be the starter, we're making sure that the game plan is such that we can possibly use both their strengths in this game."

The 49ers have changed quarterbacks after each of their last two defeats in an attempt to salvage a losing season. At 5-9, San Francisco still has an opportunity to capture the NFC West title and end a seven-year playoff drought by winning its final two games, against St. Louis and Arizona.

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Troy Smith, who didn't join the 49ers until Sept. 6, has remained focused throughout the week on his second chance as San Francisco's starter. He went 3-2 in his five games as a starter earlier this season after taking over for Alex Smith in late October. Troy Smith had a career-high 356 yards passing to lead the 49ers to a 23-20 overtime victory Nov. 14 against St. Louis.

"This is huge for me," Troy Smith said. "For any player to be able to play in a game of this magnitude, be a part of something special, it's going to be pretty big for all of us. The knick-knacks and the other little things that are going on around us, we're definitely channeling that out and worrying about winning this game."

The 49ers went back to Alex Smith two weeks ago after Troy Smith completed just 10 of 25 passes during a 34-16 loss at Green Bay. Alex Smith had statistically the best game of his career the following week during a 40-21 victory over Seattle, but he and the San Francisco offense could muster only 192 total yards during last week's 34-7 loss at San Diego.

Alex Smith began this season 1-6 as San Francisco's starter before separating his left shoulder during a Week 7 loss at Carolina. Selected by the 49ers with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft, Alex Smith is 18-31 as the team's starter.

Singletary was asked if he was concerned that the news broke before he revealed it.

"That's kind of the way it is, whether it's around the league," he said. "When you have Twitter, when you have all of the other things ... I don't want to have this organization be like the firm, you know, 'I don't want you to say anything.' ... I knew it was a matter of time before it would get out.

"There are things that I absolutely do not want to get out, that won't. But you just have to limit who you're telling. So I knew it was a matter of time before it would get out."

The 49ers have become accustomed this season to change within their offensive unit.

"We've been through everything you can go through as an offense really," wide receiver Michael Crabtree said. "It's difficult, but you just have to take what they give you and keep going. I'm just trying to stay positive about the whole situation and be ready to play this game Sunday."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Freeman leads Bucs past sluggish 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO -- Josh Freeman threw for 136 yards and two touchdowns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the stagnant San Francisco 49ers 21-0 on Sunday for their first win at Candlestick Park since 1980 and only second ever.

Nothing fancy needed for the Bucs (7-3) to end an eight-game losing streak in San Francisco. They were the underdog, no less.

Ronde Barber made his 40th career interception in the fourth quarter, most in Tampa Bay franchise history, to help clinch it. He also became the first player in NFL history to record 40 interceptions and 25 sacks in a career.

LeGarrette Blount ran for 82 yards and 305-pound left tackle Donald Penn made a late 1-yard touchdown catch.

49ers quarterback Troy Smith lost for the first time in three starts -- leaving coach Mike Singletary to ponder whether to return to former starter Alex Smith next week for San Francisco (3-7).

The Niners were shut out at home for the first time since a 7-0 loss to Atlanta on Oct. 9, 1977.

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As 49ers arrive in London, QB Smith nurses injured shoulder

LONDON -- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith spent Monday morning at a London hospital having his injured left shoulder examined, and he is still waiting to hear if he will be able to play Sunday against the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium.

The 49ers (1-6) flew to London from Charlotte, where they blew a late lead and lost to the Carolina Panthers 23-20. Smith was injured on a third-quarter sack and still had his non-throwing arm in a sling Monday afternoon.

"It's all right. Could be better," Smith said after arriving at the team's hotel outside London from the hospital.

Smith completed 9 of 19 passes for 129 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers. He was hurt when a mix-up on protection allowed Charles Johnson to come in and tackle him on the blind side, driving his shoulder into the turf.

Smith was still in pain and hadn't slept much since the team flew to London overnight. As far as playing against the Broncos, the quarterback said he had no idea.

"I'm still waiting to hear from the doctors," he said.

San Francisco coach Mike Singletary also was in the dark about Smith's status.

"I'm not a doctor, so we'll have to wait and see," he said.

The 49ers and Broncos are playing in the fourth regular-season game in the British capital. The three previous games were sellouts, and this one is expected to be as well.

For Singletary, though, the trip is about making his struggling team better.

"For us, it's a nice chance to get away and regroup, rethink," Singletary said. "It really works to be a bonus for us. It really gives us a chance to kind of get away from the hustle and bustle of the NFL, to come over and kind of think through some things, look at maybe some changes we need to make."

Although Singletary wouldn't be specific on what changes were needed, the 49ers led by seven points until the Panthers tied the score with 1:59 to go. Less than a minute later, backup quarterback David Carr threw an interception that set up Carolina's winning field goal.

"We're going to figure it out this week. It's important for us to continue to try and put the pieces in place that gives us a chance to get over the edge," Singletary said. "We still have a chance to have a good season and accomplish some of the goals that we wanted to accomplish at the beginning of the season."

Linebacker Patrick Willis said the team still has a chance to win the NFC West, since the first-place Seattle Seahawks are just 4-2.

The first step toward that goal is to put Sunday's loss behind.

"Right now we still got to put closure to the game we played yesterday," Willis said. "Hopefully us coming over ahead of time will get us acclimated ... get our bodies ready to play a good football game."

The Broncos aren't due to arrive until Friday, giving them less time to get accustomed to the city and the surroundings.

"We know this a business trip, but at the same time, we have a younger football team, and I wanted our guys to come and get a taste of the culture, a little bit of that, and at the same time get a feel for the environment and the weather and the whole nine yards," Singletary said. "And just be settled by the time the game starts."

And be ready to play another team that has been struggling -- the Broncos fell to 2-5 after losing 59-14 to the visiting Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

"We can't let that loss (to the Panthers) get to us," 49ers tight end Vernon Davis said. "We have to keep moving forward, keep our heads up and do what we have to do."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Panthers beat 49ers for first win of season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Richard Marshall intercepted a David Carr pass with just over 1 minute left, and John Kasay then kicked a 37-yard field goal with 39 seconds remaining to give the Carolina Panthers their first win of the season, 23-20, over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

The Panthers (1-5) tied the score when rookie wide receiver David Gettis, who had dropped a potential touchdown pass earlier in the fourth quarter on fourth down, made a diving 23-yard TD grab with 1:53 left.

With starting quarterback Alex Smith out after spraining his left shoulder, Carr threw a pass into double coverage, and Marshall picked it off at the Carolina 43.

Matt Moore then found Brandon LaFell for 35 yards to set up Kasay's winner.

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Smith injures non-throwing shoulder in 49ers' loss to Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith knew the feeling immediately after Charles Johnson's 275 pounds landed on his left shoulder.

Fearing he has the same injury that cut short his 2007 season -- only this time to his non-throwing shoulder -- Smith said after Sunday's 23-20 loss to Carolina that he planned to fly to London with the team and get an MRI there. His playing status for next week's game against Denver is uncertain.

"It's definitely the AC, I think. It's very similar," Smith said, referring to the acromioclavicular joint that's sometimes called a separated shoulder. "But I don't know to what extent. There's not really much to say right now."

Smith, who was injured on a third-quarter sack, said X-rays were negative, but he was wearing a black sling after the game. His injury is complicated by San Francisco's travel schedule. The team was to fly directly from Charlotte to London after Sunday's game.

"As of right now, we'll have to wait and get an MRI," coach Mike Singletary said. "We'll see how that works out and go from there."

Entering the game with a league-high nine interceptions, Smith completed 9 of 19 passes for 129 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers before a mix-up on protection allowed Johnson to come in and get Smith on the blind side, driving his shoulder into the turf.

Then came the familiar pain from 2007.

"You come down with all his body weight on that one point," Smith said. "I knew as soon as I landed on it. Same feeling, same pain."

Smith could only watch as David Carr replaced him with the game tied at 10 and threw a crucial interception with just over a minute left that set up John Kasay's game-winning 37-yard field goal with 39 seconds left.

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Carr completed just 5 of 13 passes for 67 yards, and with the 49ers (1-6) in desperation mode, Smith is hopeful he might be able to return quickly if the injury isn't too serious.

"The left hand doesn't do much," Smith said. "It doesn't really affect throwing. If you can take snaps and hand the ball off, I think you can still be pretty functional."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Financing issues delay opening of 49ers' stadium to 2015

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers are pushing back the expected opening date of their planned $1 billion stadium in Santa Clara.

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Team president Jed York said Wednesday the stadium wouldn't open until at least 2015 because of problems securing financing. The team had expected to open the stadium in 2014.

York said the 49ers wouldn't be able to secure needed funding for the stadium from the NFL and other investors until the players' union and league agree on a new contract.

Santa Clara residents voted in June to lease land to the 49ers for a new stadium next to the Great America theme park. The vote allowed the team to move forward with its plans to leave San Francisco.

San Francisco officials said the 49ers wouldn't encounter the same financing problems if it chose to stay in the city.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Jets accused of tampering with Crabtree

"As if the Michael Crabtree negotiations weren't acrimonious enough, the 49ers reportedly are accusing the New York Jets of meddling.

The New York Daily News reported in Monday's editions that the 49ers have filed tampering charges with the NFL. Citing sources, the paper said the Jets might have contacted agent Eugene Parker about the No. 10 pick out of Texas Tech.

Asked about the report, 49ers coach Mike Singletary declined to confirm or deny that tampering charges had been filed. Singletary said only: "That's something that the league is going to handle internally. And I'm not going to handle that. We'll let that play out, the process, we'll see what happens."

Crabtree, who turned 22 last Monday, has missed all of training camp and the first two victories of the 49ers' season because of a contract impasse.

Jets coach Rex Ryan, addressing the tampering charges to reporters in New York on Monday, said:

"My understanding is (the 49ers) filed charges with the league. I'm saying my response is it's not true. I mean, it's not accurate. It's not true, but, hey, we'll let the league figure this out."

Earlier, on the ESPN radio show "Mike

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