I'm guessing Mike Singletary doesn't have much of a poker face. Of course, he probably doesn't need one, either. He just wills himself good cards, or, worst case, he intimidates his opponents into folding, even with high-percentage hands.
Singletary is an NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champ, and now he's the 49ers head coach. He took over for Mike Nolan last October, and one game into his tenure (a 34-13 loss to the mighty Seahawks), Singletary ordered Vernon Davis to the showers early in the fourth quarter for pouting.
When asked about San Francisco's quarterback situation on Monday, Niners head coach Mike Singletary responded: "We've got a ways to go. Alex [Smith] and Shaun [Hill] have to continue to compete, not so much against each other but against the best quarterbacks in the league, because that's what it's going to take to win."
I read that as saying that both QBs need to improve between now and the season, but that neither is guaranteed the starting job. Niner insider Kevin Lynch of SFGate.com had a much more definitive take on the declaration.
I mention this to reinforce the importance of the No. 1 pick; get it right and the Lions could emerge from Matt Millen's reign of terror faster than anybody imagined; get it wrong and Detroit's future will look a lot like its recent past.
On Wednesday, 15-year veteran Isaac Bruce made a decision regarding his future in the NFL as the 36-year-old wide receiver informed the 49ers he will be returning for the 2009 season. According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, Bruce called head coach Mike SIngletary this morning and informed him of the news.
He led the 49ers with 61 catches and 835 yards in 2008, while also surpassing Tim Brown for the No. 2 spot on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list.
After missing the 2008 season with a shoulder injury, it was possible that Alex Smith's tenure as a San Francisco 49er was over. Despite the injury, and the fact his play, when healthy, has been rather disappointing for a No. 1 overall pick, the 49ers seemed interested in keeping the 24-year-old quarterback around under one condition: him being willing to take a pay cut.
On Monday, the 49ers and Smith agreed to re-work his contract, agreeing to a two-year, $6.5 million deal. According to Matt Maiocco of the Press Democrat, the reduced salary is expected to save the 49ers as much as $6 million against the league's salary cap.
Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.
After the uneventful tenure of head coach Mike Nolan, the San Francisco 49ers decided to promote Mike Singletary to interim head coach during the 2008 season.
After a bizarre debut that saw Singletary address his team without pants, the 49ers finished the season on a 5-4 run under their new coach, ending the year with a 7-9 record. Had it not been for a confusing ending to a Monday night game against Arizona, the 49ers would have finished with a .500 record for the first time since 2002. So close, yet so far.
Apparently 49ers coach Mike Singletary was talking for himself when he said San Francisco wouldn't rule out trading for Michael Vick. The only team to publicly admit that it would consider acquiring the Falcons quarterback once he's released from prison has quickly squashed that notion just one day after leaving the door open.
The 49ers have a former No. 1 pick (Alex Smith) who is one failed contract renegotiation away from being cut and a journeyman quarterback (Shaun Hill) who has appeared in 13 games in seven NFL seasons. So there is a pretty fair argument that San Francisco is in the market for a QB, even if Hill has been OK in his limited action.
Just two days after the San Francisco 49ers season ended, the team decided to part ways with offensive coordinator Mike Martz after one year on the job. Originally, there was some confusion as to why he was let go. Was it because of a clash of personalities and philosophies between him and new head coach Mike Singletary? Or was it because the 49ers brass urged Singletary to go in a different direction?
Nearly two months later, we're still not totally sure, and the only thing we do know is that Martz hasn't found a new job. And he thinks he knows why.
Mike Martz, much like a rash, just won't go away. At least if the rumors that the Cardinals might be interested in him as their next offensive coordinator hold any truth.
San Francisco head coach Mike Singletary fired Martz two days after the season, and I figured he'd just take some time off after wholly unimpressive performances with the 49ers and the Lions. The word on the street suggests otherwise. Of course, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat's Matt Maiocco makes it clear that it's just a rumor, so we should, "take it for what it's worth." Consider it done, Matt.
I'm guessing Mike Singletary doesn't have much of a poker face. Of course, he probably doesn't need one, either. He just wills himself good cards, or, worst case, he intimidates his opponents into folding, even with high-percentage hands. 
When asked about San Francisco's quarterback situation on Monday, Niners head coach 
In less than two weeks, the Detroit Lions will have the first overall selection in the NFL Draft. Depending on who's telling the story, 
On Wednesday, 15-year veteran 
After missing the 2008 season with a shoulder injury, it was possible that 
Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 
Apparently 49ers coach 
Up to now, it's been impossible to find any team that would publicly admit that they are considering acquiring 
Just two days after the San Francisco 49ers season ended, 
Mike Martz
