Niners Ink LS Ryan Pontbriand

February 21st, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in Roster Moves

The 49ers have signed free agent long-snapper Ryan Pontbriand, a league source confirmed on Tuesday.

A fifth-round pick out of Rice University by the Browns in 2003, Pontbriand handled the snapping duties in 134 games for the Browns from 2003 through his release last November after a couple of poor snaps in critical moments of a 13-12 loss to the St. Louis Rams and a 23-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Pontbriand, 32, was a Pro Bowler in 2007 and 2008 and will be reunited with 49ers special teams coach Brad Seely, who coordinated the Browns special teams units in 2009 and 2010. The 49ers also recently hired Tracy Smith, who was Seely’s assistant coach with the Browns in 2010.

Current 49ers long-snapper Brian Jennings is coming off the second Pro Bowl of his career. The 35-year-old is signed through the 2014 season and the 49ers also signed long-snapper Kyle Nelson to a “Reserve/Futures” contract last month.

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Niners Could Have Issues Hanging Onto UFA Ahmad Brooks

February 19th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in 2012 Free Agency, News

Pro Football Weekly reports that one player the Niners are high on trying to keep, but it could be tough is unrestricted free-agent LB Ahmad Brooks.

With the Niners considering free agents QB Alex Smith, CB Carlos Rogers and S Dashon Goldson, among others, as bigger priorities, we hear the team could have a hard time hanging on to unrestricted free-agent LB Ahmad Brooks, who has off-the-charts ability but hasn’t always toed the line the way the team would like. The prospect of dynamic first-round OLB Aldon Smith moving into the starting lineup in Brooks’ place is hardly a stretch.

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Video: Joe Montana Recreates “The Catch” with Fans!

February 15th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in Video

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Niners Say “No” to Bucs Request to Talk to Secondary Coach Ed Donatell

February 11th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News

The 49ers have said “no go” to the Buccaneers’ request to interview secondary coach Ed Donatell for their defensive coordinator opening, Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network reports.

Donatell, 53, joined the 49ers last off-season after coaching the Denver Broncos secondary under Josh McDaniels from 2009-10. Donatell has defensive coordinator experience with the University of Washington (2008) and with the Atlanta Falcons (2004-06) and Green Bay Packers (2000-03).

First-year Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano attempted to lure University of Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn back to the NFL to be the team’s defensive coordinator, but Quinn opted to remain in Gainesville. The Buccaneers are also reportedly close to hiring former Cleveland Browns and North Carolina head coach Butch Davis to the staff as a senior defensive assistant.

After being blocked from interviewing Green Bay Packers tight ends coach Ben McAdoo and Arizona Cardinals receivers coach John McNulty, Schiano finally landed an offensive coordinator with last night’s hiring of New York Giants quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan.

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Video:Smith’s Game Winning TD to Davis to Top the Saints…According to Tecmo Bowl

February 11th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in Video

Divisional Round: 2011 NFL Playoffs. The San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints battled for the right to go to the NFC Championship game. In the last few minutes of the game, both teams traded the lead back-and-forth.

With 14 seconds remaining, the 49ers found themselves 14 yards away from the endzone and down 29-32. With time to take one more shot to the endzone, quarterback Alex Smith found tight end Vernon Davis, who took a hit but held on to the ball for the game winning touchdown, bringing the 49ers back to a once very familiar place…the NFC Championship.

Here is what that play would’ve looked like on Tecmo Super Bowl. Call is by the 49ers radio crew.

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Niners Extend GM GM Trent Baalke’s Contract

February 10th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News

49ers President and CEO Jed York announced that the team has extended the contract of general manager Trent Baalke through the 2016 season.

Baalke has been with the 49ers for the last seven seasons, serving as a regional scout prior to his promotion to Director of Player Personnel in 2008 and Vice President of Player Personnel in 201. Baalke was named the team’s General Manager on January 4, 2011.

In his first season as general manager, Baalke hired head coach Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers went 13-3, made the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and advanced to the NFC Championship Game, losing in overtime to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

In addition to Baalke’s extension, York announced that Gideon Yu has been promoted to team President. Yu was in his first season as the team’s Chief Strategy Officer, where he’s been working on the team’s new stadium project in Santa Clara.

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Harbaugh Says Alex Smith the “Guy” at QB for the Niners

February 8th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in 2012 Free Agency, News

49ers quarterback Alex Smith will be a free agent this offseason but it is highly unlikely he will be made available to any of the 31 other teams in the NFL.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, the 49ers’ braintrust is “unanimous” in their desire to bring Smith back as their starting quarterback.

“We’re all in lockstep as an organization that Alex Smith is our guy,” said head coach Jim Harbaugh. “It’s well-documented. You saw the way he played this year. (He is a) tremendous leader on our football team.”

Harbaugh will open the job up to competition between Smith and Colin Kaepernick after Smith is re-signed but Smith is firmly expected to win that battle. It is extremely unlikely that the 49ers will enter the Peyton Manning sweepstakes.

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DL McDonald Arrested for Outstanding Warrant for 2010 Arrest

February 8th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News, Police Blotter

49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald was arrested early Wednesday morning in Sunnyvale, California.

McDonald was pulled over at around 2am for a traffic violation and was taken into custody over an outstanding warrant tied to a 2010 arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence.

No other charges were filed and McDonald was released at 7am.

The 27-year-old signed a five-year, $20 million contract extension last July. In a starting role for the first time in his NFL career, McDonald had a career-high 39 tackles and 5.5 quarterback sacks.

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