49ers Gab

The Niners gave QB Shaun Hill permission to seek a trade, and today the team moved him, as the club acquired a 7th round pick from the Lions for his services:

The Detroit Lions have a new backup quarterback, acquiring Shaun Hill in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. Matt Barros of the Sacramento Bee reports that the 49ers sent Hill to the Lions for a seventh-round draft pick in 2011.

For the Lions, that’s a small price to play for a quarterback who provides some insurance and should be a good veteran presence for starter Matthew Stafford. Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan previously worked with Hill in Minnesota when Hill was on the Vikings’ roster.

For the 49ers, a 2011 seventh-round pick is better than nothing, considering that it became obvious Hill was on the way out when they signed David Carr.

Hill has won 10 games in 16 starts for the 49ers over the last three years. The Lions have won nine games, total, over the last three years.

Jason LaCanfora of NFL.com reports that the Niners are interested in LB Akin Ayodele, and will chat with him on Monday in San Fran:

Free-agent LB Akin Ayodele is scheduled to visit the 49ers on Monday, according to a league source. Aodele has spent eight seasons in the NFL, including the last two with the Dolphins, who released him last week.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports that the Niners are giving QB Shaun Hill a chance to seek a trade:

The 49ers have given backup quarterback Shaun Hill permission to seek a trade, said a source late Thursday, just days after the club reached a contract agreement with free-agent David Carr to take Hill’s place on the depth chart. Hill does not appear to fit into the 49ers’ plans after the club agreed to terms with Carr on a two-year, $6.25 million contract that includes a $2 million signing bonus. The 49ers now appear set with Carr, Alex Smith and Nate Davis as their three quarterbacks. The source said the 49ers might be waiting on the return of Carr’s signed contract before making any move with Hill. In giving Hill permission to seek a trade, he is allowed to speak with teams around the league to begin the process of finding a new team – either through a trade or as a free agent, if the 49ers release him.

Sporting News reports that the Niners may look to go high on a running back in the 2010 NFL Draft:

Head Coach Mike Singletary suggested Thursday that the 49ers could target a running back in this year’s draft. “We can’t count on Frank Gore forever,” said Singletary, adding that lightening his workhorse’s load could help extend his career. The Niners are believed to be interested in a change-of-pace/returner as a complement, such as Clemson’s C.J. Spiller or Ole Miss’ Dexter McCluster.

Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft has the team taking running back C.J. Spiller in the first round. Blogger Mike Sando from ESPN shares his thoughts on that pick should it happen:

Mel’s pick: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

My thoughts: The 49ers do need a return specialist. They could use a change-of-pace running back, too. Spiller would fill those needs and let’s face it, mock drafts are mostly about matching teams needs with the prospects available. But as the 49ers found out when Michael Crabtree fell to them unexpectedly, surprises happen. It’s important for the 49ers to keep things in perspective here. It’s way too early to write off Glen Coffee as Frank Gore’s backup. A running back drafted in the first round needs to play, in most cases, and this selection would invite more questions about Gore’s role in an offense that ignored him for stretches once Alex Smith became quarterback. It’s possible to find return specialists later in the draft. Spiller should be the pick only if the value is there, not just to fill a couple needs.

Mike Sando of ESPN talks today about the 49ers offseason needs, and how it relates to the 2010 NFL Draft:

The 49ers need to find a long-term starting right tackle, preferably in the draft. They’re set at left tackle and center. Both guards showed improvement late last season. Right tackle has been a question mark for too long. Time to find the answer.

The quarterback issue lurks in the background because San Francisco still cannot count on Alex Smith. With two first-round choices, the 49ers could justify selecting a developmental quarterback early while still addressing a short-term need such as tackle. It’s not a must, but it should be a consideration if any of the college quarterbacks appeals.

San Francisco is strong on defense, but every team needs pass-rush help and the 49ers are no different. They had 44 sacks, an impressive total, but 24 came against the Rams (two games), at Seattle and home against Jacksonville. And while it’s natural for teams to rack up sack numbers against inferior opponents, the 49ers gain nothing from pretending they were a consistently great pass-rush team. Drafting an outside linebacker with a nose for the quarterback surely wouldn’t offend defensive coordinator Greg Manusky.

The 49ers also could use an inside linebacker to pair with Patrick Willis, a strong safety to replace Michael Lewis and a cornerback to pair with Shawntae Spencer as the team transitions away from Nate Clements in the coming years.

ESPN blogger Mike Sando has the latest about the Niners possible move to Santa Clara:

I remember as a kid being confused when the Los Angeles Rams relocated their games to Anaheim. They were still the L.A. Rams, everyone said, but they would play their games in Anaheim.

The San Francisco 49ers are already headquartered 40 miles down Highway 101 in Santa Clara, so it’s not such a stretch for them to play home games there in a new stadium.

The move would be quite a bit more convenient for the team. The proposed Santa Clara stadium site is within a few minutes’ drive of the team’s current facility.

The team would still call itself the San Francisco 49ers. The changes would affect two preseason games, eight regular-season games and no more than two postseason games in any given year. So, for at least 353 days in a typical 365-day year, nothing would change for the 49ers or their fans.

For some, having the team play its games in San Francisco is about more than commute times on game days. It’s about tradition. I’m sure even some fans living in Santa Clara or San Jose would rather have the team continue playing in San Francisco. I went to Giants and 49ers games on occasion growing. Walking into The Stick with its faded orange seats and outdated support posts brings back memories even though I wasn’t a fan of those teams. And I do value the great NFL moments that have happened there.

I also think having a competitive team playing in a top-notch new stadium would ease the transition for 49ers fans.

What is important to you, 49ers fans?

The Press Democrat reports that the team his inked TE Tony Curtis to a future contract:

The 49ers have signed free-agent tight end Tony Curtis, who did not play last season. Curtis saw game action in 16 games in 2007 and in 2008 with the Dallas Cowboys. A blocking specialist, Curtis has 11 career receptions for 50 yards.

ESPN reports that cornerback Walt Harris says he wants to be back in 2010:

Cornerback Walt Harris says he feels good and wants to return for another NFL season, although the veteran cornerback isn’t sure if the 49ers will ask him to return. Harris suffered a torn ACL in May and underwent surgery in June, missing the 2009 season. Harris said it was tough watching games last season.

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1. Where was the first Super Bowl Played between the Packers and Chiefs?

2. Who scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl history?

3. Who is the leading lifetime rusher in Super Bowl history?

4. What team has won the most Super Bowls with 6?

5. Who is the youngest head coach to have ever won a Super Bowl?

6. What wide out caught the game winning TD with less than a minute to go in Super Bowl XXIII?

7. What kicker missed the game-winning field goal in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXV?

8. Where was Super Bowl XX held?

9. Name the four current Franchises that have never been to a Super Bowl

10. Who was the MVP of Super Bowl XVI?

11. What was odd about the first points scored in Super Bowl IX?

12. Where was last years Super Bowl (XLIII) held?

13. Name the four coaches to have lost four Super Bowls

14. What Falcon took back a kickoff for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIII?

15. What Colt kicker hit the game-winning kick in Super Bowl V vs Dallas?

16. Who was the MVP of Super Bowl XIV?

17. How many touchdowns did Steve Young throw in Super Bowl XXIX?

18. Who was the coach of the Colts when they lost to the Jets in SB III?

19. Who sang the National Anthem at last years Super Bowl (XLIII)?

20. What WR came up a yard short of the game-tying TD on the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV?