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49ers fill one hole, might dig another
By Matthew Barrows - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:17 am PST Thursday, March 1, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C7
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The 49ers will head into free agency tonight with a new offensive coordinator and a pressing need for a receiver.
On the same day coach Mike Nolan announced quarterbacks coach Jim Hostler, 40, will run the 49ers' offense in 2007, he acknowledged a key part of that offense, receiver Antonio Bryant, is on shaky footing.
Bryant led the 49ers in receiving yards last season but missed the final two games after a run-in with San Mateo police in November.
Bryant's orange Lamborghini was observed traveling at more than 100 mph on Highway 101, police said. He later was charged with reckless driving and resisting arrest. He also has been suspended for the first two games in 2007 because of the transgression.
The fiery receiver also had problems inside the 49ers' facility and did not start the Dec. 10 game against Green Bay because he was late to a meeting.
Nolan said Wednesday he met with Bryant this past weekend at the scouting combine in Indianapolis to discuss his future with the team but that "no decisions were made."
Bryant arrived in San Francisco a year ago with a history of behavioral problems that included a well-documented instance in which he threw his jersey in the face of then-Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells.
Nolan has supported Bryant at every turn, acknowledging the receiver's temper but also insisting Bryant is trying hard to control it.
However, when given an opportunity to say Bryant would be part of the team this season, Nolan would only say that "would be a decision, and there weren't any decisions made."
For weeks, the 49ers were thought to be concentrating on defense during free agency, which begins tonight at 9 PST. Now it seems finding a receiver is just as important. The team this week reached an agreement with defensive end Bryant Young that would keep the 13-year veteran around for one more season at $4.25 million. That puts the team roughly $31 million below the salary cap, which allows them to be aggressive in free agency.
Aside from Bryant, the team has just one other proven receiver in Arnaz Battle, who caught 59 passes last year. The next most productive receiver, Bryan Gilmore, caught eight.
Though the draft is rich in receivers, the free-agent market is weak at the position. St. Louis' Kevin Curtis is one of the best available, but at 186 pounds, he does not fit the 49ers' mold of big receivers. Sacramento's Donté Stallworth is another possibility but has said he prefers to remain with Philadelphia.
Another option is Tennessee's Drew Bennett, who hails from the Bay Area and at 6-4, 206 pounds would give quarterback Alex Smith a big target.
While Nolan wants to rebuild his defense with big and quick players who are suited for a 3-4 scheme, he merely wants to continue the progress the 49ers began making on offense last year.
In hiring a new offensive coordinator, he said finding someone with whom Smith was comfortable was one of his top criteria. Hostler has been by Smith's side through two offensive coordinators and also is well-versed in the so-called Don Coryell offense Norv Turner ran last year.
Hostler has been an offensive coordinator in college but not in the pros. Nolan, however, said he was impressed when he found out Hostler had been devising his own game plans each week, something Nolan said he did before he got his first defensive coordinator job with the New York Giants in 1993.
"They were all laminated, done," Nolan said of Hostler's game plans. "I was very impressed that that's what Jim has been doing the last few years."
By Matthew Barrows - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:17 am PST Thursday, March 1, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C7
Print | E-Mail | Comments (0)
The 49ers will head into free agency tonight with a new offensive coordinator and a pressing need for a receiver.
On the same day coach Mike Nolan announced quarterbacks coach Jim Hostler, 40, will run the 49ers' offense in 2007, he acknowledged a key part of that offense, receiver Antonio Bryant, is on shaky footing.
Bryant led the 49ers in receiving yards last season but missed the final two games after a run-in with San Mateo police in November.
Bryant's orange Lamborghini was observed traveling at more than 100 mph on Highway 101, police said. He later was charged with reckless driving and resisting arrest. He also has been suspended for the first two games in 2007 because of the transgression.
The fiery receiver also had problems inside the 49ers' facility and did not start the Dec. 10 game against Green Bay because he was late to a meeting.
Nolan said Wednesday he met with Bryant this past weekend at the scouting combine in Indianapolis to discuss his future with the team but that "no decisions were made."
Bryant arrived in San Francisco a year ago with a history of behavioral problems that included a well-documented instance in which he threw his jersey in the face of then-Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells.
Nolan has supported Bryant at every turn, acknowledging the receiver's temper but also insisting Bryant is trying hard to control it.
However, when given an opportunity to say Bryant would be part of the team this season, Nolan would only say that "would be a decision, and there weren't any decisions made."
For weeks, the 49ers were thought to be concentrating on defense during free agency, which begins tonight at 9 PST. Now it seems finding a receiver is just as important. The team this week reached an agreement with defensive end Bryant Young that would keep the 13-year veteran around for one more season at $4.25 million. That puts the team roughly $31 million below the salary cap, which allows them to be aggressive in free agency.
Aside from Bryant, the team has just one other proven receiver in Arnaz Battle, who caught 59 passes last year. The next most productive receiver, Bryan Gilmore, caught eight.
Though the draft is rich in receivers, the free-agent market is weak at the position. St. Louis' Kevin Curtis is one of the best available, but at 186 pounds, he does not fit the 49ers' mold of big receivers. Sacramento's Donté Stallworth is another possibility but has said he prefers to remain with Philadelphia.
Another option is Tennessee's Drew Bennett, who hails from the Bay Area and at 6-4, 206 pounds would give quarterback Alex Smith a big target.
While Nolan wants to rebuild his defense with big and quick players who are suited for a 3-4 scheme, he merely wants to continue the progress the 49ers began making on offense last year.
In hiring a new offensive coordinator, he said finding someone with whom Smith was comfortable was one of his top criteria. Hostler has been by Smith's side through two offensive coordinators and also is well-versed in the so-called Don Coryell offense Norv Turner ran last year.
Hostler has been an offensive coordinator in college but not in the pros. Nolan, however, said he was impressed when he found out Hostler had been devising his own game plans each week, something Nolan said he did before he got his first defensive coordinator job with the New York Giants in 1993.
"They were all laminated, done," Nolan said of Hostler's game plans. "I was very impressed that that's what Jim has been doing the last few years."
