Doomsday101
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- One cornerback represents the questionable decisions and foolish expenditures of the San Francisco 49ers' previous management. The other cornerback might be the smartest personnel acquisition yet by the club's new bosses.
So guess which cornerback probably will get the starting job when both players are healthy?
Longtime starter Ahmed Plummer might not be back with the 49ers' first-string defense if he returns as expected from ankle surgery this week. Instead, free-agent signee Bruce Thornton is expected to keep the starting job he seized while Plummer recuperated from ankle surgery.
Thornton emerged while Plummer was out with a major injury for the second straight year -- and coach Mike Nolan said Monday he expects to keep Thornton alongside Shawntae Spencer in the starting lineup Sunday at Chicago.
"He has just done very well, week after week," Nolan said.
Thornton, plucked off the waiver wire earlier this season, has remained humble about his impressive play against some of the NFL's best receivers, including Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison and the Giants' Plaxico Burress.
"I don't worry about that stuff," Thornton said Monday. "I came off the street not too long ago. I'm just glad to be playing wherever they want me. ... I can't make a comment on me. I've got to leave that up to Coach Nolan."
Meanwhile, Plummer has been sidelined by his second major injury since signing a five-year, $25 million contract including an $11 million signing bonus with the 49ers in March 2004. He missed just three games in his first four seasons with the Niners, who drafted him in the first round in 2000.
"I would like to start," Plummer said Monday. "That's what I've been doing here, but that's totally up to the coaches."
Though fairly talented when healthy, the cornerback's huge contract was one of the questionable decisions made by former general manager Terry Donahue, who was fired after last season. Most NFL observers thought the 49ers wildly overpaid for Plummer, in part to keep the Ohio native from signing with the Cleveland Browns.
While Thornton has been grateful for his teammates' willingness to work with him while he learned the job, Plummer hasn't exactly been effusive in his praise of Thornton.
When asked how he thought Thornton has played, Plummer said: "This is definitely an opportunity to come back and just help these guys continue what they've been able to accomplish."
Asked again, Plummer only replied: "He's done a good job. Yes, they've all done a good job. Everybody has picked up their game."
Thornton was waived on Sept. 8 by the Dallas Cowboys, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2004. He missed his rookie season when he tore a knee ligament while returning a kick in his first NFL game.
Plummer also missed most of last season, appearing in just six games before a nagging shoulder injury kept him out longer than coaches and teammates expected. He got hurt again this season, undergoing surgery to remove a bone chip from his left ankle following a loss to Dallas on Sept. 25.
Thornton joined the 49ers' practice squad shortly after the Cowboys cut him. He was elevated to the active roster before their game against Arizona in Mexico City, and got his first NFL start a week later against the Colts.
Thornton lined up on almost every play against Harrison, who managed just two catches for 17 yards. Three more strong performances followed and Nolan praised his work Sunday against Burress and Amani Toomer in the 49ers' 24-6 loss to New York.
"The progress that our secondary has made over the last month is really good," Nolan said, singling out Thornton for praise. "He's getting to the point where he's playing mind games with the receivers, and young guys don't do that."
Nolan even loved the way Thornton played on his biggest mistake: Burress' spectacular one-handed catch directly over Thornton's head, setting up a score in the second half.
"I was very impressed with Bruce's body language after the play," Nolan said. "He was disappointed he got beat, but you could see the resiliency. 'He won't get me again.' ... You could see that there was a competitive level in him."
So guess which cornerback probably will get the starting job when both players are healthy?
Longtime starter Ahmed Plummer might not be back with the 49ers' first-string defense if he returns as expected from ankle surgery this week. Instead, free-agent signee Bruce Thornton is expected to keep the starting job he seized while Plummer recuperated from ankle surgery.
Thornton emerged while Plummer was out with a major injury for the second straight year -- and coach Mike Nolan said Monday he expects to keep Thornton alongside Shawntae Spencer in the starting lineup Sunday at Chicago.
"He has just done very well, week after week," Nolan said.
Thornton, plucked off the waiver wire earlier this season, has remained humble about his impressive play against some of the NFL's best receivers, including Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison and the Giants' Plaxico Burress.
"I don't worry about that stuff," Thornton said Monday. "I came off the street not too long ago. I'm just glad to be playing wherever they want me. ... I can't make a comment on me. I've got to leave that up to Coach Nolan."
Meanwhile, Plummer has been sidelined by his second major injury since signing a five-year, $25 million contract including an $11 million signing bonus with the 49ers in March 2004. He missed just three games in his first four seasons with the Niners, who drafted him in the first round in 2000.
"I would like to start," Plummer said Monday. "That's what I've been doing here, but that's totally up to the coaches."
Though fairly talented when healthy, the cornerback's huge contract was one of the questionable decisions made by former general manager Terry Donahue, who was fired after last season. Most NFL observers thought the 49ers wildly overpaid for Plummer, in part to keep the Ohio native from signing with the Cleveland Browns.
While Thornton has been grateful for his teammates' willingness to work with him while he learned the job, Plummer hasn't exactly been effusive in his praise of Thornton.
When asked how he thought Thornton has played, Plummer said: "This is definitely an opportunity to come back and just help these guys continue what they've been able to accomplish."
Asked again, Plummer only replied: "He's done a good job. Yes, they've all done a good job. Everybody has picked up their game."
Thornton was waived on Sept. 8 by the Dallas Cowboys, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2004. He missed his rookie season when he tore a knee ligament while returning a kick in his first NFL game.
Plummer also missed most of last season, appearing in just six games before a nagging shoulder injury kept him out longer than coaches and teammates expected. He got hurt again this season, undergoing surgery to remove a bone chip from his left ankle following a loss to Dallas on Sept. 25.
Thornton joined the 49ers' practice squad shortly after the Cowboys cut him. He was elevated to the active roster before their game against Arizona in Mexico City, and got his first NFL start a week later against the Colts.
Thornton lined up on almost every play against Harrison, who managed just two catches for 17 yards. Three more strong performances followed and Nolan praised his work Sunday against Burress and Amani Toomer in the 49ers' 24-6 loss to New York.
"The progress that our secondary has made over the last month is really good," Nolan said, singling out Thornton for praise. "He's getting to the point where he's playing mind games with the receivers, and young guys don't do that."
Nolan even loved the way Thornton played on his biggest mistake: Burress' spectacular one-handed catch directly over Thornton's head, setting up a score in the second half.
"I was very impressed with Bruce's body language after the play," Nolan said. "He was disappointed he got beat, but you could see the resiliency. 'He won't get me again.' ... You could see that there was a competitive level in him."
