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Players get final chance to audition for new jobs
by By Daniel Brown dbrown@mercurynews.com , Contra Costa Times
It's one last chance to show they deserve employment. The 49ers must boot 20 players from their locker room by 1 p.m. Saturday to get to the 53-man limit.
Some players head for San Diego feeling like turkeys on the night before Thanksgiving.
Others are so secure that they won't have to break a sweat.
Coach Mike Singletary said Thursday that running back Frank Gore and receiver Isaac Bruce would have the night off, though both are healthy. The rest of the starters, including quarterback Shaun Hill, will play "maybe a couple of series, 10 plays or 12 plays," Singletary said.
Singletary added that his mind is pretty much made up about his final 53 players. Only a handful of roster spots are up for grabs against the Chargers.
This takes things back Green.
"Eric definitely will be playing a decent amount this game because we need to take a better look at him," defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said. "He got a decent amount of reps against Dallas, but we want to see him a little bit more."
Less than a month ago, Green was with the Miami Dolphins and miserable. His mom watched him play one night and called him, alarmed. "What's wrong with you?" she asked her son. "It's like you don't even love Football anymore."
Green, 27, told her that the love was still there, it was just that his fit with the Dolphins was all wrong.
As Green recalled, he was in the Dolphins' parking lot the next day "at about 7:04 in the morning" when his phone buzzed with a text from mom.
It's a new day, a new beginning.
Mom knew best: Within hours, the Dolphins told Green to turn in his playbook he was being cut. More relieved than upset, Green went home to relax on his couch.
He had barely dented the cushions when his agent called with offers from the 49ers , Chargers, Seahawks and a few other teams.
The agent wanted to discuss things, but Green saw no need.
"Tell San Francisco we're coming," he said.
Having spent the previous four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Green was eager to return to the
That's partly why the 5-foot-11, 196-pound Green feels good about his place on the final 53. Moreover, he said, "I've treated every practice like a game."
Now, the question is whether the 49ers have room for him. If they kept nine defensive backs, they could go with: Dre Bly, Nate Clements, Tarell Brown, Dashon Goldson,
That would mean no Green. Unless he can make another good impression in his own personal Super Bowl.
"He is explosive. He is smooth out of his moves and he can cover," Manusky said. "That is what we are looking for."
Nate Davis fans will have plenty to watch against San Diego. The fifth-round pick from Ball State will take over after Hill's brief appearance and play the rest of the way. Singletary said
Other injured players ruled out are receiver Arnaz Battle (shoulder), linebacker Ahmad Brooks (knee), linebacker Jay Moore (groin), center Cody Wallace (viral meningitis), safety
For more on the 49ers , see Daniel Brown's Hot Read blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers .TODAY: at Chargers, 7 p.m. TV: Chs. 5, 13. Radio: 1050-AM
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