Eddie Back?

Eddie DeBartolo might be back and not to buy back the 49ers, but to possibly purchase the St. Louis Rams. That's according to Mike Silver of Yahoo Sports. One would think that would be a nightmare for 49ers co-owner John York, who would probably try to block the move.

But one league source said that DeBartolo, who was convicted of a felony for not reporting an extortion charge against former Louisanna governor Edwin Edwards, would be welcomed back as an NFL owner. The source said the idea was talked about informally during the last round of owners' meetings and the feeling was DeBartolo would be approved.

DeBartolo was recently inducted to the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame and now could come back to haunt 49ers' fans. Silver actually asked DeBartolo about the possibility of exacting revenge on his brother-in-law by owning the 49ers' arch rivals.

"I'm past that," DeBartolo said. "I would do it for the right reasons - business reasons."

Having DeBartolo own the Rams could be the best thing ever to happen to the Yorks and the 49ers. The idea of having the Rams dominate the NFC West would undoubtedly be abhorrent to John York, who might step up everything, from signing the right players to getting a stadium expedited.

As DeBartolo said, "It'll be interesting to see what happens."

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | May 20 2008 at 01:41 PM

Derrick Deese on Brett Favre

Former 49er and Buccaneer Derrick Deese just checked in about Brett Favre:

"He was a great competitor and really enjoyed the game. I felt like he finished the game just like he started it. He went out having fun and getting the team back on track. I didn't see him having a whole lot of fun the two years before that.

"As an older guy, you don't know how much playing was taking out of his body, how much pain he was going through."

Here's Deese's Story on Favre: "We had beaten him a few years earlier on the Terrell Owens' play (in the '98 Wildcard Game). So we're back in the playoffs at his place (Lambeau) and Favre is completing passes and every time he's looking at the sidelines and kind of winking at Mooch (Steve Mariucci, who coached Favre in Green Bay and remains one of his best friends).

"I went up to Mooch and said, 'You're not going to let him get away with that are you?' He said, "We're going to have to score more points.'"

The 49ers lost that NFC Wildcard Game 25-15.

By the way, for those who are interested, the 49ers are paying free-agent linebacker Dontarrious Thomas $2 million for his two-year deal.

I'm currently holding on a conference call for Isaac Bruce. He just signed his two-year deal.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | March 04 2008 at 03:24 PM

49ers Remember Favre

With Packers quarterback Brett Favre retiring, we thought we would get some thoughts from 49ers past and present on their memories of him. Here's a sampling and hopefully, I'll get some more as people call back throughout the day.

Former NFL linebacker Gary Plummer: "He was like a kid at recess playing sand lot football, which is such a stark contrast to what a great competitor he was, like running all the way down the field to pick up Donald Driver."

Plummer told two stories about Favre:

-We were playing them in the playoffs in '96. It was one of those days at Lambeau, cold, muddy, we were playing in slop and freezing

rain. At one point, he was trying to get us to jump offside on fourth-and-short. The defensive linemen in front of me, were just about to jump on his hard count. So I had to literally get behind them and grab them by the butt so they wouldn't jump. Favre saw me doing this and started cracking up. He was laughing so hard, he had to call time out because the clock was running down.

-The year before, we're playing him in the playoffs again, and he threw a ball 30 yards to Keith Jackson from his knees. It was unbelievable. He's sliding on his knees to his left and completes the pass. Impossible throw.

49ers quarterback Trent Dilfer: "I've said many times, he was the best quarterback to ever play the game. Everyone who plays football is competitive, but he had a competitive greatness. If he was a little faster, he would have been a linebacker, a little stronger he could have been an offensive linemen, a little quicker he could have been a corner. His toughness was unparalleled, just look at his consecutive start streak.

"He meant a lot to me personally. The quarterback fraternity used to be a lot closer and at dinners and outings, he really reached out to me and my wife. It meant so much to me that he would do that to young, little arrogant quarterback."

Dilfer told this story about Favre:

It was 1997 and we (Dilfer was with the Buccaneers then) are playing a nationally televised game at Lambeau Field. It's a huge game for me and for the franchise. We hadn't beaten them there in a long time (since '89). I took the team down and scored a touchdown in three plays to take the lead with 52 seconds left. I had a 35-yard scramble on the drive, we scored on the road in front of a big crowd, on national television. The drive was everything you wanted from a quarterback.

We had a really good defense, so I think we've won. Then Favre comes back and he throws the winning toe-tapping touchdown to Antonio Freeman at the back of the end zone with no time left. We had a blitz on, and Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks are right in his face and he got the ball off anyway. You know they talk about spygate, but the Packers knew exactly what kind of blitz we were going to run in that situation.

It was the most crushing defeat I ever experienced, and I've had a lot of them.

Chargers Linebacker and former 49er Derek Smith:

What stands out for you with Favre: "The sack he gave Michael Strahan (to get the record for most sacks in a season). He has respect for the game and respect for another great player. He's a gambler and a slinger."

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | March 04 2008 at 11:44 AM

Pro Bowl

As everyone knows, the Pro Bowl is kind of a joke and is greatly influenced by a team's record. Hence the announcement that 11 Cowboys were elected to the Pro Bowl today. And with the 49ers, sad owners of a 4-10 record, a player nearly has to set an NFL record to get elected.

Rookie linebacker Patrick Willis is challenging Hardy Nickerson's mark for most tackles in a season and he was elected as a backup. Punter Andy Lee is on pace to down 40 punts inside the 20, which would be an NFL record and he was elected. Considering Lee's booming leg and his deftness inside the 20, Lee might be enjoying one of the best seasons ever by a punter. Although I don't think anyone in the 49ers' locker room is enjoying much these days.

Last year's 49ers' Pro Bowlers, running back Frank Gore and guard Larry Allen, were named as alternates along with cornerback Nate Clements and defensive tackle Bryant Young.

MOVES: Offensive tackle Damane Duckett was signed to the active roster at the expense of tackle Patrick Estes. Practice squad wide receiver Dominique Ziegler was placed on injured reserve after getting taken from the practice field last week with a knee injury. Wide receiver Jerard Rabb, who played on that miraculous Boise State team last year, was signed to the practice squad along with guard Sean Estrada, who spent training camp in Ninerville.

BRING A WARM COAT: Volunteers will be collecting coats for the needy this Sunday at Candlestick.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | December 18 2007 at 08:07 PM