49ers Looking For New Kicker To Replace Akers

It did not seem like long ago that David Akers was deemed the 49ers' best offseason pick-up on their way to a NFC Championship appearance. Now, the 49ers are in the market for a new kicker to replace Akers, after his reliability took another major hit on Sunday in New Orleans with a missed field goal from 50 yards and a blocked field goal from 33 yards.


On Tuesday, the 49ers tried out two well-known kickers in the NFL -- Billy Cundiff and Nate Kaeding.

49ers tried out kickers Billy Cundiff and Nate Kaeding
— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) November 28, 2012

Cundiff is best known for playing with the Ravens, and Kaeding was a young and reliable kicker with the Chargers at one point.  Cundiff has already been released this season, after getting off to a slow start with the Redskins, and Kaeding is a notoriously bad kicker in the playoffs.

Kaeding, who would be the more reliable option, was released by the Chargers in late-October in an attempt to escape the $2 million salary owed to him.

The try outs are either a wake-up call to Akers, or a serious gamble on two kickers with well-known flaws.

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Report: Brian Wilson Headed For MLB Free Agency

San Francisco Giants' former closer Brian Wilson will be headed for free agency if the teams does not tender his contract by Friday, the deadline to tender all unsigned players on the roster.

According to the SF Chronicle's Henry Schulman, the Giants and Wilson are not seeing eye-to-eye on the mandatory $6.8 million that would have to come Wilson's way.

"Friday is the deadline for teams to tender contracts to all unsigned players. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, any contract offer must be at least 80 percent of what a player made the year before. Wilson earned $8.5 million, so any offer for 2013 would have to be at least $6.8 million."

"The Giants do not intend to offer Wilson a $6.8 million guarantee after he missed the 2012 season (save for two games in April) with an elbow injury that required his second Tommy John surgery. Wilson has done a lot for the organization, particularly his shutdown work in the 2010 regular season and postseason. He’s made them a lot of money in beard merchandising, too. But the Giants believe that’s a lot of money for a pitcher whose future is so clouded by health."

"If the Giants do not tender Wilson a contract by Friday he becomes a free agent. Again, that seems likely to happen. The Giants still could sign Wilson and want to sign Wilson. At that point the 80 percent rule does not apply anymore. The Giants even are willing to give Wilson a major-league contract, but at a low base salary — several million dollars below $6.8 million — with incentives that would pay him a much bigger check if he is able to pitch."

"But I’ve been told Wilson is not keen on that idea, partly because he has given so much to the organization, including the health of his arm in the pursuit of a championship, and feels he should be paid accordingly. That’s completely understandable."

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49ers' Vernon Davis: 'Alex Is Still the Man'

Clearly, the 49ers have found something in changing quarterback at 6-2-1 on the season. With Colin Kaepernick at the helm, they are now 2-0 and now among the favorites to win the Super Bowl.

However, not everyone agrees. Vernon Davis told reporters this after Sunday's gritty win over the Saints on the road.

"It's difficult, but I think Alex is still the man. In my heart I strongly believe that and you'll know next week. I'm sure Harbaugh will make a nice decision who he wants to go with but right now we have two outstanding playmakers. I'm sure Alex is still our guy."

The quarterback controversy is alive and well in San Francisco.

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49ers Injury Report: Williams, Hunter Likely Out

The 49ers lost two key supporting players on one play Sunday in New Orleans. Kendall Hunter and Kyle Williams both were injured on the same running play to the left side of the defense during the second half of the 49ers' gritty win on the road, 31-21.

The team announced that Williams injured his knee, while Hunter injured his ankle, but nothing more -- as per usual from Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers.
 Harbaugh did say both would be checked out after the game, though.

Get ready for 49ers top 2 picks, A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James. 49ers fear Kyle Williams tore knee ligament, Kendall Hunter hurt ankle.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 26, 2012

Kendall Hunter and Kyle Williams sustain injuries in 49ers' victory. Williams' injury is "not good," source said. bit.ly/V7icrw
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) November 26, 2012

Downside of victory: #49ers suffer several injuries, may be without Kyle Williams for the rest of the season. sacb.ee/UmSSeT
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 26, 2012

The fear for the 49ers is that Williams may have torn some knee ligaments, which would put him out for a significant amount of time. Hunter's ankle injury is a little less serious, but he is still very much a key piece of the 49ers' running game.

On an unrelated note, Brandon Jacobs got his first carry as a 49er on Sunday -- one carry for one yard.

The injuries to Williams and Hunter are sure to put them out for some time, with Williams likely out indefinitely -- assuming he does have torn ligaments in his knee.

In that case, we should be able to see the two prized rookies, A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James, get some action in their absences. Both players have yet to see an NFL during the regular season, but James did get some work in as the preparation for Darren Sproles and the Saints this week. Jenkins is said to require some work, but learning from players like Randy Moss, Mario Manningham and Michael Crabtree during practice should have him fully prepared for an NFL game in Williams' absence.

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Report: Giants, Pagan Not on Same Page in Contract Talks

Angel Pagan wants long-term commitment from a team during his free agency, and the San Francisco Giants are not sure he is worth it.

ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that the Giants and Pagan are not on the same page whatsoever when it comes to re-signing the World Series champion.

"The San Francisco Giants have been talking with Angel Pagan, but aren't sure they want to give him as many years as he wants in his next deal ..."

Pagan was a key threat at the top of the line-up during the postseason, and with his range in the outfield and moderate power, he should see a a good amount of attention this offseason. Contract offers from teams could reach double-digit millions per year. However, it is the years that matter to Pagan, who is reportedly desiring more than three years -- something the Giants are not sure they can commit to.

One reason for the hesitation on the Giants' part is the fact they have been through this type of situation before. Like Pagan, Aubrey Huff had a breakout year with the Giants on their way to a World Series title in 2010. The team offered him a $10 million contract that offseason.

Now, with Huff's contract off the books, $10 million seems about right to re-sign Pagan.

Another reason for the Giants' hesitation is that they have speedy outfielder Gary Brown making his way up the team's minor league system, and he could be ready for the MLB within the next 1-2 years.

The Giants' contract offer to Pagan, if there is one, is likely contingent on the team's faith that Brown can be MLB-ready in the near future.

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Report: Bogut Targeting Saturday for Return to Golden State Warriors

What was supposed to be 7-10 days of rest for Andrew Bogut's ankle became almost three weeks of a much-debated set-back.

The Golden State Warriors have managed to stay afloat, record-wise, while being without their big man underneath the basket. However, there is the feeling of a stand-still with the team until he returns to the floor.


That may come earlier than the pessimists thought.

Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears is reporting that Bogut is set to return to the floor on Saturday vs. the Pacers.

Barring a setback physically from practice, a source tells Y! @warriors C Andrew Bogut (ankle) has targeted next Sat game vs Ind for return.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) November 25, 2012

Bogut will go through a week of practice with the team starting on Monday, after being in Los Angeles to rehab his ankle, which reportedly included blood-manipulation treatment. It was the same treatment Kobe Bryant went through, and a big reason for why he is back to full health.

The Saturday comeback may already be in jeopardy, as Bogut missed Monday's practice -- what was supposed to be his first day back at practice.

So, as widely reported, center Andrew Bogut was expected to return to practice on Monday. But, according to GSW...sulia.com/c/golden-state…
— Marcus Thompson (@gswscribe) November 26, 2012

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Harbaugh, 49ers' Antics Made Kaepernick Start vs. Saints Inevitable

Wednesday's festivities at the 49ers' practice facility in Santa Clara made it blatantly obvious that Colin Kaepernick would be the starter against the Saints on Sunday, despite the 49ers' intentions.

Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter reported Wednesday night that Jim Harbaugh has told Kaepernick that he will be the starter vs. the Saints. Even worse for the other end of the quarterback controversy -- Alex Smith -- Trotter is
reporting that the decision had nothing to do with Smith's injury status.

BREAKING: Jim Harbaugh has informed Alex Smith that Colin Kaepernick will start Sunday, per source. Said decision not based on health.
— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) November 22, 2012

Wednesday did hold a lot of clues, though, even before Trotter's report. Alex Smith was once again wearing the black "no contact" jersey at practice, and Harbaugh unofficially declared Smith healthy to play Sunday. Kaepernick also received the first team reps at Wednesday's practice.

It will be the only real practice for the 49ers on a bit of a short week, and that very much played into Kaepernick reportedly getting the start on Sunday. Kaepernick was the only one getting first-team reps, and with Thursday being Thanksgiving, Friday being a travel day for the team and Saturday being a relatively slow preparation day before a game, it was inevitable that Kaepernick's status as the lead dog in Wednesday's practice was the final decision from Harbaugh.

Of course, that is not what Harbaugh wanted the media to think. More importantly, that is not what he wanted the Saints to think.

Harbaugh dodged the question left and right from the media on Wednesday, but he made a big mistake in concealing his hand. If Smith was starting Sunday and Kaepernick's Monday night performance was simply a back-up quarterback filling in for the definitive starter, then Harbaugh would have announced right then and there that Smith was the starter for Sunday vs. the Saints.

That was not the case.

However, Trotter's report did have some flaws in it.  What made the report so surprising was the fact that the decision was reportedly made without Smith's health being an issue.

There is still very much a quarterback controversy in San Francisco, and Kaepernick has not won the job, by any means. Smith has not been cleared to play yet, due to his concussion, although he most likely will pass the contact test prior to Sunday's game.

Smith was done in by the short week for the 49ers, and that certainly does not mean his era in San Francisco is over. Once again, Smith is not fully healthy, and the 49ers have a big game against an elite team.

- UPDATE 11-21-12, 9:37 p.m. -

Alex Smith just told @tdespn that Harbaugh told him Kaepernick would get 1st team reps but door open to start game based on practice

— Seth Markman (@tunasweasel) November 22, 2012

i have great respect for @tdespn and alex smith, and stand behind my report. harbaugh to alex: "I'm going with Kaepernick. Alex, I'm sorry."

— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) November 22, 2012

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