San Francisco 49ers News

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Running back Frank Gore has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers, a reward for his team-record 1,695 yards rushing last season. Gore, who led the NFC in rushing in his second pro campaign, was due to earn US$435,000 in the upcoming season. With the extension, the Pro Bowl running back will be under contract to the 49ers through 2011 with a ...

Mike Nolan stays on message with a consistency that has even surpassed the Bush administration at this point. Come to think of it, the San Francisco 49ers' coach's public discourse sometimes sounds an awful lot like a presidential briefing. Whether reeling from a blowout loss or basking in a stunning win, Nolan always stands behind the official seal on his podium and says pretty much the exact same thing _ ...

Hall of Fame football coach Bill Walsh, who built an NFL dynasty with the San Francisco 49ers and revolutionized the sport with his West Coast offence, disclosed Friday that he has leukemia. ``I'm positive, but not evangelistic,'' the 74-year-old Walsh told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and The Sports Xchange Web sites. ``I'm pragmatically doing everything my physicians recommend, and I'm working my way through it.'' Walsh said the cancer ...

The San Francisco 49ers ended negotiations with the city about building a new stadium and plan to move to either Santa Clara or somewhere else in California, The Associated Press learned Wednesday night. Owner John York notified Mayor Gavin Newsom of the team's decision earlier Wednesday, a city official close to the negotiations told the AP on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. Team spokesman Aaron Salkin ...

Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Clinton Portis and Edgerrin James check the statistics every week. They all want to know where the University of Miami's former running backs rank among the NFL's best _ and more importantly, among each other. These days, all the Hurricanes are looking up at Gore. The San Francisco 49ers' budding star is tied for the NFL rushing lead with St. Louis back Steven Jackson. Both have ...

Although it's hardly an honour, the San Francisco 49ers are the best team by the Bay. Arnaz Battle caught two touchdown passes from Alex Smith, and the 49ers overcame Randy Moss' 100th career TD reception with a strong second half in a 34-20 victory over the winless Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Frank Gore rushed for a career-high 134 yards and third-string running back Maurice Hicks scored on a 33-yard screen pass for the rebuilding 49ers (2-3), who scored ...

Trent Green was cleared to drive this week, so he joined his Chiefs teammates on the sideline Sunday. Out on the field, Damon Huard was obviously happy to have him riding shotgun. Getting advice and encouragement from Green and even suggestions on which plays to run, Huard and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs played almost flawlessly in a surprising 41-0 rout of San Francisco (1-3). ``Trent's the best,'' said Huard, a journeyman who'd hardly done anything but ...

If Damon Huard keeps playing this well, the Kansas City Chiefs won't have a quarterback crisis while waiting for Trent Green to get back _ they'll have a quarterback controversy once he does. Huard played almost flawlessly in a 41-0 rout of San Francisco on Sunday, hitting 13 of his first 15 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns while Kansas City seized a 24-0 half-time lead en route to ...

Running back Frank Gore is expected to return this week despite leaving Sunday's loss to Philadelphia with a strained muscle in his abdomen. Gore, who rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns in the 49ers' first three games, was hurt while trying to stretch over the goal line in the third quarter. He fumbled in the process, and Mike Patterson returned it 98 yards for a score. Rookie tight end ...

At San Francisco, 49ers running back Frank Gore and tight end Vernon Davis were injured on the same wacky play in a 38-24 loss to Philadelphia. Gore fumbled and apparently strained a muscle in his abdomen while trying to stretch over the goal line late in the third quarter. Philadelphia's Mike Patterson, a 292-pound defensive lineman, picked up the ball and lumbered 98 yards downfield for the longest fumble return ...