that's a snip from USAToday probably, here's the full thing
Linebacker Julian Peterson, knowing his one-year pay was increasing to the point where it could do harm to the 49ers' salary cap, conceded after the season that he would not be the team's franchise player for a third consecutive year.
And, indeed, 49ers coach Mike Nolan has confirmed that the organization has no plans to pay Peterson $8.7 million to retain him as the club's franchise player.
"I know we'd love to have him back but when 31 other teams are out there, it's hard to say," Nolan said when asked if the club will make a big push to re-sign him. "As I always say, no one player will be bigger than the team. I've made that comment before when talking about character or selfish issues, but that goes for cap involvement, too. If the (salary) number takes us out of the realm where it hurts the football team, we have to be smart about how far we go."
Peterson was not his usually disruptive defensive presence last season, his first year back after returning from a torn Achilles' tendon that ended his 2004 season after just five games. Peterson recorded three sacks on the season, but 2 1/2 of them came in the season opener.
"I thought he made significant strides," Nolan said. "A lot of people will be very interested in J.P. because of player he's been over the years. I don't think people will see his health and think it's not an issue."
The 49ers, under the previous management regime, offered Peterson a six-year, $38 million contract that included a $15.5 million signing bonus prior to the 2004 season. He earned more than $14 million the last two years while tagged as the 49ers' franchise player.
He is not expected to attract a signing bonus in that range this off-season when he becomes a free agent. Peterson, a six-year pro, has said he wants to return to the 49ers. In the days after the season, Peterson said he knew the 49ers would not make him their franchise player again because of the 20 percent wage increase the club would be obligated to pay him.
"They might have to cut a couple guys to fill the depth chart if my (salary) number was so high," Peterson said. "I don't think that would be a smart move to do something like that because we have a lot of talent on the team. You don't want to start over from ground zero."
—Already this off-season, 49ers coach Mike Nolan and his staff have coached the South squad at the Senior Bowl, which is the best collection of talent of any of the college all-star games.
Nolan has also popped in from time to time during two weeks of pre-combine meetings that vice president of player personnel Scot McCloughan has held with the club's scouts.
All this studying has made Nolan more prepared than he has ever been heading into the NFL scouting combine.
"Even as an assistant, I've never been up to speed as much as I am right now," Nolan said. "If 100 percent is the goal, I'm about 25 percent. In a normal year, I'd be about five (percent), if lucky. Right now, I have a lot more awareness of who the players are going in."
The 49ers will draft either sixth or seventh in the first round, pending the outcome of a coin toss with the Raiders to be held at the combine in Indianapolis.
The 49ers are expected to enter the free-agent signing period from $15 million to $20 million under the salary cap. Nolan said they have already targeted some players to pursue. But he said the lifeblood of the organization will be the draft.
"The big thing for us is to supplement the holes we have with a free agent or two," said Nolan.
More important, Nolan said, is that the club has targeted some of its own players to re-sign. Kicker Joe Nedney and linebacker Derek Smith lead that group. Nedney is nearing a contract extension and is expected to be re-signed. Smith is largely an unheralded performer who has led the 49ers in tackles in each of his five years with the club.
NOTES, QUOTES
—The 49ers plan to widen their search for a high-level executive after Mike Reinfeldt, Seahawks vice president of football administration, turned them down. Coach Mike Nolan has wanted to hire a respected NFL administrator to strengthen his support system. Just two weeks ago, the 49ers announced that owner John York had given Nolan the go-ahead to fill such a spot in the organization.
Falcons executive vice president/chief administrative officer Ray Anderson is among the candidates for the 49ers' opening, along with Rams executive vice president Bob Wallace, former NFL general manager Bob Ferguson and Cardinals senior director of football operations John Idzik.
—Quarterback Alex Smith said he plans to speak this off-season with former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, who won his first two Super Bowl titles with Norv Turner as his offensive coordinator. Turner is the new 49ers' offensive coordinator, taking over for Mike McCarthy, who left to become head coach of the Packers.
"I've talked with him before but my past conversations were more on what it's like to be a starting quarterback as a rookie," Smith said. "I know he speaks very highly of coach Turner, so I'll definitely want to talk with him again."
—Smith said he was eager to delve into his off-season of work with McCarthy as his coordinator, but he now must make an adjustment to a new coordinator.
"Obviously, it was a surprise," Smith said. "I was looking forward to an off-season of not having to learn a new offense. But I grew so close to coach McCarthy last year that part of me is really happy for him. We talked about we were both looking forward to getting this thing going this off-season. I understand the business and realize this was a great situation for him. There are only 32 of those jobs out there. We talked and decided to stay in touch. He said I could always call him."
Smith has already started learning Turner's new system after spending time this off-season at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and in Detroit for the Super Bowl.
"I'll be going back to a learning environment again," Smith said. "I'll be starting over with a lot of things, which is not a terrible thing. I learned a ton last year going through Coach McCarthy's system. If coach McCarthy had stayed, we could have hit the ground running. Now, it's going to be a lot more scholastics."
—The 49ers have allocated quarterback Bryson Spinner to NFL Europe. Spinner has been released by the Redskins, Jaguars and Seahawks. A 6-foot-3, 225-pounder, Spinner completed his college career at Richmond in 2003.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I feel a lot better about the football team today than a year ago. Also, I'm very realistic about the improvements we need to make. Next year we'll make some strides. We're going to start stacking on top of good players as we continue to draft well." - 49ers coach Mike Nolan on the progress the club has made since he took over.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The 49ers hired secondary coach Johnnie Lynn to take over for A.J. Christoff, who was hired as Stanford University's defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach. Lynn served in the same capacity with the 49ers in 1996 on George Seifert's final staff. Lynn has coached 12 seasons in the NFL, including the last two with the Baltimore Ravens. He spent seven seasons with the New York Giants, including two as defensive coordinator.
Coach Mike Nolan said he is optimistic that the club will re-sign some of its scheduled free agents before they are scheduled to hit the open market on March 3.
TEAM NEEDS/OFF-SEASON STRATEGY
The 49ers, who have won six games combined the past two seasons, have a lot of holes at virtually every position on the team. Most of the 49ers' problems surround the passing game - both offensive and defensive. They need offensive players to help quarterback Alex Smith in the passing game. Defensively, the 49ers have a dearth of players who can rush the passer and cover receivers.
They will certain make concerted efforts to re-sign linebacker Derek Smith and kicker Joe Nedney. Because they received the veteran salary exemption in signing Nedney to a one-year contract last year, they can't sign him before the start of free agency. The club is close to working out a deal and will likely announce his signing on March 3.
Linebacker Julian Peterson might warrant too much money for the 49ers to re-sign him. The 49ers will not use their franchise tag on Peterson, who has filled that role the last two years.
Cornerback Ahmed Plummer landed in the doghouse last season while missing the final 13 games after undergoing what the club thought was minor surgery to remove bone chips. The 49ers are expected to release him to save $1 million in cap space.
1. Pass rusher: Whether it comes from a defensive end or an outside linebacker, the 49ers need a player who can put hits on opposing quarterbacks. That was one of the team's most glaring needs last season. If North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams is still around when the 49ers pick in the first round, don't expect him to get away.
2. Defensive back: The 49ers believe starting cornerback Shawntae Spencer will be a reliable player, but there is nobody else the club would feel confident having as a starter in 2006 especially because they will likely release Ahmed Plummer instead paying the $5.5 million salary he is due to make. Also, Tony Parrish is a solid safety, but the 49ers would like to upgrade at free safety.
3. Receiver: Arnaz Battle showed signs of being a productive receiver, but when he missed much of the season with injuries, the receiving corps did not have the depth to respond. Brandon Lloyd is a one-dimensional receiver who has an aversion to catching the ball in traffic. At the very least, the 49ers need to find a reliable No. 3 pass catcher.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
—S Marques Anderson was a late-season acquisition brought to team because of the myriad of injuries in the defensive backfield.
—FB Fred Beasley lost starting job to Chris Hetherington while he feuded with running backs coach Bishop Harris. He does not fit into Mike Nolan's plan for the club.
—TE Steve Bush did not add much to the team at a position that was one of its glaring weaknesses.
—DE/LB Andre Carter is a player the team would like to bring him back but it has to be at the right price. Carter did not adjust well to the team's new 3-4 scheme, as he recorded just 4 1/2 sacks.
—T Anthony Clement started at left tackle for a rough six-game stretch. The team would like to be a little more confident in its backups in the future.
—DE Travis Hall does not figure into the team's plan, and he might decide to call it a career.
—FB Chris Hetherington beat out Fred Beasley for the starting job late in the year, and the journeyman figures to return at a realistic salary.
—TE Terry Jones, a Ravens' castoff, came to 49ers at midseason and immediately became a starter. Still, this is a spot the 49ers have to upgrade significantly.
—WR Jason McAddley did a respectable job as the club's third or fourth receiver, but he should find himself up against stiffer competition this year for a roster spot.
—LB Brandon Moore became a starter when Jeff Ulbrich was lost for the year with a biceps injury. He was second on team with five sacks, and might have earned a decent payday from a team elsewhere. The club would like to bring him back as a reserve.
—K Joe Nedney set a club record for single-season field-goal accuracy, and is expected to re-sign with the 49ers in early March.
—LB Julian Peterson will not be made the 49ers' franchise player, a tag that would cost $8.7 million. He should be better in 2006 because of the time removed from his torn Achilles' tendon. Don't look for the 49ers to make a huge investment to keep him.
—LB Saleem Rasheed is an injury-prone player has not been much of a factor in on defense or special teams since being a third-round pick in 2002.
—S Kris Richard was a late season pickup who came to the team to fill a roster spot. Might get invited to training camp.
—LB Derek Smith is the top priority for the 49ers to re-sign. Coach Mike Nolan and his staff were impressed with his work ethic and production as the team's leading tackler.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
—QB Ken Dorsey will almost assuredly be tendered at the low level. The 49ers would receive a seventh-round pick as compensation if another team signs him. The 49ers want to retain him, but they don't believe another team would offer a big enough deal to scare them from matching.
—WR Brandon Lloyd makes the acrobatic catch as well as anyone, but he has to show a willingness this year to catch passes over the middle. He could receive some nibbles if the 49ers give him the low-level tender, which means the 49ers would gain a fourth-round pick as compensation if he leaves.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
—None.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
—None.
PLAYERS LOST
—None.
MEDICAL WATCH
RB Frank Gore will have approximately five months of rehabilitation has he undergoes extensive surgery on both shoulders. Gore has already undergone one surgery. The club is expecting Gore to be ready for limited work during their last minicamp. They expect him to be available for full work early in training camp.
NEXT UP JP 
