49ers' Safety Roman Drops Trade Demand

By JOE KUKURA

Updated 7:30 PM PST, Mon, Jun 1, 2009

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Looks like one less off-season headache for the 49ers, as free safety Mark Roman is dropping his demand to be traded.

One less headache because it doesn't appear they were having much luck finding anyone interested in trading for Roman.

Mark Roman has been a serviceable three-year starting safety for the 49ers, but has recorded no sacks or interceptions while starting every game both of the last two seasons. The team had been grooming the younger, taller Dashon Goldson for the starting position, and this off-season announced that Goldson would be the starter.

Roman was being asked to be primarily a third down player, and his answer to that was "trade me." But as of days before the NFL Draft in April, Matt Barrows was reporting in the Sacramento Bee that the Niners were not receiving any offers on him.

Which may have led to Roman's decision to stay, as reported Monday in the Sporting News. The Sporting News reported this on their new hybrid blog with ProFootballTalk.com, "PFT@Sporting News", proving that your two favorite crass but informative football blogs can taste great together.

So now Roman takes the "third down and special teams" duty with Goldson as the projected starter. But Goldson has had trouble staying on the field with shoulder and ankle injuries, so Roman may default back into his old job for periods of the season.

Barrows also notes in the Bee that Roman is expected to attend this weekend's minicamp.

Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who has suddenly dropped his demand to be traded to General Motors.