Singletary: No More Mr. Nice Guy to Refs

San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary thought he'd try a new rule for himself in the 2010 season -- he wasn't going to yell at any referees this year.

If you saw Singletary's hat-throwing fourth-quarter tirade when trying to call timeout in the 49ers' 25-22 loss to the New Orleans Saints, you know that rule is no longer operable.

The Sacramento Bee reports Singletary's "resolve to remain calm on the sideline ended after that game (Monday night)."

"After the (Seattle) game I had several players and coaches (ask), 'Coach, you OK? What's wrong? You're not yourself," Singletary told Comcast SportsNet. "After the first game, I was biting my tongue and wrestling with myself and not to say this, not to say that."

"I'm trying to get better at saying the right thing at the right time with the right tone," Singletary added. "That may not come in my lifetime, but I'm working on it."