Singletary: No More Mr. Nice Guy to Refs

By Joe Kukura

| Wednesday, Sep 22, 2010 | Updated 2:15 PM PDT

Singletary: No More Mr. Nice Guy to Refs

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MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 27: Head coach Mike Singletary of the San Francisco 49ers argues with Head Linesman John Schleyer #21 during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on September 27, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 27-24. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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."

Effective immediately, he's also working on the referees.

Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who has taken a vow that this season he's not going to yell at The Hoff on "Dancing with the Stars".