49ers Go for Perfect Preseason at the ‘Stick

Will it really mean anything if the San Francisco 49ers go undefeated for the 2010 preseason?

They could do just that by beating the San Diego Chargers Thursday night at Candlestick at 7 p.m., in a game that will be broadcast live on KPIX Channel 5.

Meaningless? The last time the 49ers went undefeated in the preseason was 1992, Joe Montana's final season as a 49er. All they did that year was put together the NFL's best regular season record and advance to the NFC Championship Game.

Yes, meaningless. The infamous 0-16 2008 Detroit Lions also went 4-0 in that year's preseason.

"Oh, I don't really care about preseason records," coach Mike Singletary told Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. "I really don't care about winning the game -- obviously, we want to win every time we step on the field -- but the most important thing is that we get better."

You'll not see any of the 49ers' big weapons offense, except maybe a short cameo by Michael Crabtree in the first quarter. Vernon Davis and Frank Gore won't play, and even quarterback Alex Smith will get to relax and take the game off like a Pro Bowler.
 
Yesterday's Vernon vs. Crabtree practice fight creates another subplot for this one. "The biggest thing to watch for tonight: Does Crabtree play?" Tweets the Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows. "If he does, it will show he took Wednesday's drama to heart."
 
As an eyewitness to the fight, Barrows has reported that the dispute was triggered by Crabtree's alleged "sense of entitlement."
 
You sick of all that drama? There is also the significant matter that 22 of these 49ers are going to cut by Saturday afternoon. Matt Maiocco offers excellent analysis of the positional battles over at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.
 
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who would like to see Crabtree atone himself by starting an in-game brawl with Quentin Jammer. 
Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us