McDonald arrested on suspicion of DUI
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5299797&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A veteran San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman says he regrets his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Ray McDonald publicly apologized on Monday after he was booked Saturday night in the San Mateo County Jail in Redwood City.
California Highway Patrol officer Art Montiel says an officer pulled over the 25-year-old in his black BMW on Interstate 280 around 6 p.m. after observing McDonald speeding upwards of 94 miles per hour.
Montiel says McDonald was placed into custody after taking a sobriety test. He was released on his own recognizance.
McDonald is due in San Mateo County Superior Court on July 22.
The team said in a statement that McDonald told it about the incident, and that it is monitoring the case.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5299797&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A veteran San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman says he regrets his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Ray McDonald publicly apologized on Monday after he was booked Saturday night in the San Mateo County Jail in Redwood City.
California Highway Patrol officer Art Montiel says an officer pulled over the 25-year-old in his black BMW on Interstate 280 around 6 p.m. after observing McDonald speeding upwards of 94 miles per hour.
Montiel says McDonald was placed into custody after taking a sobriety test. He was released on his own recognizance.
McDonald is due in San Mateo County Superior Court on July 22.
The team said in a statement that McDonald told it about the incident, and that it is monitoring the case.
Lawson, Clements, Spencer report for 49ers minicamp
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News of they day
As he watched several 49ers teammates get contract extensions over the past year, outside linebacker Manny Lawson said he felt no jealousy. “Kudos to them,’’ he said. “I’m for everybody getting what they deserve.”
Now, he said it’s his turn. Lawson, who skipped the team’s recent voluntary practices, reported for the start of mandatory minicamp Thursday and said he would like the 49ers to give him an extension as well. He is scheduled to make a $630,000 base salary in this, the final year of the five-year contract he signed as a rookie.
Asked if he was dissatisfied with his current deal, Lawson said: “Not dissatisfied, but you know everyone wants a new contract. I want to be here. I want to be a San Francisco 49er. I would like a new contract, yes.”
Lawson, who turns 26 on July 3, is coming off a career-best season in which he led the 49ers with 6.5 sacks. The only NFC linebackers with more were Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware (11.0), Washington’s Brian Orakpo (11.0) and Green Bay’s Clay Matthews (10.0). Lawson’s four forced fumbles tied teammate Ahmad Brooks for the most ever by a 49ers linebacker.
Before last year, however, injuries curtailed his effectiveness; Lawson had 5.5 sacks combined from 2006-08.
He said he enters 2010 poised for a big seasons. Lawson spent the off-season working out at Fisher Sports in Arizona and said he designed his conditioning program to make him a better all-around player. His plan was to improve “not only just explosion off the line from the two-point (stance), also the three-point, coverage skills … Whatever the team needs me to do.”
During his absense from the organized team activities, Brooks took over Lawson’s role. By the afternoon practice, the job competition was back on.
“No position is going to be handed out and no position is going to be given,’’ Lawson said. “You have to work for it. So he was in there while I was away. Now I’m back, and we’re going to have to step in and go back and forth with each other. Competition is where it’s at.”
Sideline trivia of the day
Alex Smith enters this season ranked seventh on the 49ers’ all-time passing yards list. Who are the six 49ers quarterbacks ahead of him? (Answer below)
Also back: The cornerbacks
Cornerbacks Nate Clements and Shawntae Spencer also returned to the locker room after skipping OTAs in favor of private workouts. Clements, a 10-year veteran, said he is 100 percent recovered from the fractured scapula he suffered last Nov. 1 during a game in Indianapolis.
Thursday marked his return to the playing field.
“I’m definitely motivated, anxious,” Clements said shortly before hitting the field.
Clements worked out during the off-season with Scottsdale, Ariz., trainer Ian Denney, whose methods included playing volleyball with a medicine ball that weighed up to 14 pounds. The cornerback said the game not only strengthened his shoulder but also his legs and hips.
Spencer, meanwhile, said he skipped the OTAs this year for the same reason he skipped them last year: He prefers the specialized training he gets at his private workouts near his home. Spencer works with Buddy Spencer, the University of Pittsburgh strength and conditioning coach, who helps the player condition his troublesome knee.
“(When) you start to get up there in age, you lose speed and flexibility,’’ Spencer said. “Especially with a knee injury, you have to make sure you stay on that.”
Spencer was fully healthy last season and had his best season as a pro, leading the team with 17 passes defensed.
Practice updates of the day
– The 49ers ended the practice session with a pair of two-minute drills (technically, a 1:38 drills) in which the offense started at its 31-yard line and instructed to get at least a field goal. Both drives were quarterbacked by Alex Smith and both ended with interceptions. Tarell Brown jumped a sideline route to upend the first drive and Curtis Taylor snared an overthrown pass intended for tight end Jon Jon Finley to snuff the second.
– Punt return hopeful LeRoy Vann, an undrafted free-agent out of Florida A&M, struggled to catch the ball during drills. He muffed several badly, drawing catcalls from his teammates. Vann beware: Coach Mike Singletary has placed an emphasis on ball security for his special teams units.
Sideline trivia answer
Alex Smith has 7,029 career passing yards. The six quarterbacks who threw for more while in a 49ers uniform are: Joe Montana (35,124), John Brodie (31,548), Steve Young (29,906), Jeff Garcia (16,408), Y.A. Tittle (16,016) and Steve DeBerg (7,220). Michael Erler of CBS SportsLine got five of them; Craig Massei of Associated Press got DeBerg.
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/..._campaign=Feed:+49ersHotRead+(49ers+Hot+Read)
News of they day
As he watched several 49ers teammates get contract extensions over the past year, outside linebacker Manny Lawson said he felt no jealousy. “Kudos to them,’’ he said. “I’m for everybody getting what they deserve.”
Now, he said it’s his turn. Lawson, who skipped the team’s recent voluntary practices, reported for the start of mandatory minicamp Thursday and said he would like the 49ers to give him an extension as well. He is scheduled to make a $630,000 base salary in this, the final year of the five-year contract he signed as a rookie.
Asked if he was dissatisfied with his current deal, Lawson said: “Not dissatisfied, but you know everyone wants a new contract. I want to be here. I want to be a San Francisco 49er. I would like a new contract, yes.”
Lawson, who turns 26 on July 3, is coming off a career-best season in which he led the 49ers with 6.5 sacks. The only NFC linebackers with more were Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware (11.0), Washington’s Brian Orakpo (11.0) and Green Bay’s Clay Matthews (10.0). Lawson’s four forced fumbles tied teammate Ahmad Brooks for the most ever by a 49ers linebacker.
Before last year, however, injuries curtailed his effectiveness; Lawson had 5.5 sacks combined from 2006-08.
He said he enters 2010 poised for a big seasons. Lawson spent the off-season working out at Fisher Sports in Arizona and said he designed his conditioning program to make him a better all-around player. His plan was to improve “not only just explosion off the line from the two-point (stance), also the three-point, coverage skills … Whatever the team needs me to do.”
During his absense from the organized team activities, Brooks took over Lawson’s role. By the afternoon practice, the job competition was back on.
“No position is going to be handed out and no position is going to be given,’’ Lawson said. “You have to work for it. So he was in there while I was away. Now I’m back, and we’re going to have to step in and go back and forth with each other. Competition is where it’s at.”
Sideline trivia of the day
Alex Smith enters this season ranked seventh on the 49ers’ all-time passing yards list. Who are the six 49ers quarterbacks ahead of him? (Answer below)
Also back: The cornerbacks
Cornerbacks Nate Clements and Shawntae Spencer also returned to the locker room after skipping OTAs in favor of private workouts. Clements, a 10-year veteran, said he is 100 percent recovered from the fractured scapula he suffered last Nov. 1 during a game in Indianapolis.
Thursday marked his return to the playing field.
“I’m definitely motivated, anxious,” Clements said shortly before hitting the field.
Clements worked out during the off-season with Scottsdale, Ariz., trainer Ian Denney, whose methods included playing volleyball with a medicine ball that weighed up to 14 pounds. The cornerback said the game not only strengthened his shoulder but also his legs and hips.
Spencer, meanwhile, said he skipped the OTAs this year for the same reason he skipped them last year: He prefers the specialized training he gets at his private workouts near his home. Spencer works with Buddy Spencer, the University of Pittsburgh strength and conditioning coach, who helps the player condition his troublesome knee.
“(When) you start to get up there in age, you lose speed and flexibility,’’ Spencer said. “Especially with a knee injury, you have to make sure you stay on that.”
Spencer was fully healthy last season and had his best season as a pro, leading the team with 17 passes defensed.
Practice updates of the day
– The 49ers ended the practice session with a pair of two-minute drills (technically, a 1:38 drills) in which the offense started at its 31-yard line and instructed to get at least a field goal. Both drives were quarterbacked by Alex Smith and both ended with interceptions. Tarell Brown jumped a sideline route to upend the first drive and Curtis Taylor snared an overthrown pass intended for tight end Jon Jon Finley to snuff the second.
– Punt return hopeful LeRoy Vann, an undrafted free-agent out of Florida A&M, struggled to catch the ball during drills. He muffed several badly, drawing catcalls from his teammates. Vann beware: Coach Mike Singletary has placed an emphasis on ball security for his special teams units.
Sideline trivia answer
Alex Smith has 7,029 career passing yards. The six quarterbacks who threw for more while in a 49ers uniform are: Joe Montana (35,124), John Brodie (31,548), Steve Young (29,906), Jeff Garcia (16,408), Y.A. Tittle (16,016) and Steve DeBerg (7,220). Michael Erler of CBS SportsLine got five of them; Craig Massei of Associated Press got DeBerg.
