Panther Racing hoping to end runner-up streak (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 16:44:52 PDT)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Panther Racing owner John Barnes would still like to celebrate in Indianapolis' Victory Lane some day.

Hakeem Nicks' Injury Could Be a Blessing in Disguise for Giants: Fan's Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 14:31:00 PDT)
Here we go again.

Vegas has spoken, NFL season win totals are live (National Football Post)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 13:06:06 PDT)
Four picks to keep an eye on this summer as we approach the start of the 2012 season.

Alex Smith joins the burgeoning ‘stats are for losers’ movement (Shutdown Corner)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 07:03:48 PDT)
Add the voice of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith to those decrying the increasing use of stats to evaluate football performance. Usually, it's former head coaches unhappy about the numbers (used, as they sometimes are, to help describe why said former head coaches lost their jobs), but in Smith's case, he's tired of the stats despite his 2011 season, in which he finally played with some of the efficiency and consistency expected of the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft. When asked before the 49ers' divisional playoff win over the New Orleans Saints if he might someday throw for more yards in a season than Drew Brees, or some of the NFL's other more high-octane quarterbacks, Smith was quite defiant. "I really don't care," Smith said. "I'm looking to outscore him. He can throw for as many yards as he wants." So there! The 49ers did indeed outscore the Saints on their way to a close NFC championship loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, and in the 2012 season, more will certainly be expected of Smith. He played the caretaker role for Jim Harbaugh in 2011, throwing just five interceptions and helping San Francisco's unflashy-but-effective offense as the 49ers shocked the league with a 13-3 record. He also had career highs in pass attempts (445), completions, (273), passing yards (3,144), and his second-highest touchdown total (17). Now, Smith is being asked if he's ready to bust out with bigger numbers ... and the answer is, he really doesn't care. "I could absolutely care less on yards per game," Smith told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday . "I think that is a totally overblown stat because if you're losing games in the second half, guess what, you're like the Carolina Panthers and you're going no-huddle the entire second half. Yeah, Cam Newton threw for a lot of 300-yard games. That's great. You're not winning, though." Well, hold on there, Huckleberry! Cam Newton smashed many of the NFL's rookie passing records in 2011, and I would argue that he did do a lot of winning -- he took the worst team in the league and helped pull it to a six-win season. Now, the Panthers are rightfully seen as a fringe playoff contender, and Newton is the primary reason. In fact, it could be argued that Newton did everything Smith could not in 2005 -- take a horrible team to the next level with his own play as the first pick in the draft. It's a bit easier for Smith to say these things now, buttressed as he is by a dynamic rushing attack and supported by one of the NFL's best defenses. Joe Flacco has tried that whole "I'm just winning" thing as well, but he's very much in Smith's camp -- aided severely by his defense and running game. Total yards may not matter, but can Smith become the kind of quarterback capable of transcending the average and putting a team on his back? That's the real question for any quarterback looking to find that mysterious "elite." "We're up in the third and fourth quarter and naturally you're going to be in four-minute offense," Smith said of the wisdom behind the 49ers' more conservative game plan. "You're going to be grinding it out. You're going to be running the ball a lot more and you're not going to have as many 300-yard passing games."

49ers sign All-Pro punter Andy Lee through 2018 (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 21:09:11 PDT)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Andy Lee has made every punt and held every field goal and extra-point attempt - minus a few in the preseason - for the San Francisco 49ers since 2004.

49ers QB Alex Smith facing higher expectations (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 18:24:17 PDT)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Alex Smith looked one way, then another, finding open receivers with such ease that the toughest part might've been deciding whose turn it was in the rotation.

49ers coach impressed with Moss in early OTA workuts (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 18:20:14 PDT)
Wide receiver is a position where the San Francisco 49ers need an upgrade, as evidenced by the addition of veterans Randy Moss and Mario Manningham and rookie A.J. Jenkins, who was the 49ers' first-round draft choice.

NFL roundup: Players union files suit, accuses owners of collusion (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 16:30:14 PDT)
The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit on Wednesday that accused NFL owners and the league of collusion during the 2010 NFL season.

All-Pro punter Lee signs contract extension with 49ers
(Wed, 23 May 2012 11:51:06 PDT)
(Reuters) - The San Francisco 49ers have signed three-time All-Pro punter Andy Lee to a six-year contract extension, the National Football League team said on Wednesday. Lee, who set the league's single-season record in net punting average (44 yards) last year, will remain with San Francisco through the 2018 season. "Andy has established himself as one of the top players in the game at his position," 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. ...

49ers sign Lee to six-year extension (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 10:41:08 PDT)
San Francisco 49ers' punter Andy Lee signed a six-year extension that will take him through the 2018 season.

Kyle Williams dealt with playoff meltdown by going to work (National Football Post)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 08:32:02 PDT)
49ers receiver ready to redeem himself

49ers' Williams motivated by NFC title game gaffes (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 18:08:14 PDT)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Kyle Williams walked out of San Francisco 49ers headquarters Tuesday ready to talk about - and move past - the most miserable moment of his career.

49ers' WR, RB battles kick off with OTAs (The SportsXchange)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 18:00:21 PDT)
Four months after botching a pair of punt returns in January's NFC Championship Game loss to the Giants, Kyle Williams opened the 49ers' first organized team practice for veterans on Tuesday in a battle for a roster spot.

Nate Burleson: Lions need less emotion sometimes (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 12:49:22 PDT)
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) Nate Burleson says he didn't see what fellow Detroit Lions receiver Titus Young did to get himself dismissed from team workouts this week.

Are the Bills legitimate playoff contenders? (National Football Post)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 10:36:08 PDT)
Surviving the first six games could pave the way for a 10-6 season.

Tom Brady's father would be 'very hesitant' to let his son take up football in concussion era
(Tue, 22 May 2012 09:50:48 PDT)
Tom Sr. waited until his only boy was 14 to let him play football, and he would be more reluctant now.

Jim Harbaugh says Michael Crabtree has best hands he's ever seen (National Football Post)
(Sat, 19 May 2012 10:00:11 PDT)
49ers need more from talented wide receiver

Bavaro: Bahr 'kind of out of it' in game-winning kick over 49ers (National Football Post)
(Wed, 16 May 2012 05:40:15 PDT)
Says kicker suffered concussion earlier in game