When San Francisco reached out and nabbed quarterback David Carr off the free-agent market last week, it essentially spelled the end of Shaun Hill's time with the 49ers.
And now the official end of Hill's San Fran days appear to be upon us. According to Matt Maiocco of the Press Democrat, the Niners have traded Hill to Detroit for a 2011 seventh-round draft choice.
The Niners no doubt had hopes of a higher return for Hill, who started 14 games over the past two seasons, but instead settled for just unloading him.
The San Francisco 49ers have a two-year contract agreement with quarterback David Carr, one day after the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft left the team's Santa Clara headquarters after several hours of talks.
Carr, 30, is expected to sign Sunday, a league source confirmed, and will provide the 49ers with a veteran quarterback presence behind starter Alex Smith, whom coach Mike Singletary said will assume the No. 1 spot heading into training camp. Singletary also noted that he liked to keep his quarterback situation competitive, which gives Carr a fighting chance to regain a starting position.
The addition of Carr, an eight-year veteran who spent the past two seasons with the New York Giants as a backup to Eli Manning, likely means the 49ers' brief love affair with one-time starter Shaun Hill has all but ended. Carr's starting experience in the league makes him an attractive No. 2 quarterback, and the 49ers are excited about the development of former Ball State standout Nate Davis, their fifth-round pick in 2009.
Carr may find himself facing an awkward welcome from All Pro linebacker Patrick Willis, who went on a Twitter campaign on Friday openly questioning how the 49ers' newest quarterback would fit into the team's plans. In one tweet posted on his verified account, Willis wrote (sic): "I'm saying if we going to go get another qb. spend money on a difference maker. Like (Michael) vick. my opinion. And well u got urs"
Willis also posted, "We have 3 qb's that are better then him. That's a waste of his time."
Later, Willis backed off his strident tone, posting, "Ppl are really fired up right now about what I said earlier. I apologize if I hurt some feelings and if carr becomes my teammate." He also added, "I will embrace him and we will win together. And with that being said I just want to win."
Friday morning coin flips at the scouting combine in Indianapolis determined the fate for six teams, as three draft-order ties had to be broken.
With identical 7-9 records last season, the Chicago Bears and the Jacksonville Jaguars tied for the 10th overall spot in the NFL draft. Friday's coin flip landed in favor of the Jaguars giving them the 10th pick in the draft. The teams will alternate selections in each round after.
The Denver Broncos had a keen interest in the results of this contest as they own the rights to Chicago's first-round selection due to the Jay Cutler trade. That means after Jacksonville picks in the 10th spot, Denver will go next.
The second coin flip determined the drafting order between the Tennessee Titans and the Carolina Panthers, who each finished the season with 8-8 records. However, as with the first flip, a third team will be the actual benefactor of the results as the San Francisco 49ers own the Panthers' pick in the first round.
The Ravens let defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin walk away as a free agent in 2007. San Francisco wasn't about to make the same mistake. The 49ers announced Tuesday that they have placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Franklin.
"Aubrayo has proven to be a valuable contributor to our defense and we are looking forward to having him on our team going forward," Niners general manager Scot McCloughan said in a statement. "Although a contract extension has not been completed at this time, we will continue to have discussions with Aubrayo and his agent."
CORONA, Calif. -- Last Sunday, at a golf course lounge in the deep suburbs of Los Angeles, there were two fairy tales on display. One was broadcast by CBS and ended with the New Orleans Saints winning the Super Bowl. The other, far more improbable saga was unfolding in a corner of the room, where Kermit Alexander spent the afternoon hanging out with his five new children.
The Alexander clan is not your typical nuclear family. Kermit is a 69-year-old ex-NFL star who played defensive back for the San Francisco 49ers and brief stints with the Rams and Eagles, and whose life has been marked by public acclaim and unspeakable tragedy. His wife Tami, 48, is a former California Highway Patrol dispatcher, a young grandmother, and the owner of a thriving gift-basket company. Both have adult children from previous marriages, and neither expected to be a parent again when they were married in 2004.
The five kids, who range in age from 9 to 16, are equally unconventional. They are orphans from Haiti, three brothers and two sisters who were given up by their father -- who later died -- after their mother fell ill with malaria.
The story of how this family came together -- and how the siblings ultimately journeyed from an earthquake-stricken island to a Super Bowl party in southern California -- is a tale straight out of Hollywood. Over the last five years, Kermit and Tami navigated a minefield of vague paperwork, red tape, dashed hopes, political instability and natural disasters in their effort to adopt the children. It has been, says Kermit, "a trial of perseverance."
When San Francisco 
The San Francisco 49ers have a two-year contract agreement with quarterback David Carr, one day after the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft left the team's Santa Clara headquarters after several hours of talks. 
The 
