The San Francisco 49ers couldn’t contain their joy when Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree surprisingly fell right into their laps on draft day 2009. Four months later, that love affair has quickly gone sour due to the exorbitant contract demands the two-time Biletnikoff Award winner and agent Eugene Parker have levied upon Crabtree’s potential employers.

That contentious holdout has put a damper on an offseason that began with brimming optimism due to the 49ers’ strong finish to the 2008 campaign under replacement head coach Mike Singletary. The Hall of Fame linebacker guided San Francisco to victories in four of the final five games and most importantly, instilled a sense of belief to a once-proud franchise that has endured six consecutive losing seasons.

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The Rams followed up a dreadful 3-13 season in 2007 with an even less successful one last year, winning a measly two times and ending the campaign on a 10-game losing streak. Those five wins over the two-year span are the fewest of any NFL team during that time period, while St. Louis’ 2-14 record in 2008 was the franchise’s worst since a 1-12-1 ledger when it was based in Los Angeles in 1962.

That ignominious performance triggered sweeping changes just days prior to the season finale. General manager Jay Zygmunt announced his resignation shortly after the Rams’ 17-16 Week 16 loss to San Francisco, with vice president of pro personnel Billy Devaney named as his replacement on Christmas Eve. Longtime team president John Shaw stepped down from hi

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“We know the rules and comply by the rules,” an emotional Rodriguez said at a news conference Monday.

Six players interviewed by the Detroit Free Press in a story released Saturday described how the training and practice sessions far exceeded limits set by the NCAA. The newspaper reports players didn’t want to be identified for fear of repercussions from coaches.

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The overseer of the most successful period in the franchise’s 34-year existence will no longer be roaming the Qwest Field sidelines, with longtime head coach Mike Holmgren deciding to trade in 18-hour workdays and grueling training camp practices for spins on his Harley Davidson and trips around the world with his wife. The 61-year-old rode off into the sunset at the conclusion of last season to embark upon a temporary break from his profession, leaving behind five division titles, six playoff berths and one Super Bowl appearance during a decade-long tenure with the Seahawks.

Holmgren may have wished he left a year earlier, as Seattle suffered a precipitous fall from its long-standing perch atop the NFC’s West Division in his

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Details were not provided by the Chiefs, as a release indicated that head coach Todd Haley would address the situation after Monday’s practice.

Gailey was entering his second season with the Chiefs, who ranked 24th in the NFL last year in total offense.

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The Patriots, for whom Bruschi played his entire career, held a news conference Monday morning, where team owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick spoke warmly of the iconic Patriot.

“I’ve had the opportunity to coach a lot of great players over the years and I’ll put Tedy above all of them,” said an emotional Belichick. “[He's] the epitome of everything you want in a football player. If you asked me to sum up Tedy Bruschi in five seconds…I’d say he’s the perfect player. He helped create a tradition here that we are all proud of.” Bruschi helped anchor a defense that was instrumental in New England’s three Super Bowl titles spanning four seasons. During his tenure with the team, New England made the playoffs nine times with eight division championships and five conference titles

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O’Connell was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2008 draft. He appeared in two games last season, completing 4-of-6 passes for 23 yards.

The San Diego State product saw his first NFL action during the fourth quarter of a September 21 game against Miami and also played in the December 21 contest versus Arizona.

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PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH 3) ARMY – New head coach Rich Ellerson brings the triple-option attack back to West Point as the Black Knights look to win four games for the first time since ’05. They are 2-9 ATS as home underdogs the last four years.

Offense – Army prepared itself for the option last season by running the ball 83% of the time after going for 51% in ’07. However, the cupboard is a bit more bare without Collin Mooney, who broke the school’s all-time record for rushing yards in a season. On the other hand, freshman Trent Steelman has been a revelation at quarterback and the offense has a chance to outdo last year’s 14.8 points per game average.

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Jackson played seven games in his rookie season, but did not catch a pass. He returned 14 kickoffs for an average of 23.4 yards and added 20 punt returns for a 4.9-yard average.

The Appalachian State product returned a punt for a touchdown in the 2008 preseason, but lost his job to Clifton Smith midway through the regular season and was inactive for the final nine games. Smith became a Pro Bowl pick as a return man.

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Cutler completed 15-of-21 passes for 144 yards and a score for the Bears in his first game back in Denver since being traded in the offseason.

“It was a little bit weird,” Cutler said. “Different locker room, different sideline, but that’s how it goes. I love where I’m at in Chicago, and I think we’re headed in the right direction offensively.” The quarterback set a single-season Broncos record with 4,526 passing yards and was named to his first career Pro Bowl last season but had a much- publicized spat with new Denver head coach Josh McDaniels, who unsuccessfully tried to acquire QB Matt Cassel in a trade with New England.

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