Jimmie Ward Not In Line To Start
Jimmie Ward‘s interesting career with the 49ers looks set for another turn. The fifth-year player’s been shuttled to different positions in each of his four years, with four coaching staffs annually shifting him between safety and cornerback. This year, it doesn’t look like Ward will have a surefire path to remain a starter. Having started 24 games for the past three seasons at either corner or safety, Ward now is set to be a super-sub in Robert Saleh‘s secondary. Second-year safety Adrian Colbert usurped Ward, and once Richard Sherman is ready to play, he’ll take Ward’s place at cornerback alongside Ahkello Witherspoon, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle notes. He may not be in line to start in the slot, either, with K’Waun Williams back.
49ers Now On Dez Bryant’s Radar?
Dez Bryant‘s free agency stay has surpassed the 40-day mark, and the NFC East teams he announced were at the top of his list have yet to show interest in him.
It’s possible Bryant is willing to turn his attention elsewhere now that OTAs are in full swing. The eight-year wide receiver stirred the pot a bit on Instagram recently, responding to a question (h/t NinersNation.com) about what team he now wanted to play for in 2018 with “49ers.”
Bryant quickly deleted this reply, and the 49ers have not shown any known interest in him. But this response represents the latest clue from a player whose market resides in an interesting place.
A somewhat recent report suggested teams are not eager to sign the mercurial pass-catcher, whom the Cowboys cut three years into a five-year contract. In addition to the NFC East teams, the Packers have also kept the 29-year-old target at arm’s length. The Ravens have been the only known Bryant suitor, and he turned down their offer.
As for the 49ers, they already have a veteran possession-type wideout in Pierre Garcon. And Kyle Shanahan did not mince words earlier this offseason when he discussed the team’s reluctance toward overpaying for wide receiver help. They weren’t interested in this year’s top free agents, and Bryant is much older than both Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson. San Francisco also added Dante Pettis and sixth-rounder Richie James in this year’s draft.
Latest On Reuben Foster
- According to Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb, 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster had “several months of clean drug screen results” during his pre-trial diversion program (via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch on Twitter). Foster ultimately completed the program. In this past week, Foster has seen both of his offseason arrests lead to dismissed cases. Yesterday, the former first-rounder had a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge dismissed, and we learned earlier this week that he wouldn’t be charged in a domestic violence case.
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This Date In Transactions History: Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice is best remembered for his remarkable 16-year career with the Niners, in which he earned a dozen Pro Bowl nods and ten First-Team All-Pro selections. After that, Rice had some less remarkable – but still productive – seasons with the Raiders. His final NFL games were spent in a Seahawks uniform, but that wasn’t the original plan. On this date in 2004, Rice signed a one-year contract with the Broncos. 
“For so many years there was so much pressure on me,” Rice told Denver beat reporters on a conference call after signing his deal (via The Associated Press). “I had to set a certain standard and I still carry on that standard. But I had a lot of weight on my shoulders. I had blinders on. I couldn’t hear the crowd. I couldn’t hear them chanting my name and I couldn’t see little kids in the stands. I was so focused on what I had to do. The last couple of years, though, he has been more of a role player. The ball was not coming my way every down and I’m really enjoying the game and having fun.”
Rice was 42 years old at the time, meaning that his plans to continue playing were ambitious, even by Jon Gruden‘s standards today. In 2004, the legendary receiver totaled just 30 catches for 429 yards and three touchdowns. Even though he still averaged an impressive 14.3 yards per reception, he was no longer the player that he once was, and Denver head coach Mike Shanahan did not guarantee his place on the roster.
“I told Jerry that I don’t know if he’s lost a step or two steps, but you’re going to come here for one reason and that’s to compete with the other guys,” Shanahan said. “And if you’re one of our top five guys at the end of camp, then you’re going to be on our football team. If you’re not, I said I’d have one of the toughest jobs in the world.”
As the season drew near, Rice realized that he would be no higher than fourth or fifth on the Broncos’ depth chart. After serving as a role player in ’04, Rice decided in September that he would rather retire than be a role player in Denver.
The receiver left the game with remarkable league-record totals of 1,549 catches for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns – numbers that are in no danger of being eclipsed anytime soon, unless Larry Fitzgerald changes course and decides to play into his 40s.
So, Rice’s run with the Broncos never came to pass, but if you happen to have his replica orange-and-blue jersey hanging in your closet, you can probably fetch a nice price for it on eBay.
Reuben Foster’s Marijuana Case Dismissed
Reuben Foster has now seen both of his offseason arrests lead to dismissed cases in a span of three days. The 49ers linebacker is no longer facing a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge after that case was dismissed, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee tweets.
On Wednesday, it was determined Foster would not face a felony domestic violence charge. On Friday, the Tuscaloosa, Ala., district attorney’s office announced the 24-year-old defender’s second-degree marijuana possession charge was being dropped because Foster completed a diversion case, per Barrows.
Foster was arrested for drug possession shortly after his rookie season concluded. He’s now in the clear for this lesser charge as well. However, while Foster has navigated some significant hurdles this offseason, he could still face discipline from the NFL. The Alabama product could be subject to suspension for the January arrest under the league’s substance-abuse policy.
Weeks ago, the 49ers barred Foster from offseason workouts, and the 2017 first-round pick’s future with the team looked bleak. But the tide turned swiftly for the talented linebacker, who now has a clear path back to the 49ers. They will surely plug him back into their first-string group after he’s missed extensive offseason time.
How Foster's Status Will Impact 49ers ILBs
- The 49ers have a glut of inside linebackers after building a contingency plan for Reuben Foster, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle writes. The Niners will still have use for Brock Coyle, free agent pickup Korey Toomer, and third-round pick Fred Warner this year, but the numbers game could affect former Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith. The 28-year-old joined the Niners on a five-year, $26.5MM contract last year, but his deal doesn’t include any guaranteed money in 2019. After that, the final two seasons on his pact are option years.
49ers Notes: Anthem, York, Foster
While the NFL announced its new national anthem policy as a unanimous decision, only 31 teams actually voted on the measure. 49ers owner Jed York said his club abstained from voting on the change, which will penalize teams if any of their players do not stand for the national anthem, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets. In a related move, York indicated the 49ers will close concession stands during the anthem. “I don’t think we should profit during the national anthem if we’re going to ask people to be respectful,” York said, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com (Twitter link). York supported his former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, as the progenitor of the national anthem protest movement, so his stance on the matter at hand shouldn’t be too surprising.
- Reuben Foster will now be welcome back to the 49ers’ facilities after the domestic violence charges against him were dropped earlier today, and San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan had been in regular contact before today’s decision, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Shanahan revealed he’d been talking to Foster once or twice per week during his ongoing legal case, enabling him to check in on the linebacker’s state of mind.
Judge Dismisses Domestic Violence Charge Against Reuben Foster
A judge has dismissed a domestic violence charge against 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter links). Judge Nona Klippen has also dismissed another charge relating to Foster purportedly smashing his ex-girlfriend’s cell phone as she was attempting to contact police, and reduced the weapons charge against Foster from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Foster’s ex-girlfriend, Elissa Ennis, testified last week that she fabricated allegations against Foster. After originally claiming Foster had beaten her and thrown her down stairs, Ennis admitted that her visible injuries had actually been suffered during a fight with another woman. Ennis, angry over a reported breakup between she and Foster, wanted to take Foster “down” by pinning domestic violence charges on him.
Although Ennis recanted her allegations, the Santa Clara County district attorney’s office did not drop charges against Foster. Nevertheless, Judge Klippen made “multiple references” to insufficient evidence in her ruling, tweets Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, an indication that she was satisfied with Ennis’ re-telling of events.
The 49ers had been adamant that they would quickly release Foster if any domestic violence accusations were proven true, but that doesn’t appear to be an issue any longer. Foster will need to appear in court for his now-misdemeanor weapons charge, and is also facing a marijuana charge in Alabama. While neither offense may result in much legal action, Foster could still be subject to an NFL-imposed suspension.
Now that the domestic violence charges against Foster have been dropped, he will be allowed to rejoin the 49ers as early as Thursday, the club announced today.
Latest On 49ers’ Reuben Foster
The Reuben Foster case took a major turn on Thursday when his accuser admitted she lied about the allegations of domestic violence. Elissa Ennis’ testimony will make a Foster domestic violence conviction unlikely, and as of now, it would appear the former Alabama linebacker has a clearer path back to the 49ers.
However, Foster will not be with the team when it begins OTAs. The 49ers barred the second-year linebacker from these workouts while the case proceeds and will still begin them without him, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). San Francisco’s OTAs begin on Tuesday, and Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports (via Twitter) the ruling in this case will come a day later.
Upon being questioned by Foster’s defense attorney, Ennis confessed to accusing a previous boyfriend of domestic violence when he attempted to break up with her in 2011, per Barrows (on Twitter). Ennis also initially told police she’d sustained injuries in a physical altercation with another woman outside a bar, but when on the witness stand, she said this fight occurred after a road-rage incident.
Foster also faces a felony charge of possessing an assault weapon. Foster legally purchased this weapon, Sig Sauer 516, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, in Alabama. But the weapon is illegal in California. Prosecution argued Foster had not safely stored this weapon, with Ennis directing law enforcement to a bathroom floor where it was located. This charge could end up being dropped to a misdemeanor, per Maiocco.
Additionally, Foster is still facing a second-degree marijuana possession charge in Alabama after being arrested in January. Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets that Foster is due in court June 20 for this less misdemeanor charge.
49ers DL Arik Armstead Has Surgery
49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead is recovering from minor foot surgery, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The good news is that Rapoport’s source says teh procedure was a minor cleanup and he should be fine for most, if not all, of the spring drills. 
However, it’s a situation to keep an eye on as injuries have cut Armstead’s past two seasons short. In 2016, a shoulder injury cost him half of the season. Then, last year, he missed ten games after injuring his hand. He’s now dealing with some type of foot issue after the Niners exercised his $9.046MM option for the 2019 season, which is guaranteed for injury.
If Armstead misses time but heals up is able to pass a physical before the season starts, the Niners can still get out of their obligation for 2019. But, if he doesn’t get the green light from doctors, the 49ers will be forced to keep him at a salary of $9.046MM.
Armstead has played defensive tackle in the past, but last year he lined up at end in defensive coordinator Robert Saleh‘s 4-3 scheme. Had he been classified as a defensive tackle, his ’19 option would have been worth $7.154MM, about $1.9MM less than his scheduled rate.
Although the injuries have been frustrating, Armstead has been effective at creating pressure when on the field. Last year, he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 44 ranked edge defender, which paints a more accurate picture of his performance than his total of 1.5 sacks. PFF’s ranking put him roughly in the same range as notables like Michael Bennett, Ezekiel Ansah, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Bruce irvin.