49ers Blog and Q&A

Well, we're back to staking out 49ers heaquarters for any news. Maiocco even brought a pair of binoculars. So far, all we've learned is that Nolan has called for a coaches' meeting at noon. Not sure if this is a routine, end-of-season meeting or something more significant. Whenever there's news, it'll be posted here.

** At 2:38 p.m., Scot McCloughan left the building. He didn't stop as much as slow down, but McCloughan said, "There's no news. We're still meeting."

** At 2:42 p.m., offensive coordinator Jim Hostler emerged and talked with quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti at his car. "Still going through the process," Hostler said of the meetings. Asked if he'll be back today, he said, "Oh yeah."

** At 2:48 p.m., receivers coach Jerry Sullivan left and indicated that the meetings were over. Asked if he was still with the team, Sullivan said, "As far as I know."

** At 2:55 p.m., tight ends coach Pete Hoener (a personal favorite) walked out to his truck and then back inside. Hoener said the meeting were ongoing and that he was hoping they'd be over by 4:30 or so. What are they talking about? "Just shooting the s---," Hoener said. So far, only the offensive coaches have left the building.

** At 3:24 p.m., McCloughan's BMW returns to its parking spot. McCloughan pops out and is back in the building. The meetings seem to go on and on and on and on and ...

** At 4:11 p.m., Mike Singletary left the building. He still maintains he has not
heard from other teams regarding their head coaching openings. Asked if Mike Nolan was running the team's meetings today, Singletary begged off the question, suggesting that we talk to Nolan himself, which is an excellent suggestion. If only Nolan would make an appearance ...

** At 5:30 p.m., Lal Heneghan, the team's VP of football operations, left for the day. If the pattern is the same as yesterday, the Yorks will leave next followed by the Nolans.

** At 6:42 p.m.; Well, this is the worst Groundhog Day in the history of sports journalism. Jed York just left for the night. He honked twice before saying, "Nothing to say. Good night." He was followed out the gate by the Nolans. Said Mike Nolan: "Happy New Year, guys. I'll see you in the morning."

** At 8:02 p.m., John York left for the day. Did he stop? Well, he slowed down to say "Hi guys" before hitting the accelerator. He did not elaborate.

** It's now 9:12 p.m. Barrows is beat. I'm fully expecting there will be a press conference tomorrow and I'm fulling expecting that Mike Nolan -- if he doesn't conduct it -- will be a major participant. Which is to say that Nolan will be back in 2008. During that press conference, Nolan certainly will be peppered with questions about changes to his authority. As of right now, however, there has been zero indication that there has been a major shakeup.

*** Man, that Georgia-Hawaii game turned out to be a major Dawg. And my Cavaliers lost, too. Looks like I'll be deleting that from the Tivo as soon as I get home.

In the meantime, here are some guys to check out in the USC-Illinois game later today. USC might have as many as five guys taken in the first round:

OT Sam Baker
DT Sedrick Ellis
DE Lawrence Jackson
MLB Rey Maualuga
LB Keith Rivers
Maualuga looks like he would be a perfect fit at "Ted" linebacker, but he probably won't last long enough for the Niners to select him

Illinois:
SS Justin Harrison
MLB Jeremy Leman
OT Akim Millington
SS Kevin Mitchell

McCloughan got back to me regarding the guys to watch out for in the Sugar Bowl game between Hawaii and Georgia.

Hawaii:
15 Colt Brennan QB
67 Mike Lafaele NT
84 Jason Rivers WR
65 Hercules Satele G

Georgia:
67 Chester Adams G
20 Thomas Brown RB
96 Brandon Coutu K
38 Marcus Howard DE
6 Kregg Lumpkin RB

-- Matt Barrows