****Update: 9:45 a.m. ***** Running back Kendall Hunter will attend the symposium, not the 49ers minicamp, his agent said. The fourth-round pick was on hand for the minicamp that was held earlier this month.
The 49ers minicamp this week has created a dilemma for the team's offensive rookies - attend the camp and continue to get an education on the offensive playbook or take an expense-paid trip to Bradenton, Fla. for a four-day rookie symposium.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, for one, has decided to stay put, according to his agent. The second-round draft pick is nearly recovered from a surgical procedure early last month and is eager to take part in this week's four-day camp. Kaepernick has begun dropping back from center, which was one of the final steps in his rehabilitation process.
Kaepernick, who moved to the Bay Area in May, was able to take warm-up throws during the 49ers' June 6-9 camp, but he gave way to Alex Smith and David Carr when the practices commenced. Five out of the 49ers' six offensive rookies attended the earlier sessions. The only one who didn't was seventh-round pick Bruce Miller, a defensive end from Central Florida who is being converted to fullback.
It's not yet known which 49ers rookies will be on hand this week. However, wide receiver Ronald Johnson and guard Mike Person were working out at San Jose State last week. So was first-round pick Aldon Smith. The defensive players may be more involved with this week's minicamp than they were the previous one, but because they do not have playbooks they will not be working on anything specific.
The rookie symposium, meanwhile, has been a mandatory event that has been praised by teams and players alike for preparing incoming players for life in the NFL. This year's symposium initially was wiped away by the lockout, but the players' association is holding a replacement event at IMG Academies in Florida.
According to Scout.com, about 70 percent of the 254 players selected in this year's draft are expected to attend.
-- Matt Barrows
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