It sounds as if someone - might rhyme with "Scarbaugh" - spoke with Brandon Jacobs between yesterday and today.
The big running back struck a decidedly different tone today than on Wednesday when he told USA Today he was healthy enough to be playing and was frustrated he hadn't gotten on the field this season. Today he said that getting healthy and being productive later in the season trumped everything, including facing his former team, the Giants, on Sunday.
Jacobs said he spoke with coach Jim Harbaugh a couple of times in the last two days.
"We ironed it out," he said. "We got it done. I understand where coach is coming from. Coach understands me with him playing football and understanding the athlete and the competitive nature of wanting to get out and help the team win. And not only that, against a former team. But in this case, the former team isn't important. What's is important is the long run."
Jacobs repeatedly said he had a "rare opportunity" to get 100 percent healthy after suffering a knee injury during an Aug. 18 preseason game.
"And with me being down for the last seven weeks, I've got to work myself back into playing shape," Jacobs said. "I've got to get myself mentally ready to go out and be able to perform and help my team win. Right now, could I go out and play? Yes. But would it be smart? No."
On Wednesday he told USA Today that he could have played against the Jets and Bills. He returned to practice the week before the Jets game and was a full participant in practice leading up to the Bills game. If he didn't play against the Giants, with whom he spent his first seven seasons? "It would disappoint me a lot," he told the paper. "But like I said, it's not my call."
Later today, perhaps channeling his head coach, Jacobs said: "There's not a lot of guys in the league who are 100 percent healthy. But a lot of those guys are playing because they have no choice but to play. They have to. In my case, I don't have to."
Jacobs also noted that he was injured when the 49ers made their final roster moves last month. The team has three other tailbacks, and it was obvious that by keeping him he figured into their long-term plans.
"That says a lot for this organization," he said. "And I'm going take the opportunity they're giving me to get myself 100 percent. And to get down deep in the season in December, January and February."
-- Matt Barrows
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