Humphries Remains Troubled By Sore Shoulder

Stan Humphries was unable to throw at practice Thursday because of his bruised right shoulder, and the team likely will decide today if the San Diego quarterback can play this weekend against Dallas.

“I’ve got a little bit more range of motions with it, but it doesn’t have the strength it needs to have,” Humphries said. “I think what we’re going to try to do is basically rest it a bit, and hopefully it will progress a little bit more for (today). What the trainer doesn’t want to do is have it getting better, then go out there (Thursday) and take it all the back to step one.”

Humphries was hurt on Monday night.

Derisive Dolphin

Indianapolis is only the second team in NFL history to overcome deficits of 21 or more points twice in the same season, most recently against Miami.

But neither the Colts nor quarterback Jim Harbaugh impressed Miami defensive end Jeff Cross.

“He hasn’t beaten anybody all year,” Cross said. “We let him beat us … It was one of the worst teams we’ve faced all year.”

Loville’s pains

For a player who has done almost everything to answer his doubters in the first five weeks of the 49ers season, Derek Loville is still finding he has a lot to learn about life as an every-down running back.

Like the wisdom of wearing elbow pads.

Loville doesn’t like to wear them, finding them restrictive. But when he fell repeatedly on the infield at Candlestick Park, the elbow became a throbbing, swollen, infected mess.

“It was the constant banging, week after week, on the infield and then artificial turf, ” he said.

Last week came the antibiotics, but the cure was worse than the cause. Loville was sick all last weekend, and if the 49ers had had a game - rather than a bye - it’s doubtful he would have played.

The elbow has been drained three times, including Thursday morning, and finally now he can bend it. He’s listed as probable for Sunday’s game at Indianapolis.

“I’ve just got to wear this ugly, hockey elbow pad,” he said.

Ratings guide

Bob Glauber of the Sporting News listed the most overrated and underrated players.

His most overrated, in order: Eagles running back Ricky Watters, Saints receiver Michael Haynes, Lions tackle Henry Thomas, Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe, Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, Cardinals defensive end Clyde Simmons, Panthers linebackers Darion Conner and Lamar Lathon, Steelers running back Bam Morris, Falcons quarterback Jeff George and Patriots running back Dave Meggett.

On Bledsoe, Glauber wrote: “Please let me explain. First of all, I think Bledsoe is the best young quarterback out there and he’ll eventually go to the Hall of Fame. But let’s face it. The kid still needs to cut down on the interceptions before we pronounce him in a class with Marino, Elway, Young, et al.”

As for Kennedy, Glauber asks: “Wasn’t this guy supposed to be the player the Seahawks were going to build their defense around? Sure doesn’t seem like it.”

His most underrated players: Packers defensive tackle John Jurkovic, Chargers receiver Tony Martin, Browns defensive end Rob Burnett, 49ers cornerback Eric Davis, Bengals receiver Darnay Scott, Eagles defensive tackle Andy Harmon, Cowboys defensive end Charles Haley, Steelers linebacker Chad Brown, Rams linebacker Roman Phifer and Bears offensive tackle James Williams.

Glauber claims Haley is “as valuable to the Cowboys’ defense as Emmitt Smith is to the offense.”

Boomer blames refs

Boomer Esiason has blamed the on-field officials for the concussion he suffered in the New York Jets’ game last Sunday.

Esiason was knocked out on a hit by Bills defensive end Bruce Smith after Jets tackle Everett McIver made a swaying movement. The whistle didn’t blow until Smith was hitting Esiason.

“It’s the official’s fault,” the quarterback told the New York Daily News. “The official takes the flag out and sees the guy (McIver) moving. He’s supposed to blow the whistle and go running into the play and stop it, not throw the flag and then go running down the field and officiate the play.