Emtman Released 49ers Didn’t Receive What They Expected

Defensive tackle Steve Emtman’s star-crossed NFL career ran into another dead-end Sunday.

The 27-year-old Emtman, top pick in the 1992 draft, was among eight players released by the San Francisco 49ers to get down to the season-opening 53-player limit.

The release of Emtman, the former Cheney High School and University of Washington star, who never realized his potential in the NFL because of a series of devastating injuries, was not a surprise.

Defensive coordinator John Marshall said late last week that Emtman needed a solid performance in San Francisco’s preseason finale Saturday night at Denver to secure a roster spot. But Emtman, playing much of the second half, failed to assert himself, getting pushed around by the Broncos’ second-string blockers.

“I think we were looking for him to be a little quicker and stronger and more active inside,” 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said. “While at times it showed in practice, it didn’t happen often enough in games. We were just looking for more.”

Emtman, who won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s outstanding lineman at Washington, was drafted first overall five years ago by the Indianapolis Colts. But that proved to be the highlight of his career.

His rookie campaign came to an abrupt end when he suffered a knee injury, missing the final seven games. He blew out his other knee his sophomore year and was released by the Colts in July 1995 having appeared in only 18 of 48 games during his three years in Indianpolis.

Emtman moved on to Miami, where he played for two years, largely as a backup, but was released in February in a cost-cutting move.

During a five-year career, Emtman has only eight sacks.