Give ‘em a break
During the San Francisco 49ers’ bye week, Dennis Erickson wants his players to get as far away as possible from their burgeoning disaster of a season. Erickson could use a bit of rest as well, but that’s not part of the job description.
“Nobody gets used to anything like this,” Erickson said. “It’s hard for everyone involved. Nobody does these things on purpose. Nobody fumbles on purpose, nobody misses tackles on purpose. When you play hard and prepare like we all do and lose close games, it becomes hard.”
After blowing a 14-point lead in a 22-14 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, the 49ers (1-5) are off to their worst start since 1979 and Erickson’s worst start in six NFL seasons. It’s a young, inexpensive team with a rash of serious injuries and no front-office direction – all in all, a recipe for the longest season of Erickson’s life.
At least he’s taking it with a sense of humor: Erickson joked Monday about “the 200 years that I’ve coached here in the past month.”
After the offseason departures of seven offensive starters in the franchise’s much-criticized salary purge, Erickson knew that even matching last season’s 7-9 record would be difficult.
And the year has been every bit as tough as he expected: Without a frantic rally from a 16-point deficit for an overtime win over Arizona, the 49ers would be winless entering their off week.
Erickson has worked to keep his players upbeat despite being overmatched nearly every week so far this season. San Francisco kept it close in three of the losses, and the coaches have emphasized the positive aspects in an effort to avoid despair.
But the bye week arrives at an opportune time for the 49ers, who have nearly a third of their roster on the injury report. Quarterback Tim Rattay was the latest addition with a strained muscle in his forearm – not the same muscle that hindered him earlier in the season, but a new injury in nearly the same spot.
“I was surprised that he could play (Sunday),” Erickson said of Rattay, who went 18 of 28 for 286 yards against the Jets. “We’ll rest him this week, and hopefully he’s ready to go next week.”
Heavy action on trade deadline
Jerry Rice and Keenan McCardell switched teams Tuesday, when there actually were deals at the NFL trading deadline for the first time in five years.
By 1 p.m. PDT, when the deadline officially arrived, Dallas had sent Antonio Bryant to Cleveland for Quincy Morgan and the 34-year-old McCardell, who had been holding out, was sent from Tampa Bay to San Diego.
The last time there were trades at the deadline was in 1999, when Miami sent running back Abdul-Karim Al-Jabbar to Cleveland and Tampa Bay traded defensive end Regan Upshaw to Jacksonville, in both cases for draft picks.
The two biggest deadline day trades of the last two decades involved running backs Herschel Walker in 1989 and Eric Dickerson two years earlier.
McCardell, who led the Buccaneers last season with 84 catches for 1,174 yards and eight touchdowns, was sent to San Diego for third- and sixth-round draft picks next season.
“I have been working hard every day to stay in peak physical condition, and I am prepared to come in and make an immediate contribution,” said McCardell. “I could not be happier with this trade.”
The Bryant-Morgan trade, a rare player-for-player deal, involved two young wide receivers who were unhappy with their lack of playing time.
Bryant, who had been the Cowboys’ third wide receiver behind Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn, landed in coach Bill Parcells’ doghouse during a workout in June, when he threw a sweaty jersey at Parcells’ face. Bryant has 16 catches for 266 yards this season.
Morgan caught three touchdown passes this season but was disappointed with his reduced role over the last 1 1/2 seasons.
Chargers lose Caldwell
The San Diego Chargers lost one wide receiver and gained two others.
Shortly after signing free agent Bobby Shaw, and while they were finalizing a deal for Pro Bowler Keenan McCardell just before the NFL trading deadline, the Chargers found out that Reche Caldwell has a torn ligament in his right knee and will miss the rest of the season.
Caldwell, who was hurt in Sunday’s 21-20 loss at Atlanta, is expected to have surgery in the next few days to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Sharpe pleads guilt to drug count
Former Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Luis Sharpe pleaded guilty in Phoenix to a felony count of possession of narcotic drugs.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Mark Santana accepted the plea bargain and scheduled Sharpe’s sentencing for Nov. 18. Sharpe, who played with the Cardinals from 1982-94, faces a minimum sentence of 2 1/2 years in prison.
In exchange, the prosecution dropped other pending drug charges and an allegation of probation violation that could have sent Sharpe to prison for 15 years.
Sharpe, 43, was arrested April 13 by officers who reported seeing him buying drugs. The former All-Pro lineman allegedly threw a large bag of cocaine out of his car as officers moved in.
Around the league
Linebacker Nick Rogers was re-signed by the Green Bay Packers, who waived cornerback James Whitley. … The Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver Patrick Johnson to his second stint with the team.