San Francisco 49ers
Justin Smith - #94 - DT
| Status | Active |
| Height/Weight | 6' 4"/ 285 lbs. |
| Birthday | 09/30/1979 |
| Birthplace | Jefferson City, MO |
| College | Missouri |
| Years played | 13 |
| Drafted | 2001, 1st round, 4th pick by Bengals |
Niners RB Coffee shockingly calls it quits
Second-year RB Glen Coffee has announced that he is retiring from football, seemingly catching everybody connected with the team off guard.
Niners C Heitmann suffers broken leg
The Niners' revamped offensive line suffered a blow Monday when veteran starting C Eric Hietmann suffered a broken fibula that is expected to keep him sidelined from 6-8 weeks.
Ex-Saint Jackson no longer 'the other guy'
Rickey Jackson has sometimes been "the other guy," not getting the recognition he deserved. That changed, however, when he was elected to the Hall of Fame.
Niners newcomer Ginn looking like good catch
Ted Ginn Jr. was obtained from Miami primarily to upgrade the Niners’ woeful kick-return game. But a lot more attention is being paid early in training camp to Ginn's impressive work as a receiver.
Rice's resolve earned him place in history
Jerry Rice had obvious physical skills, but what set him apart was his drive to do whatever it took to be the very best, enabling him to overcome a shaky start to his NFL career.
Niners sign first-round pick Iupati
The 49ers finished up a very busy Friday morning with the signing of first-round OG Mike Iupati to a five-year contract. Earlier in the day, the Niners signed three other 2010 draft picks — first-round OT Anthony Davis, second-round S Taylor ...
Niners sign rookies Davis, Mays, Bowman
The 49ers announced Friday that they have signed first-round OT Anthony Davis to a five-year contract and second-round S Taylor Mays and third-round LB Navorro Bowman to four-year deals.
Top 20 key players in NFC West
Dan Arkush identifies the top five players on each NFC West team who figure to play crucial roles, including Rams rookie QB Sam Bradford.
NFC West training-camp reports
In the final installment of our training-camp reports, we look at NFC West teams, including the Seahawks, who'll use Aaron Curry as a stand-up end.
Niners' Franklin unlikely to hold out
With a $7 million salary due him as a franchise free agent, 49ers NT Aubrayo Franklin is expected to report to training camp, our "Whispers" indicate.
Niners' new O-line coaches earning keep
There's no denying the instant impact being provided by Niners new offensive line coach Mike Solari and new assistant O-line coach and former Niners starting OG Ray Brown.
49ers sign rookie TE Byham
The 49ers have signed sixth-round TE Nate Byham to a four-year deal. The 6-4, 265-pound Byham becomes the fourth of eight 2010 draft picks to sign.
Lions bring back CB Bly
The Lions have announced they have signed free-agent CB Dré Bly, who played four seasons with the team previously.
Niners buzz picking up steam
Even though the pro football world is currently in shutdown mode, there’s no shutting down the Niners optimism currently flourishing in the City by the Bay.
Niners' OLB competition will be worth watching
The most intriguing position to watch in the 49ers' training camp probably will be left outside linebacker, where incumbent Manny Lawson could have his work cut out for him holding off up-and-comer Ahmad Brooks.
PLAYER NEWS
Smith will be out Sunday night for the 49ers because of an elbow injury, ending his streak of consecutive starts at 185.|||||||
With Smith out, the 49ers will start Ricky Jean Francois at defensive end against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. The 49ers will also be without backup linebacker Clark Haggans with a shoulder injury.
Smith was ejected after making contact with umpire Garth DeFelice following a play against San Diego in a 34-7 loss on Thursday night.|||||||
The lineman was in an argument with at least one Chargers player when he appeared to shove DeFelice, who was trying to keep him out of the scuffle.
The 49ers signed the free-agent defensive end Smith on Saturday in a move they hope will bolster their pass rush.|||||||
Smith, the No. 4 overall pick by Cincinnati in 2001, had 43 1/2 sacks in seven seasons with the Bengals and was one of the top pass rushers available on the free agent market this season. His deal is reportedly for six years and is worth $45 million, including $20 million in guarantees.
The Bengals on Tuesday re-signed Smith, their leading tackler on the defensive line, for the season after designating him as their franchise player in February.|||||||
Cincinnati said it is talking to Smith about a long-term deal. Smith is a productive player, and keeping him around is a smart move for a Bengals team that allowed an average of 27.0 points en route to losing their last three games last season, missing the playoffs. The seven-year pro has led Cincinnati's line in tackles in each of the last five seasons.
Smith, who has led Cincinnati's line in tackles in each of the last five seasons, was designated as the Bengals' franchise player Thursday. Smith would have become an unrestricted free agent March 2 if he doesn't reach a contract agreement with the Bengals before then. The franchise tag means the Bengals could keep Smith by matching any offer sheet he signed with another team.|||||||
Smith had 110 tackles in the 2006 season and ranked second on the team in sacks with 7.5.