NFC 2009-2010 season: 49ers hit Packers 45-31

Ever considering that coach Jim Harbaugh gave second-year quarterbackColin Kaepernick the beginning nod above hot-handed Alex Smith, the query has hovered more than the 49ers like a cloud.

Did Harbaugh make the ideal determination?

The impressive and elusive Kaepernick presented a resounding solution Saturday evening that has a record-setting functionality in the 45-31 victory more than the Packers inside a divisional playoff game at Candlestick Park.

On the evening when Kaepernick became Keepernick, the 49ers quarterback torched the Packers with his arm and his feet, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for two.

He scored on runs of twenty and 56 yards. The 56-yarder was the longest run by a quarterback from the playoffs, surpassing a 51-yard run from the Titans' Steve McNair in Jan. 2000.

"Guy's taking part in football, guy, he's which makes it take place," 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree mentioned of Kaepernick. "He's a playmaker."

Kaepernick also shattered Michael Vick's mark of 119 yards rushing -- the prior postseason rushing record by a quarterback -- by using a game-high 181 yards on 16 carries.

"The offense that we now have generates a whole lot of confusion along with the quarterback we've got who can run as quick as he can," mentioned tackle Joe Staley, a part of an offense that gained 323 yards within the ground and 579 complete. "He could also throw the ball downfield. We would like to move the chains any way we will, but it truly is wonderful to move the ball along with the ground game."

Kaepernick received off to a bumpy get started ¡§C his 2nd pass was intercepted and run back 52 yards for the touchdown ¡§C but he hardly ever lost his composure, upstaging Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the NFL's reigning most beneficial player.

"Anytime your teammates have self confidence in you plus they truly feel superior about what you happen to be undertaking, it can make you're feeling like you happen to be accomplishing the proper items," Kaepernick stated.

The Packers had been outscored 21-0, within the 2nd half and had two turnovers that led to 49ers touchdowns.

"It's quite aggravating," explained Rodgers, who threw for 257 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. "To go out and perform like that is certainly disappointing. We did not do adequate on offense to aid our defense."

For that 2nd consecutive season, San Francisco has sophisticated towards the NFC championship game the place it is going to encounter the winner of Sunday's game concerning the Seahawks and Falcons.

"They competed like maniacs," Harbaugh stated of his gamers, "and now we have received yet another week of get the job done."

It had been a large day for that Harbaugh family members, with Jim's older brother, John, coaching the Ravens to a double-overtime win at Denver.

"That was a actual football battle," Jim explained of your Ravens' 38-35 victory. "Had an opportunity to view a few of it in advance of our game. Really feel good for John and his crew."

The Packers saw their season open and near with losses on the 49ers. They dropped their opener to San Francisco 30-22 at Lambeau Field.

Saturday's rematch featured Rodgers, a 49ers fan in Northern California who wore a Joe Montana T-shirt beneath his pads like a kid, and Kaepernick, who was born in Milwaukee and grew up idolizing Brett Favre.

Crabtree caught two touchdown passes to the 49ers, and Frank Gore and Anthony Dixon just about every ran for any score.

In spite of it staying his 1st postseason commence, Kaepernick was unflappable, even immediately after the pick-six interception to begin the game. He came back within the following possession and orchestrated an eight-play, 80-yard drive that ended with his 20-yard keeper to get a
touchdown. That came on third-and-8, and -- contrary to his longer touchdown run -- was not a planned run for him.

"Man-to-man coverage, they doubled Crab, broke down and I saw a operating lane," the quarterback explained that has a shrug.

Place basically by Packers receiver Greg Jennings: "We lost to a superior crew these days."

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Theme for '13: Excellent expectations

Watch closely, people. The 2013 NASCAR season is going to be one particular to bear in mind.

I am counting on it, if not betting on it.

A number of points are likely to transpire in NASCAR this year which have never ever occurred just before. As well as a couple of items may possibly transpire that nobody has witnessed in quite a few many years.

Let us commence which has a couple of certain matters, or just about certain factors:

" 43 many years ago -- The final time NASCAR raced on dirt. It had been Sept. 30, 1970, about the fairgrounds in Raleigh, N.C. Richard Petty won for the 1-mile oval.

NASCAR goes vintage racing this year having a Camping Planet Truck Series occasion to the dirt at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, a half-mile oval owned by Tony Stewart.

This race will probably be one of many most anticipated occasions with the season. It requires spot on July 24, a Wednesday evening ahead of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis (90 miles away) 4 days later on.

The field will probably be restricted to 30 trucks. Eldora has 16,000 seats, but extra grandstands will probably be brought in for any most likely sellout crowd.

" A female initially -- No lady ever has run a complete Cup season, except for your six-race inaugural NASCAR season in 1949, when Sara Christian raced in all 6 occasions.

She completed 13th total, greatest ever for the girl, but a six-race season hardly counts by today's requirements.

Danica Patrick will grow to be the primary lady in the contemporary era to race a total Cup routine (barring injury or suspension) this season when she runs total time for Stewart-Haas Racing.

By modern day specifications, Janet Guthrie posted the ideal ranking to get a female when she completed 23rd while in the 1977 standings even though operating 19 of 30 occasions, earning 4 top-10s.

Equaling that mark can be a tall activity for Patrick, but not extremely hard. Bobby Labonte was 23rd inside the 2012 standings with two top-5s and an common finish of 22.six. Patrick will likely be within a greater motor vehicle (Hendrick Motorsports tools) than Labonte has.

Right here are numerous other factors that may occur to the to start with time within a lengthy time and a few some others that might be a 1st in NASCAR:

" 51 many years ago -- The 1962 season marked the final time NASCAR had 3 consecutive seasons the place a group proprietor won a Cup title for your initially time.

It's going to take place this year if Michael Waltrip Racing claims its 1st title with both Clint Bowyer or Martin Truex Jr. Each males produced the 2012 Chase, and Bowyer completed because the championship runner-up to Brad Keselowski.

"We possess the capability to enhance on our accomplishment from final season," stated Scott Miller, MWR's vice president of competitors. "We produced a system final season to acquire from point A to point B, and we identified a great deal of achievement together with the system. We'll make use of the identical procedure to assist us using the improvement from the 2013 motor vehicle.

"Toyota Racing Improvement is functioning truly difficult within the engines to provide us additional reliability and even more energy. I believe we will elevate our plan this season and compete for the championship once more."

Stewart's 2011 title was the very first Cup crown for Stewart-Haas Racing. Keselowski gave Roger Penske his long-awaited Cup championship in 2012.

Rex White (1960), Ned Jarrett (1961) and Joe Weatherly (1962) gave crew owners first-time championships half a century ago. The fascinating point is all 3 of them ran races in individuals championship many years for in excess of a single group proprietor, not unusual in these days.

" 32 many years ago -- Darrell Waltrip won the 1981 title in his initially season driving for Junior Johnson. Nobody has carried out it due to the fact, but Matt Kenseth includes a great shot at it this year in his initially season for Joe Gibbs Racing.

" 17 many years ago -- The 1996 season was the sole time a driver won the championship twelve many years eliminated from his final one particular. Terry Labonte did it at Hendrick Motorsports. Jeff Gordon could equal the feat this year for boss Rick Hendrick. Gordon's fourth and final Cup title came in 2001.

" 14 many years ago -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his 2nd consecutive Nationwide title (the Busch Series in the time) in 1999. That was the final time the Earnhardt title had a championship banner.

You will find two strategies that may take place this year. Earnhardt could win the Cup crown in what may possibly be his most effective likelihood ever. And Regan Smith could win the Nationwide title driving his initial total season for JR Motorsports.

" 13 many years ago -- Bobby Labonte's Cup championship in 2000 was the final time NASCAR had a driver who was the brother of the champion win a title within the very same series.

Ty Dillon could win the Camping Globe Truck Series crown this year, two seasons just after his brother, Austin Dillon, won it.

Austin also is often a contender for your Nationwide Series title this year, so they could grow to be the very first brothers to win titles within the exact same season.

" ten many years ago -- Brian Vickers won the Nationwide title in 2003. He's among the favorites to win it this year in his very first season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. If he does, he'll develop into the 1st guy to win championships while in the series ten many years apart.

" Back-to-back titles in two series -- That hardly ever has occurred, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr. includes a shot at it this year. Granted, it can be an extended shot, but he's driving a top quality auto for any group that produced the Chase final year. Stenhouse, who won the previous two Nationwide titles, replaces Kenseth at Roush Fenway Racing.

Keselowski and Greg Biffle came near to accomplishing this feat. Keselowski's Cup crown final year came two many years right after he won the 2010 Nationwide title. Biffle won the 2002 Nationwide championship two many years soon after winning the CWTS title.

Keselowski and Bobby Labonte will be the only Nationwide champs (up to now) who went on to win a Cup title.

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Seau Suffered From Brain Condition

The findings had been constant with persistent traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain illness extensively linked to athletes that have absorbed regular blows on the head, the N.I.H. stated inside a statement. Seau will be the most recent and most prominent player to become related together with the condition, which has bedeviled the sport in recent times like a proliferation of reports have exposed the feasible long-term cognitive effect of head injuries sustained around the field.

"The sort of findings noticed in Mr. Seau's brain happen to be just lately reported in autopsies of men and women with exposure to repetitive head injury," the N.I.H. mentioned, "including qualified and amateur athletes who played get hold of sports activities, folks with many concussions, and veterans exposed to blast injury along with other trauma."

Considering the fact that C.T.E. was diagnosed within the brain on the former Eagles defensive back Andre Waters following his suicide in 2006, the illness continues to be located in almost each and every former player whose brain was examined posthumously. (C.T.E. is usually diagnosed only posthumously.)

Researchers at Boston University, who pioneered the research of C.T.E., have located it in 18 with the 19 brains of former N.F.L. gamers they've got examined.

The N.I.H. started its examination of Seau's brain tissue in July. Moreover to currently being reviewed by two federal neuropathologists, Seau's brain was reviewed by 3 outdoors neuropathology specialists who didn't have awareness with the supply on the tissue. On preliminary examination "the brain looked typical," based on the N.I.H. It had been not until finally medical professionals looked beneath the microscope and applied staining procedures the C.T.E. abnormalities have been noticed.

Every single in the neuropathologists examined tissue samples from 3 unidentified brains. The selection with regards to Seau's brain was "unanimous," based on the N.I.H. They identified "abnormal, modest clusters known as neurofibrillary tangles of the protein called tau inside numerous areas of Mr. Seau's brain," based on the statement. Tau continues to be uncovered within the brains of these with Alzheimer's ailment as well as other progressive neurological issues. The health professionals also uncovered a tiny area while in the left frontal lobe of Seau's brain with proof of scarring that's "consistent using a tiny, old, traumatic brain injury."

"I feel it is vital for everybody to understand that Junior did certainly are afflicted by C.T.E.," Seau's ex-wife, Gina, stated in an interview with ABC News and ESPN. "It's vital that we consider measures to aid these gamers. We undoubtedly never choose to see anything at all like this transpire once again to any of our athletes." Shortly soon after Seau's death of the self-inflicted gunshot wound towards the chest at his Oceanside, Calif., household in May possibly, members of his family members announced they would donate his brain towards the N.I.H. to get studied. The release with the effects Thursday was on the request with the family members, the N.I.H. mentioned.

For almost a decade, a lot of your groundbreaking perform while in the examine of head trauma and its effect on athletes continues to be carried out on the Center to the Examine of Traumatic Encephalopathy on the Boston University College of Medication. The selection by Seau's family members to donate his brain for the N.I.H. was an acknowledgment the examine of head trauma has grown very well past the province of the handful of pathologists, and turn out to be a public well being situation of nationwide relevance. Financing to the study has expanded, as well; the N.F.L. donated $30 million on the N.I.H. as portion of its battle to tackle head trauma along with the long-term wellbeing concerns that stem from it. The prominence of soldiers returning from battlefields with head trauma has also prompted the Defense Division to perform a greater part.

"What's been coming out has raised plenty of concerns about public well being," mentioned Dr. Walter J. Koroshetz, the deputy director on the Nationwide Institute of Neurological Issues and Stroke, that is component of your N.I.H. and finances traumatic brain injury investigate. "What we've got now is usually a tip from the iceberg and we never know what is under."

The N.I.H. isn't the sole government organization learning head trauma. In September, the Nationwide Institute of Occupational Security and Overall health, which can be element of your Centers for Sickness Manage and Prevention, released a review that showed that a disproportionate quantity of guys who played at the least 5 seasons while in the N.F.L. from 1959 to 1988 created Alzheimer's sickness or Lou Gehrig's illness. Gamers in "speed" positions much more vulnerable to high-speed collisions had been 3 times much more probable to possess died because of a neurodegenerative sickness, based on the review. The Institute of Medication, that's element from the Nationwide Academies of Science, has also undertaken a 15-month investigation into sports-related concussions sustained by youthful athletes.

Researchers and advocates for retired gamers who now have degenerative brain ailments welcome the government's better function, in aspect as a consequence of its deep pockets and capability to shine a brighter light on the complex subject. Currently, the improved focus to the challenge has manufactured it less complicated to obtain athletes and soldiers to commit to donating their brains to science.

"That's what the C.T.E. field desires, funding and interest from the country's best scientists," stated Chris Nowinski, the executive director of your Sports activities Legacy Institute along with the co-director from the Center for that Review of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University College of Medication. "Our researchers are fantastic, but there is additional do the job that has to be performed."

Seau's suicide was one among various by former N.F.L. gamers, which includes Waters, raising concern about head injuries within the sport. In February 2011, Dave Duerson, a former Chicago Bears player, shot himself within the chest, saying inside a note that he needed his brain donated for analysis. Physicians established that Duerson had C.T.E.

Duerson's son, Tregg, is suing the N.F.L., claiming the league didn't meaningfully warn gamers with regards to the possible hazards of concussions.

Ray Easterling, a security to the Atlanta Falcons during the 1970s and also a plaintiff inside a lawsuit against the league in excess of its managing of concussion-related injuries, died of the self-inflicted gunshot wound two weeks prior to Seau. 1000s of gamers and their spouses have joined the suit.

"The obtaining underscores the acknowledged will need for extra study to accelerate a fuller comprehending of C.T.E.," the N.F.L. explained Thursday inside a statement. Pointing for the funds it has committed for the N.I.H. along with the $100 million the league ideas to invest in healthcare exploration, the N.F.L. extra, "We have operate to undertake, and we're accomplishing it."

The final group Seau played for, the New England Patriots, is preparing for any playoff game against the Houston Texans on Sunday. Gamers asked about Seau on Thursday expressed sympathy but didn't dwell for the news.

"It's the playoffs proper now, so that is the least of our issues appropriate now," offensive lineman Logan Mankins explained. "You could likely say we're meatheaded and ignorant to not take into consideration it, but possibly in February, soon after the season, we will contemplate that."

More than his 20-year N.F.L. job, Seau played for 3 teams, most prominently the San Diego Chargers, and produced twelve Pro Bowls. He played in two Super Bowls and was named on the 1990s All-Decade Group through the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Just after he retired from football following the 2009 season, Seau, generally a cheery presence in and close to San Diego, was recognized for his operate with his foundation and his restaurant. But pals explained they struggled to comprehend several of Seau's darker moments. In October 2010, he drove his sport utility automobile off a cliff along the seaside in Carlsbad, Calif., the place it landed some one hundred feet beneath the roadside. Seau claimed he fell asleep, however the timing seemed odd. That morning he had been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.

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