49ers sign K Ricky Schmitt

The 49ers announced the signing of kicker Ricky Schmitt to the 53-man roster.  Kicker Joe Nedney injured his hamstring against the Eagles and the team was awaiting the results of an MRI to determine the next step.  The injury is apparently not so bad as to end Nedney's season (even though there are only 2 games left).  In order to make room for Schmitt, yesterday the team released defensive tackle Baraka Atkins.  Atkins had originally been signed December 9 when Kentwan Balmer was placed on the injured reserve list.

Schmitt (6-3, 210) originally signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent following the 2007 Draft, before being release at the end of training camp. He signed with the 49ers in January of 2008, and was released on the final roster cut down of training camp. Schmitt was signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad on October 28, 2008, and was later released on November 1. The Oakland Raiders signed Schmitt to their practice squad on December 15, 2008, and he was with the team until the final cuts of the 2009 training camp.

Schmitt, a 24-year-old native of Virginia Beach, VA, played collegiately at Shepherd University, where he holds school records for scoring (250 points), field goals (33), extra points (151) and points in a season (80 in 2005).