49ers Players-Only Minicamp: Eric Heitmann Still Not Cleared To Practice

by David Fucillo on Jun 5, 2011 6:00 AM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

Starting tomorrow, the San Francisco 49ers will begin a players-only minicamp featuring offensive players. While the full participant list is not available, tweets and reports have indicated some of the players that will be present. Vernon Davis tweeted that he'll be attending and Barrows indicated at least five rookies attending, including Colin Kaepernick, Kendall Hunter, Ronald Johnson, Daniel Kilgore and Michael Person.

One player not expected to attend is center Eric Heitmann. 2010 was a nightmare season for the 49ers center as he missed the beginning of the season with a fractured fibula, and the rest of the season with a neck injury. I don't recall seeing any specifics about his neck injury, but there were no reports of surgery. However, the injury continues to be an issue as he has not yet been medically cleared to practice.

Alex Smith said the practices this week would be fairly basic without any offense versus defense drills. Nonetheless, practicing brings an inherent risk of injury. Even if the team is just walking through and doing some basic drills, it makes sense for Heitmann to sit out until he's been medically cleared. I

Thus far as teams have begun working out, there hasn't been any word of injuries, serious or otherwise. Given how easily some of these injuries can happen, I wouldn't be surprised if news broke of a player suffering some sort of injury. And if it's a particularly catastrophic injury (e.g. ACL injury), the media will jump all over it. If such an injury does occur it suddenly brings up the issue of coverage once football returns. If a player blows out his knee or breaks a bone during these lockout practices, will all hell break loose once the lockout is over?

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I like that CK7 is getting to throw to RoJo

by texasniner06 on Jun 5, 2011 8:19 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

I wonder as a player and not a coach how you go about lining people up with out disrespecting someone? like for example if heitman and baas participated who would alex smith want at center?. Smith may think Heitman is better but Baas may feel like he earned the starting spot.

by RBoogy29 on Jun 5, 2011 8:55 AM PDT reply actions

I heard Crabtree is going to practice on Monday.

Kellen Moore is awesome
Katie Mcgrath is our savior
Im not competitive I just addicted to winning.

by manraj7 on Jun 5, 2011 9:56 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

from who?

by reedkrase on Jun 5, 2011 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Espn

Kellen Moore is awesome
Katie Mcgrath is our savior
Im not competitive I just addicted to winning.

by manraj7 on Jun 5, 2011 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Injuries and Liability

Should a player get injured, serious or otherwise, during these practices, there will certainly be some interesting legal issues as to liability and coverage, should a team refuse to provide medical care. I see this to be a bigger issue among guys who already are fighting for roster spots. Drafted, yet unsigned rookies will present an even bigger issue – they won’t be able to base a claim on any sort of contractual relationship. For players under contract, I imagine waiver and estoppel would be argued – as no team has objected to these practices, they should be seen as sanctioned by the teams…

Should be interesting.

"Aaaaaaaal Apalachicola"

by bonbrillio on Jun 5, 2011 11:09 AM PDT reply actions

estoppel/waiver

The teams are not allowed to object to the practices as far as I can tell. The whole issue of not commenting on the players (as imposed by the league).

Also, each NFL team sent a letter to their players that included a statement that the league and teams would not be liable for any injuries sustained during the lockout even if they come through training. I’ll get the letter posted today or tomorrow.

by David Fucillo on Jun 5, 2011 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Major Props

To Alex Smith of all people to be a leader for site decorum once and be a website decorum leader!

Man is taking the responsibility he should have
TOOK when he was two years younger. Speak out! Take your site decorum cake and eat every bite.

He may suck but we owe him no boo’s when he steps onto the field for what that man has done for us. Bravo.

by 49erfannm on Jun 5, 2011 11:10 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

I'm no Smith fan...

but I truly hope he can figure it out this year. Everything we’ve seen and heard over the years indicates that he’s a good kid. He “works his tail off” and has never been in trouble with the top brass, save for one incident when he spoke out after Nolan basically called him a pVssy. In the interest supporting the niners and our new coach, I hope the fans are patient enough to wait a few games before they boo him out of the stadium if he struggles early. Not making excuses for him. But if Alex succeeds this year, the niners will likely follow and Harbaugh will look like a genius… whether we decide to bring him back in 2012 or not..

It's not whether you win or lose... no, wait... of course it is!

Vote Bill Ring into the Pro Football Special Teams Hall of Fame!

I attended 49ers V Broncos at Wembley! You may thank me now.

by W.Tyler #26 Kicks @$$ on Jun 6, 2011 3:13 AM PDT up reply actions