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Good morning, everyone. The draft is behind us. Now we can finally get to the business of waiting for the season to begin. This is the longest part of the football year, people, and I dread it. At least Aussie Rules is up and going, so while you guys suffer, I'll be watching this. There's a lot of bums in there. And the first play is actually the umpire's footy instincts kicking in. He jumps in front of a player for the ball. Goofy stuff.
As for the news ... it's going to get slow. I'm going to try and include some unearthed links about some of our UDFAs and even some of the rookies to keep things moving. I'll look at local papers and anywhere else I can find. We'll see what I can come up with.
Quinton Patton
In case you haven't heard, rookie WR Quinton Patton bought himself a plane ticket with his own money and flew to the Bay Area to start practicing with the team. So eager was he, that he neglected to notice that by NFL rules, rookies aren't allowed to practice with the team until the Rookie Minicamp on May 10. They had to send him home. Coach Harbaugh must be smitten. | Quinton Patton is already Jim Harbaugh's favorite rookie (BASG)
Harbaugh shares epic draft story (49ers.com)
Rookie News
While Patton may have stolen the headlines and is being widely regarded as one of the steals of the draft, another selection, that of Corey Lemonier, may soon turn heads. He ran a 4.60 at the combine. Colin Kaepernick ran a 4.53. He's tall at 6'4" and may eventually make Ahmad Brooks expendable. We're getting ahead of ourselves here. | Niners hope Lemonier can flourish like Aldon Smith (NBC)
Tall tale: 49ers hope to develop small-school OT Luke Marquardt (Branch)
Okoye knows he's starting from scratch (PFT)
RB D.J. Harper part of 49ers' all-ACL team (Barrows)
Unearthed Nuggets
Former Boise State running back Harper signs with 49ers (Idaho Press-Tribune)
APU football player looked at by NFL (Luke Marquardt) (thecalause.org)
Assorted Links
So the offseason program is under way and Anquan Boldin has finally arrived. I'm so much more excited about our receiving corps going into this season than I was last year. | Boldin receives a Giants welcome (Maiocco)
Matt Maiocco takes a very early look at who are the favorites and who are the long shots to make our 53-man roster. | Early odds for 49ers' 53-man roster (Maiocco)
Football school in session (49ers.com)
Report: 49ers name Joel Patten as Director of Player Personnel (Gin)
49ers player personnel promotions (49ers.com)
Post-draft West ranks: Revisiting OLs (Sando)
Darius Fleming returns to the field (49ers.com)
Being a Sheep
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