1 All the patience and calm expectations that the Niners promised for the season of Mariucci I seemed to be shunted aside.

2 To their credit, the Niners were not elated by the shutout.

3 If the Niners hold them down, will this defense get its due?

4 Forty Niners president Carmen Policy called the lure of free agency a siren song.

5 He has been consigned to a secondary role on the Niners, and he has made a lot of it.