Rookie mistake
Mariucci disappointed by McQuarters' holdout
Posted: Wednesday July 22, 1998 10:46 AM
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McQuarters, who participated in a voluntary minicamp in June, is the 49ers' only unsigned player Otto Greule Jr./Allsport |
STOCKTON, California (AP) -- First-round draft pick R.W. McQuarters got a
lecture from his coach Tuesday, but he wasn't around to hear it.
McQuarters, a defensive back out of Oklahoma State, remains the 49ers' only
unsigned player. That's something that bothers coach Steve Mariucci,
considering McQuarters has already missed the rookie phase of training
camp. The 49ers moved into their second week of camp by holding their first
full-squad workout on Tuesday.
"We've always been very fair to our draft picks," Mariucci said. "His agent
just doesn't seem to feel it's the right contract that we feel it is."
The longer the holdout, the less the 49ers can expect from McQuarters in
his rookie season, Mariucci said.
"It's the future of the player here that is being affected," he said. "For
R.W. McQuarters, to come in late and plan on contributing, he's dreaming
because there is so much to learn. There other players here that are just
going to solidify themselves in some of these spots if he's not in here and
competing."
McQuarters' agent, Tom Condon, was out of the office and unavailable for
comment Tuesday. No brace for Rice
Jerry Rice worked his way back from torn knee ligaments in last year's
season opener only to break his kneecap December 15 in his return again the
Denver Broncos.
Rice, who is in the midst of another comeback at 49ers training camp, said
Tuesday he thinks the knee brace he was wearing contributed to the second
injury and he won't wear one again. Rice fractured the kneecap when he
landed on his knee after catching a touchdown pass against the Broncos and
he thinks the rigidness of the brace prevented it from giving with the
fall.
"They had a couple of braces around my locker. I took them and threw them
in the garbage," Rice said.
Rice, who has been working out since Monday, took part in most of the
team's practice Tuesday, though he was held out of 7-on-7 drills and given
the afternoon practice off.
"We didn't want him tangling up with defensive backs," coach Steve Mariucci
said. "We're going to take it slow. He looks like he's running smooth, that
kind of thing. But we're just going to practice him here and there. We're
not going to overwork him." Sweating room only
Attending the San Francisco
49ers' practices in sweltering, humid conditions seems to be the newest
fad in Stockton.
On Tuesday, about 5,000 people turned out, jamming the bleachers that have
been installed around the practice fields at the University of the Pacific,
where the team now trains after spending the last 17 summers in Rocklin.
"That's the biggest crowd I've ever seen at a practice," coach Steve
Mariucci said. "It's exciting for us. It's exciting for the fans and I know
our players enjoy it, too. Every time Jerry Rice caught a
pass, they went berserko. So it was fun, and we had a heckuva practice by
the way." Walking wounded
Guard Kevin
Gogan is beginning training camp on the physically unable to perform
list.
Mariucci said Gogan has a pulled hamstring.
Meanwhile, fullback Marc Edwards, who
has a bulging disc in his back, began conditioning work Tuesday under the
supervision of physical development coordinator Jerry Attaway.
There is still no word on when Edwards will be able to join the team's
practices.
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