“Winners,” Not “Choirboys”

Mike Nolan looked the part of an ideal head coach. Generally liked by his players, he spoke articulately, and with a steady, candid demeanor. He paid homage to the organization's history (and his father's) by wearing a suit on the sidelines. All this while amassing talented players that didn't make headlines in the offseason. Unfortunately for 49er fans, they didn't often make headlines during the season either. Maybe Nolan thought a couple of rowdy guys would be a distraction in the locker room. Maybe owner John York sent down a mandate that no bad press would be tolerated while the team negotiates a stadium deal. Maybe GM Scot McCloughan doubted Nolan's ability to reign in strong personalities. Wherever you place credit for the squeaky-clean image of Nolan's squad, this much ...

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