49ERS City setting chosen for workout

The bulk of San Francisco's training sessions won't be open to the public.
COMBINED DISPATCHES
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers will return to Kezar Stadium for the first time in 32 years for an open workout during training camp in August.
The 49ers also will play a mock game at San Jose State, giving their fans at least a couple of good looks at the team during an otherwise inaccessible training camp.
The 49ers are moving their camp from Stockton, Calif., where they spent the past five seasons, back to their training complex in Santa Clara this summer.
But while thousands of fans braved Stockton's heat to watch workouts, the team can't accommodate the general public at their complex.
"It was imperative that we find ways to have our fans watch us practice during training camp," 49ers general manager Terry Donahue said. "Since they can't come to us, we decided we would bring the practices to them."
Kezar, a charmingly antiquated stadium nestled in the gorgeous wooded hills of San Francisco's city center, was the 49ers' home from 1946-70. The 49ers haven't played at Kezar since Jan. 3, 1971, when they lost the NFC championship game to Dallas.
The 49ers will work out under the lights at Kezar on Aug. 25. The team plans to invite several players from the franchise's early years to attend the workout, and many of the current players will ride trolley cars through the city beforehand.
In the coming years, the team plans to hold similar workouts at Stanford or Menlo College -- and, according to Donahue, perhaps even on the Raiders' home turf in Oakland.
Last month, the 49ers made their contentious decision to pull out of their preseason home at Stockton's University of the Pacific. There were several issues factoring in the change, from the condition of the school's fields to the oppressive heat of the Central Valley.
Running back
After two strong practices, running back Rashaan Salaam is in line for a contract with the 49ers.
Donahue says Salaam's tryout had been a success, and that he was inclined to keep the 1994 Heisman Trophy winner around for training camp in July.
"Yes, I think he's looked impressive," Donahue said after the second day of mini-camp in Santa Clara. "I think that he has a chance to be invited to training camp. I think that's fair to say."
This marks Donahue's second attempt to land the 28-year-old running back. As UCLA's coach in the early 1990s, he tried to persuade Salaam to play for the Bruins.
"I recruited him real hard out of high school," Donahue said. "He made a visit and acted like he was coming. We never had a chance. I told him it's a small world: Things go 'round and 'round."
Salaam instead went to Colorado, where in 1994 he became the fourth Division I-A player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. The Chicago Bears drafted him with the 21st pick in the 1995 draft, but his pro career has been a disappointment. He struggled with fumbles as a rookie and has since been released by the Bears, Raiders, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers. He played for the Memphis Maniax of the XFL in 2001.
Salaam said he's finally healthy again after years of injuries. Coach Dennis Erickson figures it's worth a shot.
"He's got good feet and he's very smooth," Erickson said. "I really liked him in college. I know he's had some injuries and all kinds of things, but I like him."
Apparently, Salaam got his chance with the 49ers because someone put in a good word to owner John York of Canfield. The running back said he didn't know who his mystery agent was but is grateful.