Saturday, November 22, 2003
SAN FRANCISCO -- Eddie DeBartolo Jr., owner of the San Francisco 49ers from 1977-99, heard his share of applause as he strolled along the sidelines at Candlestick Park during Monday's halftime ceremony retiring Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott's uniform (42).
DeBartolo, who lives in Tampa and has a ranch in Montana, attended the game (his first in five seasons) at the invitation of his sister, team owner Denise DeBartolo York of Canfield.
In 1997, DeBartolo gave up control of the team he owned through five Super Bowl championships because of his involvement in the corruption trial of former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards.
In spring 1999, Denise and her husband, John, took the reins of the team, guiding the Niners through two seasons of salary cap hell before a surprising return to the NFL playoffs in 2001.
Quiets rumors
Rumors had it that DeBartolo wants to buy another NFL franchise, but an interview he gave to the San Francisco Chronicle suggests he doesn't miss football, saying he's too busy traveling and spending time in Montana.
Capping the Lott celebration was the Niners' 30-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, a result that has the Niners clinging to hope they can defend their NFC West Division crown and the Steelers reeling with little chance they'll repeat for the third-straight year in the AFC North.
Special teams mistakes
A week ago, Steelers coach Bill Cowher praised his special teams. Monday, those units struggled and the Niners made them pay.
Kick returner Antwaan Randle El lost a fumble, kicker Jeff Reed missed a 45-yard attempt and punter Josh Miller's second half included a 30-yarder and a 24-yarder off his left foot after dropping the snap.
"Let's not tarnish the whole coverage groups and return groups based our punter dropping the ball and our kicker missing a field goal," Cowher suggested.
The loss keeps the Steelers (3-7) at the bottom of the AFC North, a game behind the Cleveland Browns (4-6) and two back of the 5-5 Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
Cowher hasn't given up
"We're playing everybody again so there's a realistic opportunity there," Cowher said, citing Sunday's game in Cleveland and their Nov. 30 date at Heinz Field with the suddenly-hot Bengals.
"We have to keep fighting," linebacker Joey Porter proclaimed. "We still have a shot at the playoffs if we win out."
It's hard to imagine a team that has lost six of its past seven games putting together that type of streak.
Then again, an 8-8 record might be good enough to win the weakest of divisions.
The Niners (5-5) are in third place in the NFC West Division, two games behind the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
In the wild-card race, the Niners are tied for seventh with the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints, two games behind the tied division leaders in the West and East divisions. Only the fifth- and sixth-best teams receive playoff berths.
San Francisco has a 5-1 record at home but is 0-4 on the road. In order to make a postseason run, the Niners must immediately find a way to win away from Candlestick because four of their next five games require lengthy travel.
Long road trips
After playing in Green Bay this Sunday, the Niners will play at Baltimore against the struggling Ravens. In December, their trips will be to Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
"Right now, our backs are against the wall -- we have no room for error," linebacker Julian Peterson said. "All we can do is try to win every last ballgame."
Peterson credited the Niners' recent resurgence to special teams.
"The biggest turning point is that they are playing better and giving our offense better field position," the Niners' best player said.
They'll need every big play they can muster because the Niners haven't won in Green Bay since 1990 and only once against Brett Favre.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com.