San Francisco [SF Chronicle]- There are certain creatures in the animal kingdom capable of surviving long periods of dormancy to spring to life when conditions are right. Certain frogs and toads, for example, and now a football player named Shaun Hill.
Six years of inactivity did nothing to impair Hill’s ability to play quarterback as he led the 49ers to a spirited 20-13 victory Saturday night over the Cincinnati Bengals at Candlestick, a dank joint perfect for amphibians.
“Don’t start calling me a toad,” Hill said in a happy postgame glow.
If he started out a frog, Hill was most definitely a prince at the end for the calm, measured way he led San Francisco’s offense to a season high in time of possession (35:59) and the second-best figure in total yards (337). In the first start of his six-year career, Hill completed 21 of 28 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown and ran for another, a nifty 3-yard bootleg.
It was the best quarterback play the 49ers have had all season, maybe in several seasons. Coach Mike Nolan did not hesitate in naming Hill as his starter for the last two games of the season, against playoff-eligible Tampa Bay and Cleveland.
All of Hill’s good work, and that of the offense, might have gone for naught on two plays the 49ers managed to survive in the fourth quarter, before Frank Gore ran 10 yards on 3rd-and-9 to lock up the game at the 2-minute warning. Gore ran for a season-high 138 yards and reminded people what he can do behind great run blocking.
In a coaching decision sure to be criticized, Nolan opted to go for it on 4th-and-2 at the Cincinnati 24-yard line midway through the fourth quarter rather than have Joe Nedney try a 42-yard field goal, a distance easily within his reach.
But the Bengals took over on downs with 6:15 to go in the game when rookie wide receiver Jason Hill dropped Hill’s short pass on a slant route under defensive pressure. Why Hill chose to throw to the rookie for the first time in the game with the pressure on was puzzling.
“The quarterback has a progression,” Nolan said. “That’s why Shaun did very well today. He didn’t have anything on the front side. He went where his read took him. It just didn’t work on that play.”
The 49ers avoided paying for their coach’s decision, just barely, when Chad Johnson failed to hold onto Carson Palmer’s 24-yard pass in the end zone on fourth down with 2:14 to play. Johnson got both feet down but did not secure the ball.
Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis challenged the play but the review showed that Johnson did not have control of the ball.
Cornerback Nate Clements, outstanding in defending Johnson most of the game, said of the play, “I knew he didn’t have it. I seen him bobble it and I seen it on the ground, so I knew he didn’t catch it.”
The loquacious Johnson had a quiet day playing-wise as he finished with six catches for 78 yards and no touchdowns. Clements was on him most of the game. He gambled on one play in the fourth quarter when he leapt for the ball only to have it fall into Johnson’s hands for a 25-yard gain. Otherwise, it was an All Pro performance by Clements.
“That hurt so bad,” Clements said of the one that got away. “I don’t get too many of them anyway. The break was perfect, the ball was there. It hurts, still.”
The 49ers did all their scoring in the second and third quarters. Nedney added another field goal late in the third and the 49ers, so dreadful on offense all season, had themselves a 20-10 lead.
It was the first time this season the 49ers had led by 10 points, not that it lasted long, however. Shayne Graham kicked a 35-yard field goal with 11:18 left in the game to reduce San Francisco’s lead to 20-13.
Hill picked up where he left off in the first half by leading the 49ers on another scoring drive to open the second half. This one stalled at the Cincinnati 11-yard line after 11 plays and Nedney came in to boot a 29-yard field goal for a 17-10 lead.
The 49ers took a 14-10 lead at halftime after Hill fired a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis down the right hash line. More impressive than the touchdown strike was Hill’s 19-yard pass to Jackson on 3rd-and-1 from the San Francisco 33-yard line.
Here’s this weekend’s schedule followed by Sean’s picks and the Adultfyi pool choices:
Sunday: Arizona at New Orleans; Atlanta at Tampa Bay, Baltimore at Miami, Buffalo at Cleveland, Green Bay at St. Louis, Jacksonville at Pittsburgh, NY Jets at New England, Seattle at Carolina, Tennessee at Kansas City, Indianapolis at Oakland, Detroit at San Diego, Philadelphia at Dallas, Washington at NY Giants
Monday: Chicago at Minnesota
Sean from www.pornlegends.com writes: A story posted this week on Adultfyi.com claimed that adult film star Tiffany Taylor had the worst smelling vagina of all-time. In this industry, that is saying a lot. But I like Tiffany so I guess I should stick up for her. Below are fourteen things that smell worse than her malodorous box. Special thanks to my wife, Nikki Jackson, for making my picks this week.
Seattle over Carolina – The trunk of Rob Spallone’s car.
Tampa over Atlanta – Ron Jeremy’s bed sheets.
Green Bay over St. Louis – Larry Craig’s breath after a trip to the men’s room.
Pittsburgh over Jacksonville – Dave Cummings’ boxer shorts.
New Orleans over Arizona – Olivia O’Lovely’s credibility.
Cleveland over Buffalo – Anita Cannibal’s academic credentials.
Tennessee over Kansas City – Ducati Productions’ sales.
Baltimore over Miami – USC’s chances against Illinois in the Rose Bowl. GO ILLINI!
New England over Jets – This year’s version of the Chicago Bears.
Indianapolis over Oakland – Brian Surewood’s driving skills.
San Diego over Detroit – Peter North’s hair dye.
Dallas over Philadelphia – The way votes are tabulated for porn award shows.
Giants over Washington – The way votes are tabulated for porn beauty contests
Minnesota over Chicago – Craig Valentine’s wrestling trunks
The Adultfyi picks:
Karl the Birdman [148-62]: New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Cleveland, GB, Pittsburgh, NE, Seattle, Tennessee, Indy, SD, Dallas, NY, Minn
Sean from www.pornlegends.com [139-81]: NO, Atlanta, Baltimore, Clev, GB, Pittsburgh, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, SF, Dallas, NYG, Minnesota
Gene Ross [138-72]: NO, TBay, Balt, Clev, GB, Pitt, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, SD, Dallas, NYG, Minn
Willie D [138-72]: NO, TBay, Balt, Buffalo, GB, Pitt, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, SD, Dallas, Washington, Chicago
Dan Davis [136-74]: NO, TBay, Miami, Buffalo, GB, Pittsburgh, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, SD, Dallas, NYG, Minnesota
Mastrick [133-77]: NO, TB, Baltimore, Clev, GB, Jax, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, SD, Dallas, NY G, Minnesota
Tim Case [132-78]: NO, TBay, Balt, Cleveland, GB, Pittsburgh, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, SD, Dallas, NYG, Minnesota
Tony Batman [132-78]: NO, TBay, Balt, Clev, GB, Pitt, NE, Seattle, KC, Indy, SD, Dallas, Washington, Minnesota
Steve Seidman [128-82]: Arizona, TBay, Baltimore, Cleveland, GB, Pittsburgh, NE, Seattle, KC, Indy, SF, Philly, NYG, Minnesota
Jack Spade [128-82]: NO, TBay, Balt, Clev, GB, Jax, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, SD, Dallas, NYG, Minnesota
Ryan from Jerry’s Deli [127-83]: NO, TBay, Baltimore, Cleveland, GB, Pittsburgh, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, SD, Dallas, NYG, Minnesota
Billy the Crystal [124-86]: NO, TB, Balt, Clev, GB, Jax, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, Detrouit, Dallas, NYG, Minnesota
Mike Dickinson [124-86]: NO, TBay, balt, Buffalo, GB, Pittsburgh, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, Detroit, Dallas, NYG, Chicago
John Gray [124-86]: NO, TB, Miami, Cleve, GB, Jax, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, SD, Dallas, NYG, Minnesota
Sandy Bunz, www.sandybunz.com [118-92]: Arizona, Tbay, Balt, Cleveland, GB, Pittsburgh, NE, Carolina, Tenn, Indy, Detroit, Dallas, NYG, Minn
Steve Lane, www.serenity.net [112-98]: NO, TBay, Baltimore, Clev, GB, Jax, NE, Seattle, Tenn, Indy, Detroit, Dallas, Washington, Minnesota
Serenity, www.serenity.net [110-100]: NO, Atlanta, Miami, Clev, GB, Pittsburgh, NE, Seat, KC, Oak, Detroit, Philly, NYG, Minnesota
Wankus [107-103]: NO, TB, Miami, Clev, GB, Jax, NE, Seattle, KC, Indy, Detroit, Dallas, Washington, Minnesota
Brian Wallace [104-106]: Arizona, TBay, Balt, Buf, GB, Pitt, NYJ, Seattle, KC, Indy, Detroit, Dallas, NYG, Minnesota