OFF THE TOP: A time out for a couple shout outs
OK, I splashed my face with ice-cold water in attempt to shake off the pain still lingering from the San Francisco 49ers NFC title game overtime loss Sunday. My face is cold and I'm still bummed. Oh well. Perspectively speaking, it was a special season in that a new life was breathed into a storied franchise after nearly a decade of frustrations. It was refreshing to be so invested in the Niners again. Losing stings, but the promise of things to come acts like Neosporin on the burn. Plenty of wins to look forward to during the Jim Harbaugh regime.
Williams stands up, reflects on flubs
Kyle Williams isn't holed up underground. He's not sobbing in a dark room, the curtains cinched tight. He's not cowering over death threats he received on Twitter.
Giants beat the 49ers in overtime to win NFC crown
SAN FRANCISCO – The New York Giants advanced to their fifth Super Bowl, causing fumble on a punt return and converting it into a field goal five plays later to defeat the San Francisco 49ers, 20-17, in overtime in the NFC championship game.
Pats deal Ravens a painful defeat in AFC title game
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Terrell Suggs stood on the sideline and the man who is never at a loss for words could only mouth the words "Oh My God." Baltimore Ravens teammates Ray Rice and Torrey Smith said nothing, choosing instead to stare straight ahead and wonder in silence how a long football season full of legitimate Super Bowl aspirations could possibly end like this. Fourteen yards from the end zone and a Super Bowl berth and seemingly in position for no worse than a game-tying field goal that would force overtime, the Ravens watched two potential touchdown passes get broken up, and then Billy Cundiff pushed a 32-yard field goal wide left with 15 seconds remaining.
NFL: Dispatch staff predicts the conference title game winners
Members of the Mainstreet Media Group (Hollister Free Lance, Gilroy Dispatch, Morgan Hill Times) decided to predict the winners of Sunday's NFL conference championship games. Here are the picks:
NFL lockout helped 49ers’ Smith become team leader
Alex Smith was stuck in San Francisco. Not a bad place to be for a summer, but after six miserable seasons as the 49ers' quarterback, it was time to get out.
49ers preparing for the elements
Windy and rainy conditions accompanied the end of the 49ers' Super Bowl bid at Candlestick Park –14 years ago.
Giants defenders respect, not fear 49ers quarterback Smith
You won't see him pitching insurance in TV ads and he's not in the running for NFL MVP, but Alex Smith certainly has the Giants' attention.
