Matt Maiocco of the Press Democrat is reporting that free agent linebacker Julian Peterson will not be tagged this season. Julian Peterson’s two-year run as the 49ers’ franchise player will come to an end next week.
Coach Mike Nolan said Thursday the 49ers do not plan to tag Peterson as the club’s franchise player for a third consecutive season. The 49ers could retain Peterson’s services for another year with a one-year, $8.75 million commitment. The deadline for clubs to designate a franchise player is next Thursday.
Nolan said he is not sure the 49ers will even make a big effort to re-sign Peterson once the outside linebacker is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent March 3.
‘I know we’d love to have him back,’ Nolan said, ‘but when 31 other teams are out there, it’s hard to say. As I always say, no one player will be bigger than the team.
‘I’ve made that comment before when talking about character or selfish issues, but that goes for cap involvement, too. If the (salary) number takes us out of the realm where it hurts the football team, we have to be smart about how far we go.’
Vin: Mr. Huff around the 49er community for the last few months there has been a lot of talk about bringing you in to help out the 49er defense. In what aspect do you think you’d benefit the 49ers, or any NFL team, the most?
Michael Huff (MH): I think the biggest benefit that I can bring to any team is my versatility. Depending on the scheme I can play corner or I can play safety. I can even line up in the box or cover a slot reciever so whatever the team needs me too play I will do it and help the defense in any way I can.
Vin: You mention versatility. At the NFL level, do you have a preference for playing safety or corner, or are you just as comfortable with either position?
MH: I don’t really have a preference, as long as I’m on the field making plays I don’t care where I’m at. I just wanna do whatever it takes to help the team win.
Vin: What do you feel separates you from the rest of the draftees in contention?
MH: I would probably have to go back to my versality. Not everybody can play corner and safety, its just two different worlds. So you can put me in position to help the defense wherever I’m needed.
Vin: You’re projected as a top 10 pick around many draft discussions, whether it be ESPN or other sources, so that usually implies that you’ll likely be heading to a team that has had some struggle the previous year. How does this affect you and do you have any preference as to where you would like to play?
MH: Teams struggle for a lot of different reasons so just because they’re in the top 10 doesn’t mean they’re a bad team, there could have been a lot of injuries or many other reasons so they might be one player away from having a succesful season so hopefully whichever team drafts me feels like I can help the team take that next step. So it doesn’t affect me at all,
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