On Wednesday, RB Maurice Hicks was still wearing No. 43, despite his temptation to switch to No. 22, his old number in high school and college.

“I kind of made my name in the NFL with No. 43,” Hicks said.

When he considered changing numbers, he also cited his respect for Terry Jackson, who had been the 49ers’ No. 22 since he was drafted in 1999. Two lockers away, RB Frank Gore voiced the opinion that Hicks should change his number.

“That’s an ugly number,” said Gore, adding that little, quick guys shouldn’t be wearing such a large, unsightly numeral.

That’s about the time that RB Michael Robinson, whose locker is situation between Hicks and Gore, entered the conversation. Robinson said he disliked No. 35, the number he wore during the exhibition season. On Wednesday, he debuted his new jersey, No. 24.

“Thirty-five is a fat dude’s number,” he said.

When I asked about good numbers for running back, they all said numbers in the 20s are preferable. Gore was No. 3 at the University of Miami. But the NFL has rules that running backs must not have single-digit numbers. He took No. 21, because 2 plus 1 equals 3, he said.

That when I interjected my thought that 29 is a pretty ugly number, I nearly got my head bit off.

“That’s Eric Dickerson!” Hicks and Gore said simultaneously. It was time to go somewhere else.

[Maiocco’s Blog]