Douglas voted 49ers captain, but Young still the man

SANTA CLARA -- Defensive lineman Bryant Young's work here is not finished.

One of the most respected players in 49ers history enters his 14th NFL season. He contemplated retirement at the end of last season, so this could be his final year in the league.

But he is certainly not approaching the 2007 season as a curtain call.

"I'm approaching this season like it's my first season," he said Tuesday.

Young, 35, has never been demonstrative, but he takes a keen interest in helping younger players around him. Whether engaging them in talk about football or off-the-field topics, Young has always been a strong influence in the locker room.

His presence within the club has not diminished, though some of his pupils on the defensive line appear ready to step outside Young's shadow.

"I think there are a lot of guys who are ready to fly," Young said. "Isaac (Sopoaga) is finally doing what everyone thought he could do. And Ronald Fields is coming on, and he's going to make a major contribution."

There might be a changing dynamic within the locker room. How else to explain that the 49ers elected captains at every position group, and it was Marques Douglas -- not Young -- who won the vote for defensive linemen?

"B.Y. was right in front of me," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "As soon as I said Marques' name, he jumped up and said, 'Marques, baby!' I think it shows the closeness of the group."

When asked if he was excited that Douglas won the vote, Young answered, "Absolutely. I voted for him."

But when further quizzed on the subject, Young said, "I wouldn't read too much into that."

Certainly, Douglas is a player worthy of being honored as a captain. He came into the league in 1999 with the Baltimore Ravens, and played just nine games over the next four seasons. He played a spring in NFL Europe, spent parts of two seasons on practice squads, and sustained two season-ending knee injuries.

Since the rough beginning to his career, Douglas has played every game -- all but two as a starter -- the past four years. He is scheduled to be in the 49ers' starting lineup at right defensive end Monday night against the Arizona Cardinals.

"I think he deserves to have a voice in the room," Young said. "To get his start in this league, it was a journey for him. I think it's well-deserved. The guys have respect for him."

And Douglas has respect for everyone in the locker room. He is not shy about voicing complaints on behalf of young players who have legitimate concerns, and he certainly is not looking to usurp Young's authority.

"Everybody knows B.Y. is a captain," Douglas said. "Everybody knows who he is, and that doesn't change because he wasn't voted as a captain. I've played with a couple of these guys, and they were just giving me credit as a guy who's going to stand up and speak for people who might not have a voice."

Nolan knows all about that voice. Douglas played for the Ravens during all three seasons in which Nolan was the defensive coordinator.

"Marques is very outspoken about whatever it is he wants to talk about," Nolan said. "He's been that way since I've known him at Baltimore. He rubs some people one way, but in that room I think they feel confident he's going to speak up for them, just as I'm sure they're confident B.Y. would speak up for them."

EXTRA POINTS

The 49ers will not practice today. They are scheduled to begin their preparations to play the Cardinals on Thursday. The only players who might not practice Thursday due to injuries are rookie safety Dashon Goldson (elbow) and veteran cornerback Donald Strickland (chest).

Rookie running back Arkee Whitlock, who gained 86 yards on 23 carries for the 49ers in the exhibition season, was added to the Vikings' practice squad.

Contact Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com