Singletary: Bears like 'any other team'

SANTA CLARA

If Ronnie Lott wanted to get into coaching, with which NFL team would you expect him to end up?

How about Jerry Rice? Or Joe Montana?

Each of those former 49ers ended their playing careers with organizations other than the 49ers. But Mike Singletary played for one franchise in his 12-year career. He was associated with the Chicago Bears, as much as any player with any other NFL team.

So when Singletary and his wife, Kim, decided the family would make the commitment for Singletary to pursue a career in coaching, he alerted then-Bears coach Dick Jauron as a courtesy.

“I told Dick Jauron exactly this, I said, ‘Coach, my wife and I prayed about it, we’ve decided that we’re going to be coaching. I’m not asking you for a job, but I am telling you that this year, in the very near future, I will be coaching. I don’t know where, don’t know when,’” Singletary said.

Jauron told Singletary he would get back to him after considering what might become available on his coaching staff.

According to Singletary, Jauron called Singletary back some time later to tell him the Bears were not interested in employing the Hall of Fame linebacker as an assistant coach.

“He just let me know that I’m not supposed to be there,” Singletary said. “So that was it.”

Then-Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick hired Singletary in 2003 as inside linebackers coach. Meanwhile, Jauron was fired after the Bears went 7-9 in 2003. Jauron is currently the Buffalo Bills’ head coach. Last season, Singletary’s 49ers defeated Jauron’s Bills.

Now, imagine Lott, Rice or Montana on the sideline opposite the 49ers. That is what Chicago fans will experience Thursday night when Singletary’s 49ers face the Bears at Candlestick Park.

Singletary said he feels no particular emotions about facing his former team.

“I’m just excited for the game,” Singletary said. “But (I do not feel) emotions outside of the emotions that I have for (facing) any other team.”

BRUCE ON THE LOOSE?

Veteran Isaac Bruce, statistically one of the top receivers in NFL history, has fallen on difficult times. In the past seven games, Bruce is averaging fewer than three catches and 25 yards.

On Sunday, third-year player Jason Hill replaced Bruce and caught two touchdown passes. Bruce did not play in the second half of the 49ers’ loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Singletary said Bruce is nursing a sore ankle. But Bruce is not listed on the 49ers’ injury report. This might be signaling a change for the 49ers from the 16-year veteran to a receiver corps composed of younger players.

“We have to meet as a staff and really look at our receiving situation,” Singletary said. “It’s a good situation, we have a lot of talent there. We just have to figure out the right combination of time for all of our guys.”

EXTRA POINTS

*The 49ers ran 38 of their 69 offensive plays from the shotgun formation. Frank Gore ran the ball seven times for 41 yards in the shotgun. Alex Smith was 17 of 28 for 155 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions and a sack in the shotgun.

“It is certainly something we have the tools to do,” Singletary said. “We have Vernon (Davis) here in the tight end spot, and we have three wideouts. We have Gore in the backfield. Those are some great weapons to be able to use.

“I just think we have to really focus on cutting down on some of the other things we are doing that takes away from that, because I think it is a powerful thing going forward.”

*Rookie running back Glen Coffee has been ruled out of Thursday’s game against the Bears after sustaining a concussion late in Sunday’s loss. Don’t expect the 49ers to place a call to Larry Johnson, whom the Kansas City Chiefs released Monday. Johnson became notorious recently when he used several gay slurs on Twitter and around media members.

*Safety Michael Lewis (quadriceps strain) and tight end Delanie Walker (knee) are listed as day-to-day. It is not known if they will be available for Thursday’s game.

For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at matt.maiocco@

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