49ERS

SANTA CLARA -- A few dozen fans showed up Monday outside the perimeter of 49ers headquarters, hoping to lift the spirits of their fallen heroes (and perhaps get some autographs, or even gloves and cleats, in the process). Inside the locker room, players boxed up their possessions, doled out some man-hugs and rode into the offseason in a convoy of Escalades.

The shock of the Niners' down-to-the-wire loss to Seattle in the NFC championship game had faded, but much of the sadness and frustration remained.

"It's still pretty fresh," veteran center Jonathan Goodwin said. "I mean, it's one thing to play in a big game like that and not even be close in the game. But to have the opportunities to possibly win the game, it definitely stings a little more."

Unfortunately for the 49ers, they are probably getting used to this. Each of the past three seasons included a strong postseason run. Each ended just short of a major victory.

In 2011, the Niners lost to the Giants in overtime in the NFC title game. In 2012, their bid for a Super Bowl victory ended with 1:46 left when the they turned over the ball on Downs against the Ravens.

This time, they were vying for the game-winning touchdown when Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman tipped Colin Kaepernick's pass in the end zone, and linebacker Malcolm Smith intercepted it with less than 30 seconds on the clock.

Sunday's 23-17 loss was made gloomier by a pair of significant injuries. Left guard Mike Iupati acknowledged Monday that he broke his left ankle (technically his fibula, according to the Sacramento Bee). And while the 49ers did not confirm any medical updates, multiple reports indicated that star linebacker NaVorro Bowman tore both the ACL and the MCL in his left knee.

Bowman was hurt when Seattle wide receiver Jermaine Kearse fell on his leg and bent it unnaturally. It was a hit by Niners safety Eric Reid that triggered the pile-up. "I didn't know till I heard him scream," Reid said after the game. "That's the most unfortunate part about this loss, is that we lost one of our leaders. I mean, the man gave his body to keep the receiver out of the end zone."

Monday, Reid reported that Bowman was "doing OK" on the flight home.

"He was surprisingly optimistic," the rookie said. "To get an injury like that, in a game like that, I don't know that I could say I'd have the same optimism."

Linebackers coach Jim Leavitt also tried to stay upbeat about Bowman's injury. "We're going into a new stadium and he'll be ready to go when we start," Leavitt said.

The 49ers are set to open the 2014 season in Levi's Stadium, across the street from their offices and practice fields. The precise makeup of that team remains to be seen. When the pinch of the championship-game loss wears off a little more, general manager Trent Baalke, head coach Jim Harbaugh and their staffs will begin to reshape the roster.

As of now, the 49ers have 11 unrestricted free agents, including prominent players such as Goodwin, wide receiver Anquan Boldin, strong safety Donte Whitner, cornerback Tarell Brown and kicker Phil Dawson.

Most of them expressed an eagerness to return on Monday, while admitting it was partly out of their hands.

"You know, deep down I think I'm still willing," said Goodwin, who has considered retirement, "but what creates uncertainty for me is being a 35-year-old free agent, which in this time of the NFL can be tough."

One incentive for a lot of these guys to come back to the 49ers might be to get another crack at the Seahawks. The NFL's best rivalry was at fever pitch Sunday as a record crowd at CenturyLink Field attempted to drown out the Niners' play calls.

"It makes it a little worse, because I wanted to send those fans home crying," Whitner said. "We all wanted to send those fans home crying."

Most galling to the 49ers were rumors, confirmed by Fox game footage, that someone at CenturyLink showered Bowman with popcorn as he left the field on a motorized cart.

"That's pure ignorance," Whitner said. "When a guy's carted off, that means a serious injury. And for you to throw food on him . . . You should have more respect for the player and more respect for the game than that."

Sherman, the voluble Seattle cornerback, added to the festivities by throwing a "choke" sign at Kaepernick after the game-saving interception, shouting about Michael Crabtree being a "sorry" receiver in an angrily expressed on-field interview, then upgrading Crabtree to "mediocre" in the post-game interview room.

"A few guys mentioned it on the plane," linebacker Ahmad Brooks noted. "We pulled it up, what he said, on the Internet. A lot of guys heard what he said about Crabtree and whatnot. He was just hyped up, man. He was excited. That's the nature of a competitor."

Not that it sat well with the already-smarting 49ers.

"He talks a lot," tight end Vernon Davis said of Sherman. "Sometimes you just need to shut your mouth. You got the win. Be humble, be gracious and just accept it."

Accepting their lot might be a little harder for the 49ers after another heartbreaking postseason loss. Or perhaps that's not quite the right word, considering this team's 41-14-1 record in three seasons under Harbaugh.

"I don't think this is heartbreaking," Whitner said. "I played in Buffalo, New York, for five years. We're playing in the cold, and we're playing for nothing at the end of the year. Here we're playing for championships, each and every year."

Next year, too? We'll see.