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49ers Just Happy To Get Win

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By DAMIN ESPER Tribune correspondent

Published: December 24, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO - Yes, the Bucs treated Sunday's game with San Francisco as an exhibition game, playing subs throughout the second half. Just don't ask if the 49ers care.

They don't.

"Every team is an NFL team and every player out there is an NFL player," said San Francisco wide receiver Darrell Jackson, a former Tampa Catholic star. "Every guy out there deserves to be there."

Or, as quarterback Shaun Hill responded when asked if it made a difference that Tampa Bay played its backups:

"No," he said flatly, without elaborating.

You'd probably feel the same way if you got a 21-19 win in your home finale after failing to live up to high expectations. A season that began with the 49ers hoping to contend for the NFC West Division championship is now 5-10 with a two-game winning streak. The coach (Mike Nolan) and the starting quarterback (the other Alex Smith) are the definition of embattled, not to mention barely on speaking terms.

Were they insulted that the Buccaneers removed many of their starters after the first half? Or embarrassed to beat the second string?

"Football is football," tight end Vernon Davis said. "We practice so we can be prepared for it."

Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia was the first to sit down. After taking shots to the head on consecutive plays in the second quarter, he left with the Buccaneers leading 13-7. Luke McCown took over for the final two series of the first half.

In the second half, it was backup city for Tampa Bay. The only thing that set it apart from an exhibition game was the fact that the Bucs didn't have four strings to play.

Hill was making just his second career start after spending five-plus seasons in the NFL as a backup to backups. In the second half, he faced the likes of Greg Spires, Ryan Sims, Adam Hayward, Jeremiah Trotter, Sammy Davis, Will Allen and Kalvin Pearson.

Hill's final numbers were less than pedestrian - 11 of 24 for 123 yards and three touchdowns against one interception. It also raised his record as a starter to 2-0.

San Francisco fans had been expecting Hill to be tested this week by the league's third-ranked defense. The results are that Hill may not quite be ready to take over as a starting quarterback yet.

As for Nolan, he said he thought something might be up when he saw the Bucs' inactives list before the game, listing fullback B.J. Askew.

"We didn't anticipate quite as much of the personnel changes," Nolan said. "It doesn't affect our preparation."

Meantime, 49ers defensive tackle Bryant Young played what may be his final home game. The 14-year veteran and only remaining player from San Francisco's last Super Bowl champion in 1994 has hinted that this season may be his last. If so, the team is happy to have sent him out with a win.

The 49ers care about that a lot more than whether Tampa Bay played a bunch of backups.

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