San Francisco 49ers

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he plans to treat Thursday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers, coached by his younger brother Jim, like any other game. The two teams are very similar. Both play outstanding defense. The 49ers appear to be where the Ravens are headed with a ball-control offense. Both coaches are extremely competitive and intense. "I don't know if I'll be able to think about it like that," John Harbaugh said when asked about preparing a game plan to beat his brother.

Running back Rodney Hampton's days as a New York Giant are numbered, if the San Francisco 49ers get their way.The 49ers intend to sign Hampton to a huge offer sheet, perhaps as early as today and no later than Friday. Indications are San Francisco is putting together a $15 million deal, which the Giants would have seven days to match.Hampton's agent, Ralph Cindrich, and 49ers vice president Dwight Clark began negotiating before Hampton's visit Monday to the 49ers' headquarters.Talks intensified yesterday after the 49ers became convinced that Hampton wanted to play for them.

Here is what other news outlets are saying about the Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and Super Bowl XLVII today. --- Peter Schrager of FOX Sports writes that O.J. Brigance's brave battle continues to inspire the Ravens . “Known around the Ravens locker room and team's facility as 'Juice,' Brigance knows a thing or two about having faith in a vision.  In 2007, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. First he lost the use of his arms.

Headed back to RaidersDefensive end Scott Davis said he will rejoin the Los Angeles Raiders today, ending a mysterious two-week absence from the team, the Los Angeles Daily News reported yesterday.Saying that he "just had some business I had to take care of," Davis said he also would be able to reveal more today.Raiders coach Art Shell said he had not spoken to Davis for several days but would not be surprised by news of the player's return."I've been saying all along the guy had business to take care of and he was doing it," Shell said.

BaseballNational League -- Named Montreal Expos OF Moises Alou, who drove in 11 runs, Player of the Week for July 5-11. Alou set an obscure major-league record for "most hits, all home runs, consecutive games" with six homers and no other hits in four games (July 6-9). He scored nine runs and had a slugging average of 1.074.Cincinnati Reds -- Traded P Steve Carter to the Houston Astros for 1B-OF Jack Daugherty. Optioned OF Keith Gordon to Double-A Chattanooga.Colorado Rockies -- Optioned P Marcus Moore to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

BaseballOrioles -- Announced that 3B Mike Pagliarulo will play for the Seibu Lions of the Japanese Pacific League. Named Reid Nichols director of minor-league field operations. Sent IF T. R. Lewis outright to Triple-A Rochester.Chicago Cubs -- Named Rick Patterson manager of Triple-A Iowa; Dave Trembley manager of Double-A Orlando; Ken Bolek manager of Single-A Daytona; Jerry Weinstein manager of Single-A Williamsport; John Noce manager of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League team; Ron Clark coordinator of minor-league instruction; Ernie Rosseau minor-league offensive coordinator; Tommy Jones minor-league offensive instructor; Sandy Alomar Sr. minor-league infield and base-running instructor; Jimmy Piersall minor-league outfield instructor; and Bruce Hammel minor-league strength coordinator.

NEW ORLEANS -- Like his father, Reggie Bush was a 49ers fan growing up. Not yesterday. With San Francisco in town, Bush's father, LaMar Griffin, attended a game at the Louisiana Superdome for the first time since his son turned pro, wearing Bush's No. 25 Saints jersey. Bush delighted his parents and everyone else wearing black-and-gold, showing like never before that all those electrifying plays he made in high school and college could translate to the NFL. "Obviously, I haven't had the flashy runs or the breakthrough game like everybody has been expecting, but at the same time, I'm adjusting to the NFL. I'm learning," Bush said.

Sitting in a living room in Queens, New York, I like so many others held my breath during the final seconds of Super Bowl XLVII between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers ("Staying power," Feb. 4). I, too anxiously watched the final kick and simultaneously glanced at the diminishing seconds and the final play, and I sighed with relief as the seated Ravens jumped up and ran onto the field with raised arms. Earlier in the evening, I had yelled at my dad, mostly in jest, when he started rooting for the 49ers - not because he was any kind of die-hard 49ers fan, but because the Ravens were crushing them and my dad pitied the team.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Concerned over the knee injury t Steve Young, the San Francisco 49ers gave tryouts to three unemployed quarterbacks yesterday.In for evaluations were Tony Eason, formerly of New England and the New York Jets; Steve Pelluer, Dallas and Kansas City; and ex-San Jose State star Mike Perez, released from the New York Giants' practice squad.Pelluer, who has made 30 career starts, was in for a tryout earlier this season when Joe Montana's elbow injury worsened.Eason, who played at Illinois, went to the Jets last year as a backup to Ken O'Brien after quarterbacking New England to the Super Bowl during the 1985 season.

The San Francisco 49ers could begin this season without Pro Bowl linebacker Charles Haley, who last month underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, according to a published report.The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported in yesterday's editions that Haley may miss all of training camp and that his rehabilitation could extend into the regular season."From what I understand, he's pretty messed up," said fullback Harry Sydney, Haley's closest friend on the team. "He can't move his arm at all right now. He's the type of guy who will do everything he can to make it back, but this is pretty serious."