This is the January 3, 2013 news archive. View today's SF Bay Area Sports news and rumors.

SF Bay Area Sports News and Rumors

49ers' Justin Smith back at practice

sfgate.com

49ers' Justin Smith back at practice The All-Pro defensive tackle wore a large black brace on his left arm, but wasn't sporting a noncontact black jersey as he went through position drills. Smith was able to lightly push off against other defensive line…

feltbot, feltbot.com

There are plenty of reasons to discount this Warriors win over the Clippers. I sensed this would be a blowout before it happened, and missed an opportunity to make myself look good by predicting it in the last thread. I have noticed before that when tea…

CNNSI.com

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- San Francisco 49ers placekicker David Akers says he received death threats on Twitter and has closed the account.

Steve Corkran, insidebayarea.com

The Raiders signed three players after working them out: running back Jon Hoese, nose tackle Johnny Jones and wide receiver Isaiah Williams to reserve/future contracts. Here’s what the Raiders have to say about the three players in a press release: The …

Jerry McDonald , insidebayarea.com

Raiders coach Dennis Allen and his staff will coach the North team in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., according to the Senior Bowl web site. The South team will be coached by Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz and his staff. Coaching the Senior Bowl will…

Jim Trotter, CNNSI.com

RENTON, Wash. -- Seahawks rookie Russell Wilson was among the league's most productive quarterbacks over the final nine weeks of the season, throwing for 18 touchdowns, rushing for four others, posting a passer rating in excess of 104.0 on seven occasio…

CNNSI.com

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo is facing a misdemeanor summons in Las Vegas alleging he violated airport rules after being detained by authorities at McCarran International Airport on New Year's Day.

Associated Press, ESPN.com

San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo is facing a misdemeanor summons in Las Vegas alleging he violated airport rules after being detained by authorities at McCarran International Airport on New Year's Day.

Spencer Lund, dimemag.com

There are a lot of stars at power forward in the NBA. You have your Nowitzkis and Gasols, your Amar’e Stoudemires and Paul Millsaps; your Josh Smiths and Zach Randolphs and the newer stars like Blake Griffin, Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge set to take…

Barry Petchesky, deadspin.com

These seats are the absolute cheapest at Qualcomm Stadium: upper deck, behind an end zone, near the scoreboard. They're empty in this video, but not for a lack of tickets sold. This is the aftermath of a section-wide fight that went down in the fourth q…

ESPN.com

2008-12 You Called It Repeat Winners DioAlice, PITTengineer12, bubblegumpie and pathsovglory called the San Francisco 49ers' 27-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals to close the 2012 NFL regular season. Let's see how well they do in the playoffs. You p…

Dan Devine, yahoo.com

It's a point I've made after both the first and second round of ballot results in the fan voting for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game — the lack of recognition that Stephen Curry and David Lee are getting for their sensational early-season play with the Golde…

CNNSI.com

One-minute drill: Peter King's team-by-team playoff previews

ESPN.com

Just wanted to pass along a quick note from Mark Simon of ESPN Stats & Information: The San Francisco 49ers' Andy Lee recently edged the Arizona Cardinals' Dave Zastudil for the NFL's 2012 punter of the year in voting by ESPN writers, researchers an…

ESPN.com

With the Oakland Raiders’ season over, let’s take an early look at where the team might be heading in the draft. First pick: No. 3 Top draft needs: Cornerback, linebacker, defensive line, safety, offensive line. Possible first-round picks: Notre Dame …

Curtis Crabtree, profootballtalk.com

The San Francisco 49ers signed kicker Billy Cundiff this week to challenge incumbent David Akers after Akers missed two more field goals in the regular season finale against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Akers made just 29 of 42 field goals during th…

sfgate.com

Bye week will help Smith, Harbaugh says In reality, the 49ers' outside linebacker was silent. Matched against one of the worst pass-protecting lines in recent NFL history, the NFC's sacks leader had perhaps his worst performances of the season in Sunday…

sfgate.com

Raiders' roster remodel will be severe Of the 17 free agents (see list), you can pretty much kiss punter Shane Lechler and defensive tackle Richard Seymour goodbye. Among those players McKenzie and Allen would like back are linebacker Philip Wheeler and…