Waddle: Rooting for Singletary, but not today

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It’s hard for me to believe, but I’ve been out of the NFL for almost 15 years. 

Several concussions have left me a bit goofy and lacking a solid memory, but the mere mention of the San Francisco 49ers sends me back to some of my fondest pro football memories. 

Well, maybe they aren’t the fondest of memories. Including the postseason, I played against the 49ers three times. In those three games, we went 0-3 and lost by a combined score of 122-29.

But I also made my first and last career catches against the Niners. A meaningless 8-yard hitch route in the season finale in 1989, and a 20-yard crossing route in a playoff blowout loss in 1994, again, in garbage time. Ah, the good old days! 

Fast forward 15 years, and it’s my old teammate, Mike Singletary, trying to recreate that 49ers dominance. And he’s doing it in old-school fashion.  

Many coaches do anything and everything they can to get the most out their high-maintenance, high-priced talent. Well, Singletary’s not interested in this new age NFL. 

Ask Vernon Davis. The mega-talented tight end learned the hard way that it’s Singletary’s way or the highway. Davis was sent to the showers early in a game last year, in a very visible incident that signaled that there was a new sheriff in the Bay area. 

Singletary made more news when he dropped his pants during a halftime rant. While the rookie head coach was trying to make a point, the news media turned it into an embarrassing moment.  

The 49ers players rallied around their coach and won five of their next eight games. It was a statement that echoed loudly. They respected their Hall of Fame leader and bought into his program.  

In the offseason, Singletary had a hill constructed at the 49ers’ training facility. A hill that allows his guys to train the way the great Walter Payton trained. 

He conducted full-contact double sessions in training camp. The plan was going smoothly as the 49ers started 3-1 and Davis quickly developed into one of the best tight ends in the game.  

Well, they’ve since lost four in a row.  Injuries have played a huge role in the slide, but every team has to deal with broken-down bodies.  

In the heat of the moment, Singletary has had words with opposing players and officials. He continues to learn that he can no longer make things better by knocking someone into next week. Separating Singletary the player from Singletary the coach is a continuing struggle for one of the game’s most accomplished, dedicated and competitive figures. 

Responding to this losing streak will define Singletary as a coach and the 2009 49ers as a team. I’m cheering for Singletary. Just not tonight.

Tonight’s game is a must-win for both teams. The Niners are reeling, but still are very much alive in the mediocre NFC West. Another loss for the Bears and you can start writing their 2009 obituary. 

This is a very winnable game for Lovie Smith’s guys. The matchups are certainly more favorable than they were last week against the Cardinals. Unfortunately, the short week, long trip and the Bears’ recent play has left me skeptical. 

49ers 24, Bears 20

• Tom Waddle appears from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday on the “Waddle & Silvy Show” on WMVP AM-1000. He writes a weekly column on the Bears for the Northwest Herald.

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