SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The way things have gone for the San Francisco 49ers recently with issues off the field, general manager Trent Baalke finds himself being questioned about the importance of drafting for character. The Niners top three selections from the 2011 draft have been involved in off-the-field situations in recent weeks, resulting in a negative hit for the teams image. Most notably, star linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested at an airport last month and authorities say he used the word "bomb." Quarterback Colin Kaepernick was linked to a Miami police report involving a woman who passed out in a hotel and later woke up in a hospital not knowing how she got there. Kaepernick has strongly denied any wrongdoing. Cornerback Chris Culliver -- who made anti-gay remarks before the 2013 Super Bowl -- has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanour hit-and-run charges and felony possession of brass knuckles from a March 28 arrest. "Its a risk-reward business," Baalke said. "And we try to take chances -- calculated chances -- and it has worked in a lot of cases. There are other times when the character of an individual coming into the NFL was sterling. But they end up being guys who get in trouble. "Its not always the guys that come into the league with a checkered past that leave the league with a checkered past. It can be the opposite. And if anybody in here has the answer about who is going to end up doing what, give it to me. I could use it." Here are five things to watch for in the draft for the 49ers, who pick 30th: FRONT-OFFICE TEAMMWORK: For anybody wondering whether Baalke and coach Jim Harbaugh will be duking it out in the draft room about which player to take, the GM says enough already. He insists the issue has been "misrepresented" since news broke that the Browns tried to trade for Harbaugh after San Franciscos loss in the NFC championship game. "To say that its always two rams butting heads is so false and misleading. To say theres no tension would also be false and misleading. Its good tension, its creative tension. It couldnt be better," Baalke said. "I feel good about where were at. If you want us to hug and mug for the cameras and do all that, youre looking at the wrong two guys." TRADING UP: Dont put it past this team to move up the board. And Baalke just might look to make a splash with a player who could have an immediate impact for the Niners as they begin a new era at Levis Stadium next to team headquarters. He has done so before. "A lot of its spontaneous, happening as the drafts unfolding," Baalke said. DEPTH AT LINEBACKER: San Francisco will be without All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman for a while as he recovers from torn ligaments in his left knee sustained in the post-season loss to the Seahawks. Baalke knows Smith could face a suspension from the NFL, too. The 49ers went 5-0 during Smiths five-week stint in rehab for substance abuse last season following his DUI arrest. While Dan Skuta and rookie Corey Lemonier emerged as solid replacements for Smiths pass-rushing presence on the edge, San Francisco is expected to search for depth at linebacker. Michael Wilhoite also became a reliable reinforcement, and Baalke says the team is "very confident in being able to replace guys when they go down." "We saw it in play last year," Baalke said. "Sometimes when you lose a player, you cant replace him with just one. Sometimes it takes multiple people, it takes other people stepping up to the challenge." THE CORNERBACK NEED: Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown joined the Raiders on the other side of the bay. With Culliver working to come back from a serious knee injury, drafting a cornerback will be a top priority to complement Tramaine Brock. FINDING GOOD GUYS: All eyes will be on Baalke, who has a successful run of draft picks who have produced right away, including first-rounders Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati and Eric Reid. But now, at least some fans will be counting more than ever on the 49ers finding just the right player. Baalke points to the locker room and roster as a whole, because only a few are affecting the franchises reputation. "We just have to do a better job. And thats the mentality of this group and thats the mentality of this ownership. To think that we dont care? I take offence to classless or lawless, because thats far from the truth," Baalke said. "Respect the masses because the masses are doing it right, and well get the other things fixed." Fake NHL Jerseys 2020 . Cilic cruised to victory, beating the seventh-seeded Seppi 6-1, 6-3 in just 72 minutes. He faced only one break point, winning 24 out of 29 points played on the first serve. Wholesale NHL Jerseys 2020 . -- Billy Donovans bench came up big, bailing out top-seeded Florida in a tight game against what was supposed to be an overmatched opponent. https://www.nhljerseys2020.com/ . -- Jack Del Rio only wanted to talk about the Cowboys, not the Trojans. Cheap NHL Jerseys From China . Ryan Getzlaf certainly got them started in the second. Getzlaf scored the first two goals in the second, and Teemu Selanne scored the go-ahead goal late in the period as the Anaheim Ducks beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 Thursday night. Adidas NHL Jerseys 2020 . Pearce had a career-high four hits and drove in two runs, and Wei-Yin Chen shut down Texas again as the Orioles completed a four-game sweep of the Rangers with a 5-2 victory on Thursday night.LANDOVER, Md. -- Johnny Manziel raised his middle finger toward the Washington Redskins bench as he returned to the huddle late in the third quarter. It was one of the few times a Cleveland Browns quarterback actually found his intended target. Manziels latest hand gesture was one of many lowlights for the Browns in a 24-23 Monday night loss that did little to make coach Mike Pettines decision any easier when it comes to selecting a Week 1 starter. If the choice is based solely on numbers, theres not much either Manziel or Brian Hoyer did to show he deserves the job. If its based on composure, the hot-shot rookies obscene gesture lost him some ground to the nondescript sixth-year veteran. "It does not sit well," Pettine said. "Its disappointing, because what we talk about is being poised and being focused. ... Thats a big part of all football players, especially the quarterback." Manziel called the moment a "lapse of judgment." Teammate Joe Haden said opposition fans and players were giving "Johnny Football" plenty of unprintable verbal grief for the second straight week. Manziel was openly mocked by Brian Orakpo when the Redskins linebacker raised both hands and performed the 2012 Heisman Trophy winners "money" gesture after a sack by Ryan Kerrigan in the first quarter. "I get words exchanged throughout the entirety of the game, every game, week after week, and I shouldve been smarter," Manziel said. "It was a Monday Night Football game and cameras were probably solid on me, and I just need to be smarter about that. ... Its there, and its present every game, and I just need to let it slide off my back and go to the next play." Meanwhile, Pettine needs to pick a quarterback. The performances were so unspectacular that the coach suggested he might audible from his previously stated plan of announcing his regular-season starter on Tuesday. "All the options are still on the table," Pettine said. Hoyer started Monday night and completed 2 of 6 passes for 16 yards. His self-assessment: "It probably couldnt have been any worse. Its disappointing. It was embarrassing." Manziel, the No. 22 oveerall pick in the draft, was 7 for 16 for 65 yards and a touchdown.ddddddddddddOf his series early in the game, he said: "I really tried to force everything and not let it fly like I should have. I need to get better at that and throw the dang ball." Those stats, as mediocre as they are, were padded by series against the Redskins backups. In the first quarter -- when Washingtons starters were in the game -- Manziel was 2 for 7 for 29 yards, while Hoyer was 0 for 2. "They both missed some throws," Pettine said. If theres any hint as to which way Pettine is leaning, its worth noting that Hoyer started for the second consecutive game and played mostly with the first-team offence, while Manziel was sent out with the backups to play in the second half. Manziel took advantage by leading a 16-play, 68-yard drive capped by an 8-yard pass to Dion Lewis for Clevelands first touchdown. The sloppy game included 21 penalties and five turnovers. The Browns were particularly susceptible to the NFLs new emphasis on hindering receivers: Clevelands defence was whistled five times for holding or illegal contact in the first quarter alone, including twice on one play. The Redskins dont have a quarterback competition, but their former Heisman winner -- Robert Griffin III -- also needs some work to get to regular-season form. He finished 6 for 8 for 112 yards, including an off-balance throw that was picked off by Haden. "I just cant throw it late," Griffin said. "And if I do, it has to be a humdinger -- and it wasnt a humdinger. I kind of floated it out there." Designed QB runs are being marginalized under new Redskins coach Jay Gruden, but Griffin was nevertheless hit hard several times as he scrambled four times for 24 yards and earned a thigh bruise along the way. "Its nothing to worry about," Griffin said. "I know anything that happens with me -- or quarterbacks in general -- guys get a little worried." Notes: Browns WR Travis Benjamin left with a rib injury. ... At least the game had an exciting ending. Connor Shaw hit Emmanuel Ogbuehi on a 45-yard Hail Mary as time expired. The Browns 2-point conversion attempt failed. ' ' '
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