Thoughts on the football front:

-- The 49ers would rather not hear Richard Sherman's name until the week before the Seattle rematch (Dec. 8), but that will be difficult. Forget the words; he's way over the top in that department. On the field, he conducts a clinic. While alarmingly undisciplined cornerbacks roam the NFL and collegiate landscape, trying to smother intended receivers without bothering to turn around, Sherman takes that crucial moment to find the ball, his vision clear for a knockdown or interception. This is simple ball hawk execution, performed by all the greats of the past. It's remarkable how many contemporary players haven't a clue.

-- Alex Smith isn't one to complain, but let's hope he made it clear that the Chiefs wore authentic uniforms Thursday night, instead of the unsightly disaster - red jerseys and red pants - unveiled last Sunday. We've seen only one tolerable all-red look over the years: the Cuban baseball team. And that's a whole different world.

-- You'd figure that, with any luck, NFL coaches would stop calling last-second timeouts to freeze placekickers. It's too late, the ball's already in the air, and we all get a close look at some idiotic gamesmanship. Thanks to Titans coach Mike Munchak, the tactic is alive and well - and he did it twice last week with Houston's Randy Bullock trying to kick a game-winner in the final seconds.

-- Stanford coach David Shaw indicated that five running backs would be employed in some capacity each game, but he has yet to unveil Barry Sanders in a meaningful way (one carry, 2 yards so far). Nothing like having a potential ace up one's sleeve.

-- As the theory goes, we're all watching football a bit differently now, recoiling at the sight of a brutal hit instead of leaping off the couch and cracking open a fresh beer. That's not the case here. Textbook tackles from the likes of Dick Butkus or Lawrence Taylor? Fabulous. But for as long as I can remember, any time someone launches a helmet-first hit at full speed, I can only think, "Good luck in retirement, man. You'll be lucky if you can put a full sentence together."
