St. Louis Globe-Democrat

San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary said last week there was no chance wide receiver Isaac Bruce would play in what likely will be the final game of his career, this Sunday in St. Louis against the Rams.

But those plans changed Monday when Singletary had a surprise visitor to his office: Second-year receiver Josh Morgan. It was Morgan who replaced Bruce as a starter midway through the season, first when Bruce suffered an ankle injury and then when it was decided Morgan deserved the playing time. Since that point, Bruce has been inactive for six of the last seven games and has not even practiced for the last month.

Morgan’s message to Singletary was simple and direct concerning Bruce: "He can start in front of me. I just want to see him play one last time."

So it was Wednesday, that when Singletary was asked about the potential for Bruce to play Sunday, he first said, “Strong possibility.”

When asked whether Bruce requested to play, Singletary said, “Actually, his teammates, which I think is much better. I had asked him earlier what his thoughts were on possibly playing in the game, if he thought about it or whatever. And he said, ‘Possibly not.’ Then, when I told him about his teammates asking me and inquiring about it, I think it was shocking to him. I’m excited about him finishing the way he should finish. So, I’m excited about that.”

Singletary also talked to all the team’s receivers as a group, and all were on board with Bruce playing. What no one knows is if he will start and then play sparingly, or whether he will have a role in the game plan. Bruce did not practice Wednesday. Hopefully, he will start, and the 49ers’ offense will be introduced so the fans in attendance can give Bruce the sendoff he deserves.

Singletary made it clear that, “We won’t put him at risk. We’ll be smart about it, but I’m excited that he’ll have the opportunity to do that.”

Bruce played 14 seasons with the Rams before being released in 2008 and signing with the 49ers. He currently ranks fifth all-time in the NFL with 1,024 receptions and second in yards with 15,208. He is the Rams’ all-time leader in receptions with 942, receiving yards with 14,109 and receiving touchdowns with 84.

Asked about the emotion of playing what might be his final game here, Bruce said, “Well, going back to St. Louis is always special for me. It gives me a chance to see the guys that run the dome. It gives me another opportunity to look at the banners in the rafters and just have some of the memories that I had when I was playing there with some of my former teammates.”

On the subject of retirement, Bruce told the 49ers media, “You know, I haven’t decided yet, so I’ll be giving some information on that in the near future.”

In a conference call with St. Louis media, he said, “As far as this being my last game, maybe. I am probably about, I’ll say 75 percent sure, but there is that 25 percent though.”

Bruce married in the last year, still lives here and plans to make St. Louis his home after he retires. While saying he believes he could continue playing, Bruce was asked if having a family will play into his decision.

He said, “I think you just hit it on the head. Just being obedient to my family, my responsibilities away from football, that is my No. 1 thing. No, I would say that is the No. 2 thing. One would just be listening to the Lord and doing as He leads me.”

Bruce has been a mentor to the 49ers’ young receivers (anyone think he could have been that for the Rams the last two years?) and an example of how to play the game.

Asked about the contributions he has made, Singletary said, “I think first and foremost, last year as a player and early on this year I just think the professionalism that he brings; the pride and the work ethic and everything else, the consistency that he brings to the position and we have some young receivers and they all look up to him. Isaac doesn’t talk a whole lot and I’m sure you know that, but his words just jump out at you every time you watch him practice and do what he does. As a player, it’s been exemplary. And I think as a person, I’m just really thankful that our guys have been in the midst of a guy that is truly a professional on and off the field and have an idea of what it looks like when you’re doing it right.”

In talking about what Bruce has meant to the team, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith said, “I think a little bit goes into the pride that he has in his craft, going out there and being a football player and playing receiver. He can still do it. It’s not that he just came in as a mentor and was just doing that. I think he still has the ability to play this game, but with that, especially the last few weeks, I’ve really seen him doing more and more to do what he can to help this team and if that role is helping some of those young guys, he’s been doing it.

“It’s a tremendous honor to even be on the same team with Isaac. Obviously, with all that he’s accomplished in his career, the person that he is too, just to get to know him, it is clearly evident, being around him, why he has accomplished all that he’s has accomplished in his life. It’s easy to see why. For all of us to be around him, to have this chance to be around him, especially early on in our careers is a tremendous honor.”

It’s unfortunate the Rams didn’t choose this game to wear their throwback jerseys, especially on Fan Appreciation Day. Why they wore them against Houston is hard to digest. Especially when Bruce was asked if he happened to see highlights of the games when the Rams wore those uniforms earlier this season.

“Yes, I saw it,” Bruce said. “I got chills all over when I saw it. Those were the colors I came in with and I think we should have never changed them.”

Sunday might also be the final time in the dome for defensive end Leonard Little, who is hoping to be recovered enough from a knee infection to play. While Little appears willing to continue playing if the Rams want him, he notes the irony of Bruce being here for what could be his final game.

“He was the ultimate competitor,” Little said. “He always prepared like it was the last game of his career. Always. That’s the way he is. He was a great teammate and an inspiration to young guys. He was an inspiration to me when I was young. He takes young guys under his wing and tries to teach them the best way he can to be a pro and do things the right way.

“He will go down as one of the greatest receivers of all time. He’s a Hall-of-Fame player. He’s proven that over the years. If this is his last game, he deserves the chance to be around the fans who were with him most of his career.”

When asked if it would be fitting for Bruce to make the final catch of his career in the dome, Little said, “That would be fitting. He put up most of his big numbers here. It will be good for the fans to see him one last time and for him to have the chance to go out and finish everything here where it all started.”

Finally, Singletary, who also had to come to grips with the day he knew he wasn’t going to play any longer, was asked if it was difficult to tell Bruce it was time for the team to go in another direction.

He said, “It’s not really a tough thing because I think every great player knows when that is, when it’s getting to be that time. I don’t think you have to tell a great player. Some guys are in denial, but at some point in time you see, and I think from one player to another, it’s very humbling because I don’t care if you’ve played the game, but to go to a guy and say, ‘You know, we really would like to see some other guys play and I know your ankle is a little banged up anyways, so what do you think?’ And to have him say, ‘You know what, you’re right, go right ahead. I’m good. I’m just going to do the best that I can in other areas to help those guys continue to grow,’ it is something that’s totally inexplicable.

“When you really think about it, it really shows his true greatness as a player and a man.”

• Email
  • Share this item

    Send this to a friend

  • Grab the link

    Copy and paste the link:

  • Blog about it

    Blog about this page.

  • Close
• Comment