The San Francisco 49ers and the first overall selection of the 2005 Draft, Alex Smith are getting closer to completing a deal. ``We talked a lot about the terms of the deal,'' director of football operations Paraag Marathe said of the discussions earlier this week. ``We're reading from the same book and we're on the same chapter. We're only a few pages apart.'' The 49ers anticipate Smith's deal being ``north'' of the contract received by Manning, Marathe said.

San Francisco 49ers receiver Derrick Hamilton tore a ligament in his left knee during a workout on Wednesday. The injury could potentially sideline him for the entire upcoming season. The Niner?s third round pick from last year?s draft will have surgery next week according to S.F coach Mike Nolan. "Derrick has worked very hard in the offseason and minicamp to improve, and we hope his recovery allows him to contribute at some point in 2005," Nolan said.

San Francisco 49ers? center Jeremy Newberry will likely require more surgery on a troublesome right knee that kept him sidelined all last season. The surgery would most likely keep Newberry sidelined for the entirety of the upcoming NFL season. "He's had meetings with the doctors and I've had discussions with the doctors, but Jeremy and I have not come together to talk about what his thoughts are on what course of action he wants to take," Nolan said. "He does want to play this year, so it does affect what his decision is." Nolan did not get specific about the extent of Newberry's current knee problems. "I think it's an additional problem on the same knee," Nolan said. "There's not much cartilage left in that knee." Newberry, 29, a seven-year veteran, missed all but one game last season because of knee and back problems.

The following one-page fax sent to the 32 National Football League teams by SFX Football and noted agent Jim Steiner came across the desk of Peter King the other day: To: All NFL Clubs From: Jim Steiner Subject: The GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), Jerry Rice Jerry would like to make 2005 his last year in the NFL. Any takers?? Please call if you think there might be a fit!'' "Jerry didn't ask me to do it,'' Steiner said from his home in St. Louis. "I'd never think about doing it, except in this case, where I know Jerry would like to play. I did it to put the clubs on notice that, under the right circumstances, Jerry would like to play this year. I did it to create awareness, for now and in the near future, that he's still thinking about playing. "Emotionally and physically, he wants to play this year. He feels good. It's that time of year to get ready to play and he's working hard. His reservation right now is that he'd have to put on a different uniform, which he is a bit twisted about. But his desire to play may drown that reservation.''

The 49ers ended their minicamp Sunday with a possible vision of the future. No. 1 draft choice Alex Smith rolled out and fired a touchdown strike to a sliding Derrick Hamilton, a second-year wide receiver who spent all but two games last season on the sidelines. Smith, in only his fifth 49ers practice, was running a two-minute drill. Granted, the drill was conducted with seven players on each side of the ball, so Smith didn't have to contend with blitzing linebackers or defensive linemen clogging passing lanes. Nevertheless, Smith's three-day stint was impressive. "It was good to see him take it down the field,'' coach Mike Nolan said of Smith's final drive of the day. "It was pretty clean."