Santa Clara officials have given the go-ahead for the city to begin negotiations with Joe Montana for a hotel and entertainment complex across from the 49ers new stadium. The council voted 4-2 on Tuesday in favor of negotiating exclusively with Montana's group. The complex would open with the new 49ers stadium before the 2014 NFL season.

A California county has surprised both the 49ers and city of Santa Clara leaders by pulling $30 million in tax funds for a new stadium. Santa Clara County officials told the San Jose Mercury News on Saturday that they would rather spend the money on teachers.

While making an appearance at Coolidge High School in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Vernon Davis made a bold proclamation. "I will be the best tight end to ever play this game. I have a vision," he said in the final portion of his motivational speech.

Brandon Jacobs made good on a promise to repay a young fan who emptied out his piggy bank in an effort to keep the running back with the Giants. According to The Sacramento Bee, Jacobs, a free-agent signee of the 49ers, took 6-year-old Joseph Armento and his 4-year-old brother to Jump On In bounce house in Boonton, N.J., on Wednesday as a gesture of gratitude for Armento's desire to keep the running back.

The 49ers have signed top draft pick wide receiver A.J. Jenkins to a four-year contract, according to an ESPN.com report. San Francisco announced the signing of its 30th overall draft pick out of Illinois Wednesday.

R.C. Owens, a longtime 49ers front office man and eight-year NFL wide receiver whose impressive leaping ability earned him the nickname "Alley Oop" died Sunday at age 77. The Niners, his team for the first five of his NFL seasons, announced Owens' death on Monday. The team said he died Sunday and had been living in Manteca, about 75 miles east of San Francisco. "The 49ers family has suffered a great loss with the passing of R.C. Owens," 49ers Owner and Chairman John York said

Beginning Monday, Brian Banks will take part in a three-day rookie minicamp with the 49ers. The 26-year-old linebacker was a one-time high school star at Long Beach Poly who was recently exonerated in a California rape case in which he was falsely accused. Banks served more than five years in prison before his conviction was overturned.

49ers rookie wide receiver A.J. Jenkins could find himself fifth on the team's depth chart entering training camp. "He didn't play with the first- or second-team offense on Tuesday, and he didn't catch a pass in scrimmages on Wednesday," the Press Democrat wrote on Saturday. "He had trouble staying on his feet all three days, which was odd considering it was a non-contact minicamp." San Francisco drafted Jenkins with the 30th overall pick.

Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady joined Joe Montana, Steve Young and Jim Plunkett at a charity event hosted by NBC's Bob Costas. The five players have eight Super Bowl MVPs between them. Brady and Rodgers, who grew up in the Bay area, both talked of childhoods spent idolizing Montana and Young. "We were pretty high from the top of the stadium," Brady said. "We needed binoculars to see what was going on, but there was nothing more thrilling than being at the games and watching Joe and Steve. Any young kid growing up at that time wanted to be like those two guys. It's quite an honor be to sitting here with those two."

A little more than a week ago, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh declared that the team didn't "pursue" or "flirt with" but merely "evaluated" Peyton Manning earlier this offseason. People throughout the NFL are getting a kick out the comments because no one believes them. The total disbelief in league circles has made the issue a "running joke," according to a source. The 49ers are now believed to have been one of the two finalists for Manning's services, along with the Broncos.