--Newly signed offensive tackle Marvel Smith said he does not care whether the 49ers plan to use a high draft pick on somebody who plays his position.
"It doesn't matter to me at all. I don't have any control over any type of decisions like that," he said. "To me, competition is great. If it's something you want bad enough, it's worth fighting for. The biggest thing is for me to go out there and perform and do the things I know I can do. Outside of that, I don't worry about anything else."
--The 49ers, who were believed to have had an interest in acquiring Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, could look to select a quarterback in this month's draft.
"Anything can happen on draft day," 49ers coach Mike Singletary said. "We're still evaluating and looking for the best athlete available. The quarterback position, we're very thankful to have Shaun Hill and Alex Smith competing for the No. 1 spot. I feel very good about what they're doing."
--He grew up in Oakland. And now Marvel Smith is returning close to home to play for the 49ers. He said it was a major priority to play in California after spending the first nine years of his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I didn't want to necessarily go play in the snow somewhere else at the end of my career," he said.
He said everybody in his family has been forced to switch allegiances now that he's with the 49ers.
"Everybody's really excited," he said. "I mean, it's crazy how many phone calls I've been getting from people I haven't talked to in years. I grew up in Oakland, so my family was all Raider fans growing up, but now they are all 49er fans now."
--Former 49ers coach Mike Nolan will make his debut as Broncos defensive coordinator when the teams meet in the exhibition opener for both teams at Candlestick Park. The 49ers fired Nolan as head coach in the middle of last season.
The other games on the 49ers exhibition schedule are at home against the Raiders, on the road against the Dallas Cowboys and at the San Diego Chargers.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "To me, he's the perfect type of coach to play for - somebody who's played in the NFL and did it at its highest level and he's been successful as a coach already. It's hard to find a coach with his qualities for the most part, and I'm looking forward to working with him" -- Marvel Smith on playing for coach Mike Singletary.
