Sports Radio Interviews

Mike Singletary: ‘If I can help make them a better person, nine times ouf of ten I can help make them a better football player.’

Training camp for the San Francisco 49ers is unofficially under way. Players and coaches had preliminary meetings yesterday, as well as met with a legion of devoted 49ers faithful. The first practice won’t be held until Saturday but the excitement is building in the Bay Area for the first full year of the Mike Singletary era. Expectations have returned to the once-proud franchise after Singletary implemented a no-nonsense approach to player discipline last year. Winning a few big games down the stretch didn’t hurt the optimism of the organization and its fan base either. Singletary joined KNBR in San Francisco on Wednesday morning to talk about what’s going on this week leading up to the official start of camp this weekend and what he’d like to accomplish with his young team during the 2009 NFL season.

On what the players are able to do this week in preparation for the first practice this coming weekend:

“Well, there’s various things that they can do – they can sit down and watch film and kind of watch film. They can meet a bit with some of the coaches for a spell. But primarily, some of the other things that they have to get done, the physicals, continuing to work out. Some of the guys have been around a little bit working out. So there’s a lot that they can do and continue to anticipate what happens on Saturday.”

On his own personal energy level heading in to camp and if his gas tank is full:

“Gas tank? The gas tank better be full. It better be absolutely full. Energy level – my energy level is always the same. It’s always very high.”

On if he feels he has at all changed since getting the full-time designation last year to be the 49ers head coach:

“I wouldn’t say that I’m a different guy. I wish sometimes that I could be a little different, but I’m the same guy every day. Getting the job did not change my energy level. Getting the job did not change my address. Getting the job did not all of a sudden make me somebody that I am not. I will always remember why I am coaching this game. And I’m just very thankful that I have an opportunity to coach this game.”

On if he manages different players and their personalities differently, like for example, say a Vernon Davis:

“Well I think to answer your question, I think the Lord was just fantastic in preparing me for this job and giving me seven kids. And you have to handle each kid differently. You know, I’ve got one kid where if I look at them, they going to do what they know they should be done.  I’ve got another kid that’s going to say why you looking at me and do exactly what I told them not to do. All of them love me; all of them know that I love them. But they have different personalities and some of them are just going to press those buttons; and some are going to press the boundaries. And it’s up to me as a parent – my wife and I – to make sure that I continue to have them understand that these are the boundaries and they will not go away because you don’t like them. So as a coach, I approach it the same way. I’ve said it many times – the guy I am at home, that’s the guy I am while coaching.  I put everything I have in to it. I’m always trying to figure out where the guys are and make sure that the things that I’m doing, it’s going to be effective. So many times, we do things that make us feel better as a coach, as a parent, however you look at it. Yeah, we yelled at ‘em, but we feel a whole lot better about blowing off that steam, but we haven’t done anything for the person. I’m always trying to look at what can I do to make this a better person. Because if I can make them a better person, than 9 times out of 10, I can help make them a better football player.”

On 1st round draft pick Michael Crabtree’s contract situation and whether or not he’s concerned about him getting a deal done before the start of camp:

“I talked to some of our management yesterday and just let them know that I’m not one ounce, one iota – I’m not the least bit concerned about Michael Crabtree and when he will sign; will he come in today. We’ve got guys here that, just like Mike, have been working their tails off. And I know that Michael Crabtree wants to be here, he’s been working his tail off and if he’s not here – however long that is – he’s going to be working his tail off. I’ve got no concern about that. The thing I want to do is make sure that I am focused on the guys that are here. The Michael Crabtree situation will take care of itself.  When the time is come, he will be here. The number one thing that I know is I know he wants to be here. The other thing is I know we want him here. I am excited by what I see this offseason about Michael Crabtree and being a part of this football team. When that time comes, fantastic. But until then, I’m going to focus on what we have here and continue to make it better.”

Listen here to Singletary on KNBR in San Francisco

Tags: 1st round nfl draft picks that have not yet signed, KNBR, Michael Crabtree, Michael Crabtree contract situation, Mike Singletary, San Francisco 49ers