| PRO FOOTBALL; Tampering Costs 49ers a Pick The San Francisco 49ers lost twice with linebacker Lance Briggs, failing to sign him in free agency and forfeiting their fifth-round draft pick in next month's draft after N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell determined Monday that the Niners had tampered with Briggs, a violation of league rules. The 49ers and the Bears will also exchange their picks in the third round, giving the Bears San Francisco's seventh pick, while the Niners will get the Bears' pick at No. 12. Briggs was with the Bears las...

Garcia?s a Nemesis That Really Gets Around Sunday?s wild-card playoff game against Tampa Bay will be the third time in the Giants? last four postseason appearances that Jeff Garcia will be the opposing quarterback.

PERSONNEL FILE; Garcia Returns To Haunt 49ers During his time as the quarterback in San Francisco, Jeff Garcia set about writing his name into the record books of the 49ers, a team that has featured Y. A. Tittle, John Brodie, Joe Montana and Steve Young. In 2000, Garcia set team records for completions (355) and passing yards (4,278) in a season, and his 32 touchdown passes in 2001 were the third most in team history. All of that was soon forgotten, and in what would become a familiar theme, the undersized Garcia was sent packing after the...

Third-Team Quarterback Leads 49ers Past Bengals Shaun Hill passed for 197 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score in his first N.F.L. start, and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 20-13, Saturday night for only their second victory in 12 games.

Dick Nolan, 75, N.F.L. Coach and Player, Is Dead Dick Nolan played nine seasons as a N.F.L. defensive back and was later a head coach for 11 years, twice guiding the San Francisco 49ers to conference championship games.

Monday?s Matchup A changing of the guard was predicted in the N.F.C. West. But San Francisco and Arizona have not put up much of a fight, even though Seattle, the three-time defending champion, has left the door wide open. With Shaun Alexander injured and ineffective, Seahawks Coach Mike Holmgren has renewed focus on the passing game, which is ranked 10th in the league. The 49ers, losers of six in a row, wish they had only one facet of their 32nd-ranked offense to be concerned about. The Seahawks, who won in Sa...

PERSONNEL FILE; Willis Is Excelling For Lackluster 49ers There have been few positives for the 49ers during a season in which their 2-0 start had onlookers saying the team was not nearly as good as expected. But one shining light has been Patrick Willis, the rookie linebacker from Mississippi. Willis, drawing comparisons to Ray Lewis, the perennial Pro Bowl player of the Ravens, has had 10 or more tackles in five of his first seven games as a pro, including the last four in a row. Unfortunately, his efforts have been wasted on a defense that is ranke...

Defense Comes Through Again for Giants The Giants crushed the 49ers with a big-play defense that forced four turnovers. The Giants are now 5-2 for the fourth season in a row under Coach Tom Coughlin.

Umenyiora Sets Mood, and Giants Join the Fun On an afternoon when the Giants? defense had six sacks, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and five passes knocked down, Osi Umenyiora finished with the lion?s share.

For Steelers, One Formula Has Always Been a Winner The Steelers are 3-0 for the first time since 1992, Bill Cowher?s rookie season, and have a one-game lead over Baltimore in the American Football Conference North.