Justin Smith among NFL's most indispensable defenders

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Justin Smith is lifting weights again and reportedly on track to be ready for work on Day 1 of the 49ers' summer training camp. That's good news for the Niners. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/With-Strength-Back-Justin-Smith-Will-be-Impact-Player-Again-209667341.html

Winter Vinecki, a multipurpose athlete driven to fight cancer because of the early death of her father, hopes to become the youngest runner to complete seven marathons on seven continents

At just 14 years of age, Winter Vinecki is an amazing young athlete and person, a high achiever in school and athletics. She's an aerial skier with hopes of competing in the 2018 Winter Games, a top age-group triathlete and a marathoner who hopes this year to complete seven marathons on seven continents. Much of what she does is fueled by the drive to raise money and attention to fight cancer, which took her father at a very early age. My story on Winter for ESPN.com's Endurance Sports section: http://espn.go.com/sports/endurance/story/_/id/9323262/endurance-sports-vinecki-runs-memory-late-father

Jason Hunter is a low-risk, high-reward pickup for Raiders

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Defensive Jason Hunter missed all of last season to a torn triceps muscle in Denver, but now is a low-cost pickup for the Raiders. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-Hoping-for-Hunters-Return-to-Form-209509421.html

49ers' Kyle Williams is up and running again

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Wideout Kyle Williams, whose season was cut short by a knee injury in 2012, is almost done with rehab and will be ready for training camp. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Kyle-Williams-is-on-Track-for-Training-Camp-209514031.html

Snyder, back with 49ers, will be valuable backup

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Adam Snyder will be an important backup for the 49ers this coming season, capable of filling in at guard, center or tackle. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Snyder-Happy-to-be-Back-with-49ers-in-Valuable-Backup-Role-209350341.html

Bergstrom gets chance to be Raiders' left guard

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Tony Bergstrom, in his second season, gets a chance to impress new offensive line coach Tony Sparano and win Raiders' left guard job. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Door-of-Opportunity-is-Open-to-Raiders-Bergstrom-209343571.html

Asomugha looks good in early 49ers workouts

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The 49ers didn't pay much to bring in cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. But the rewards could be high. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Early-Returns-are-Positive-for-49ers-Asomugha-209177821.html

Woodson eager to show he's still 'best player on the field'

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Charles Woodson may be 36, but the Raiders' new safety says he's not ready to be just a mentor to his teammates ... he wants to be an impact player. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders--Woodson-Still-Wants-to-be-Best-Player-on-the-Field-209170041.html

In any ranking of innovative NFL coaches who had a major impact on the game, Don Coryell must be a part of the conversation

The critics will say that Don Coryell never won a Super Bowl, and they'd be right. Yet Coryell, the only coach to win 100 games both at the NFL and college level, had an impact on the NFL game that is still seen decades after his coaching career ended. He opened up the passing game, created mismatches through shifts and breakthrough formations, was a pioneer of the I formation, brought the best out in his players and saw talent in young assistant coaches that he nurtured, sending them off to do great things. While Coryell never won a Super Bowl, he had more of an impact on modern football than many coaches who did. My story for ESPN.com's NFL section, as part of its series on great coaches. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/coachingtreecoryell130524/greatest-nfl-coaches-don-coryell-branch-sid-gillman-coaching-tree?src=mobile

Where's Vernon Davis? 49ers need to find him in 2013

Daily 49ers blog on NBC Bay Area website: With the absence of Michael Crabtree looming in 2013, the Niners may have to turn to an almost-forgotten receiver, tight end Vernon Davis.http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Kaepernick-Davis-Will-Need-to-Work-on-Chemistry-209060841.html

Reid's education as a 49ers safety is beginning

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: After his first week of organized team activities with rookies and veterans, 49ers' No. 1 pick Eric Reid says he feels out-of-step at the safety position... so far. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Reid-Soaking-it-all-in-at-Safety-208818591.html

For one game, Braves owner Ted Turner stepped in to manage his team ... until baseball's management czars stepped in to give him the thumb

Ted Turner was a brash, outspoken owner of the Atlanta Braves in 1977 who saw his team lose 16 games in a row. He decided to do something about it, stepping into the dugout and putting on a uniform to manage the team and give himself an up-close-and-personal look at what was going on. After one game in the dugout, however, NL president Chub Feeney and baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn told Turner to get back in the owner's box. My story for ESPN.com's Playbook section: http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/22066/the-night-ted-turner-managed-the-braves

Without Crabtree, 49ers' Kaepernick will have to grow

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The loss of Michael Crabtree to an Achilles' tendon tear means Colin Kaepernick will be without his favorite receiver. The young QB will have to grow to make up for the loss. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Loss-of-Crabtree-Will-Force-Kaepernick-to-Grow-208661401.html

Raiders' Taiwan Jones faces long odds at cornerback

Daily Raiders' blog for NBC Bay Area website: Taiwan Jones agreed to switch from running back to cornerback, but his chances of making the Raiders team for 2013 look small. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/New-Cornerback-Jones-Faces-Long-Odds-With-Raiders-208655111.html

Who's got it better than San Francisco 49ers?

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Over the past two-plus seasons, the 49ers have had the Midas touch, from hiring GM Trent Baalke to landing the Super Bowl for their new stadium. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Keep-Finding-Gold-Nuggets-208497241.html

With Woodson, Raiders' secondary now has full makeover

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: The addition of safety Charles Woodson concludes a full-scale makeover of the Oakland secondary. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Remaking-of-Raiders-Secondary-is-Now-Complete-208491441.html

B.J. Daniels faces long odds to make 49ers

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Former South Florida QB B.J. Daniels is versatile and talented and will get a chance to make the 49ers as a QB, running back, receiver and kick/punt returner. But with a talented roster already in place, he may be facing a losing numbers game. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Daniels-is-Intriguing-but-Faces-Long-Odds-to-Make-49ers-208336041.html

Matt Flynn starts work to win No. 1 QB job with Raiders

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Matt Flynn, acquired from Seattle this offseason, began  team OTAs this week as No. 1 on the quarterback depth chart. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Flynn-Begins-Quest-to-Win-Raiders-QB-Job-208329421.html

Is No. 81 cursed for the 49ers? Since Terrell Owens left the team almost a decade ago, the number has brought no luck to its wearers

Anquan Boldin has worn No. 81 proudly and effectively for both the Cardinals and Ravens. Now he'll wear it in San Francisco for the 49ers. Is that a mistake? Since Terrell Owens left in a huff, no receivers wearing the number have had any good luck with it in a Niners uniform. My story for ESPN.com's Playbook section: http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/21982/will-boldin-break-the-49ers-curse-of-no-81

Kaepernick's leadership role with 49ers is evident

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Colin Kaepernick has demonstrated leadership skills this offseason with his team. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Kaepernick-Growing-into-Leadership-Role-208133501.html