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NFL Notebook: 49ers not amused by video
Content outrages owners and mayor
Thursday, June 02, 2005

A video meant to prepare San Francisco 49ers players for dealing with the media features off-color humor -- including racial jokes and nudity -- and has outraged team ownership and the city's mayor.

The 15-minute film shows team public relations director Kirk Reynolds sitting in San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's office, impersonating the mayor there and in other city scenes.

The video, sent anonymously to the San Francisco Chronicle, also featured racial jokes, lesbian soft-porn and topless women.

Reynolds said he made the video to coach players on handling media questions in diverse San Francisco -- and never meant it for public consumption.

"Did I push it too far? I did," Reynolds said. "The ideas of the tape are appropriate for the locker room -- though some of the subjects were inappropriate for the values of this organization, and mine, frankly."

The video was shown to players in August during training camp in Santa Clara as a part of a diversity workshop.

Team owners Denise and John York called it offensive, inexcusable and "absolutely contradictory to the ideals and values of the San Francisco 49ers."

Team spokesman Jason Jenkins told The Associated Press that Reynolds was leaving the team, but added that he had been planning that move "for some time."

Ravens

Running back Jamal Lewis was released today from a Florida prison camp after completing a four-month sentence for using a cell phone to try to set up a cocaine deal. Lewis was expected to head to a halfway house in Atlanta for a two-month term. "I just spoke to Jamal, he was released early this morning," said Kevin Byrne, a team spokesman. "He seemed to be in a very good mood." Byrne said an attorney for Lewis has asked federal prison officials to allow the player to attend the Ravens minicamp June 13-16. "Medically, it would be good for him," Byrne said. "This is where he makes his living, but I don't know the court system. His lawyer is handling that." Lewis entered a guilty plea in October in Atlanta to trying to set up the drug deal in 2000, not long after he was selected fifth overall in the 2000 NFL draft. While in prison in Pensacola, Fla., he worked in the prison tool shop, read books, lifted weights and exercised his tender right ankle, which forced him to miss two games last season and was surgically repaired in January.

Eagles

Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook signed a one-year contract to remain with Philadelphia through next season. The versatile Westbrook is coming off a breakout season in which he led the team with 1,515 total yards and was tops among NFL running backs with 73 catches for 703 yards and six touchdowns, despite sitting out the last two regular season games.

Giants

New York co-owner Wellington Mara had surgery three weeks ago to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck and under his armpit. "His prognosis is very good," John Mara said of his 88-year-old father, the NFL's senior owner and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Vikings

Minnesota Pro Bowl center Matt Birk is expected to miss two to three months while recovering from hip surgery, but team officials are hopeful he will be back for the start of the regular season.

Colts

Indianapolis safety Mike Doss faces punishment from Colts after his arrest last weekend on gun charges. Team president Bill Polian said he is reviewing what happened and will make an announcement on a punishment next week.

Bears

Sixth-round draft pick Chris Harris of Louisiana-Monroe, the nation's interceptions leader last season, agreed to a four-year contract with Chicago.

First published on June 2, 2005 at 12:00 am
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