INDIANAPOLIS – An invaluable resource. That was the standout phrase tossed around by one of Jim Harbaugh’s former players from Stanford this week as the NFL’s Coach of the Year’s former pupils met with the media at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine. Being that and much more to his Cardinal players, Jim Harbaugh has helped many of the nation’s top prospects get to the pinnacle of offseason evaluations. “He's been an unbelievable resource ever since coming out of high school, to dealing with college, things that come with being a quarterback,” said Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, the consensus No. 1 over-all pick in this year’s draft according to most prognosticators. “I definitely stay in touch with him,” Luck added. “I've called and asked for advice on cer-tain things, texted him. I'm not sur-prised at all with the success he's had with San Francisco. It's very well-deserved. “He's a great resource. I feel very fortunate to have been coached by him.” Equally complimentary of his quarterback, Harbaugh said Luck is special in his own right.“You ever played spades?” Harbaugh asked a room full of reporters while standing at a podium inside of Lucas Oil Stadium. “He’s holding a lot of aces in a lot of suits.” Considered by many to be a once-in-a-generation quarterback (NFL Network’s Brian Billick called Luck the best quarterback prospect since John Elway), Luck took a humble approach when discussing his future in professional football. Luck made sure to thank his former coach for being so instrumental in his collegiate career. And in turn, Harbaugh had nothing but great things to say about his former quarterback. Only, Harbaugh’s going to lament having to stop Luck, the feared passing threat. “He’s one of the finest football players I’ve ever been around,” Harbaugh said. “And an even better per-son – one of the top five guys I’ve been around. So he’s just a joy to coach. [I’m] not going to like to play [against him]!”

March 1st, 2012 Dear 49ers Kids Club Member, On behalf of the San Francisco 49ers, thank you for your participation this past season in our fan events, training camp sessions, and contests. Not only did many of you receive 49ers gear and prizes, but several Gold members had the once in a lifetime opportunity to be a Kickoff Kid for a 49ers home game. One highlight this season was the 49ers Kids Club Skating Party, which was free for all Gold members to attend. The event was held on December 10th underneath the palm trees of Downtown Ice skating rink in San Jose, alongside 49ers mascot Sourdough Sam and Gold Rush cheerleaders.

While new memberships for siblings and friends are currently on hold for the next few months, we will continue to host contests for all current members to win signed 49ers memorabilia and great 49ers prizes. Each month we will distribute the Playbook E-newsletter directly to your parents’ email inboxes, so you can stay up to date with the happenings of your favorite football team even during the offseason. Sign-ups for the 2012 Kids Club will launch around Draft Day at the end of April and will include a brand new merchandise packet full of exclusive 49ers Kids Club goodies! There

will also be newly added events and special invitations for you and your family throughout the football season. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for the 49ers Kids Club, we would love to hear from you! Please email us at: 49erskidsclub@niners.nfl.com or call (408) 562-4949. We wish you all the best as we head into a busy offseason and can’t wait to see everyone next year! Sincerely, Sourdough Sam 49ers Kids Club

Sourdough Sam, the beloved

mascot of the 49ers joined eight of the

49ers players as they journeyed to Honolulu for the 2012 Pro

Bowl on Sunday, January 29th.

For more updates on

Sourdough Sam and the 49ers, follow him on

Facebook

San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowlers Joe Staley, Justin Smith, and Andy Lee taking a break during their Pro Bowl trip in Hawaii during the end of January. The Pro Bowl took place in Honolulu and the AFC defeated the NFC, 59-41.

INDIANAPOLIS –Never one to waste time, Jim Harbaugh is all about finding ways to

improve.

In his mind, the biggest leap a team can

make is from year one to year two.

That, above all, is why Harbaugh is “on

edge” this week in Indianapolis. He wants

to get the 2012 season revved up, and

revved up fast.

“I’m excited to be here, to see what im-

provement we can make from year one to

year two,” said Harbaugh as he began his

press briefing inside of Lucas Oil Stadium,

the same stadium that has his name up on

the ring of honor.

The coach heading into his sophomore

NFL campaign likened the offseason

period to how a college freshman improves in his second year.

“There’s a window there that will never come again,” Harbaugh said. “It’s when you can make your biggest strides.”

Muscle memory, time in the system and collaboration will allow the 49ers to improve from March to August,

according to Harbaugh.

“We’ll chase it like the NASCAR boys, getting 1 percent better any way we can,” Harbaugh added.

To get better, Harbaugh will have to evaluate a pool of players he’s either coached, competed against or in some

cases like Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin IIII of Baylor, ones he’s recruited.

Harbaugh will want to get to know those players even better this week. And also, as he put it, “Find out why they

didn’t come to Stanford and confront them.”

Those who went to Stanford or competed against Harbaugh in college will certainly stand out in his own

evaluations. But that doesn’t mean Harbaugh will let that history cloud his judgment.

Asked specifically about tight end Coby Fleener, a player who’s been valued by draft experts to be a late first, early

second-round pick, Harbaugh admitted he thinks highly of the Stanford tight end for a number of reasons.

Chief among them:

“You’ve got history, day-to-day history for years, recruiting history, family history and personal history,” Harbaugh

said. “Coby Fleener won us games. I love these (Stanford) guys, maybe I am the over-evaluator.

“It probably takes some checks and balances with the guys I know so well.”

At Stanford, Harbaugh’s offense utilized a heavy dose of tight end-friendly personnel packages. At San

Francisco, the tight ends were used heavily, but many times, it was extra tackles or defensive linemen used at

the position.

The reality of the situation is that Harbaugh won’t be able to draft every player he likes on the 49ers roster. It’s

just the nature of the business.

“Most of these players are going to play against you – that’s just the facts,” Harbaugh said. “There’s 31 other

teams that are picking. We all do the best jobs we can evaluating all these players… and then you have to

understand you can’t get them. You can’t get most of them. You can’t even get a high percentage of them.”

The 49ers, however, would like to keep a high percentage of their own free agents.

“Knowing who they are, it makes you

want to compete for them,” Harbaugh

said. “They are 49ers. They play like

49ers, they play their hearts out.

Therefore, you want those guys on

your side.”

Harbaugh repeated his stance that

free agent-to-be Alex Smith is “our

guy.”But the coach added, “When the

quarterback is not signed, it tends to

have you lose sleep.”

Another thing that you’d expect to

have Harbaugh up late at night, losing

in the NFC Championship game,

hasn’t brought out the bitter feelings as

one might expect.

Harbaugh, unlike general manager Trent Baalke, has reviewed the overtime loss to the eventual Super Bowl

champion New York Giants.

There were evaluation and technical reasons to do it, but more importantly and simply to Harbaugh, “You feel

so proud that you’re part of a team that played their hearts out… I love watching our guys play.”

Strike gold this St. Patrick’s Day holiday with a pot of gold you can make (and eat) with your family!

Ingredients

3-ounce box of lemon-flavor gelatin

6 limes

Sugar

1 teaspoon whipped cream

Instructions

1. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with plastic wrap, leaving several inches of overhang on each side (this will make removing the gelatin easier). 2. Combine a 3-ounce box of lemon-flavor gelatin and 1 cup of boiling water in a medium bowl, stirring until the gelatin is dissolved. Stir in 1 cup of cold water, then pour the mixture into the baking dish.

3. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and chill the gelatin for 4 hours or until firm, then slice the gelatin into 1/2-inch cubes. 4. Cut off the top quarter of each of 6 limes, then, without cutting into the fruit, slice a thin layer of peel from the bottom of each one to help them stand upright. With a small knife, cut around the inside of each lime's rind to loosen the pulp, then spoon it out to make a shell.

5. Place a pinch of sugar and 1 teaspoon of whipped cream in the bottom of each shell, then fill each lime pot with gelatin gold. Makes 6.

Recipe courtesy of Disney Family Fun Magazine

In NFLRZ, players can: Create their own game character called an "avatar" which can explore the NFLRZ online world Play numerous games Chat with other players in a safe and secure manner, where no one is able to use profanity or share their real names, ages, or addresses Watch animated videos Discover hidden items, including pet-like characters called "Gameballz," which your child must feed and care for inside NFLRZ Earn "Pigskins" (NFLRZ's virtual currency) and spend them on new gear and NFL team jerseys for their avatar, which helps teach kids about earning currency, saving and spending it wisely.

Hometown: Santa Clara, CA What did you want to be when you grew up? A bus driver. How long have you been working here? I just finished my second season with the team in the marketing department. What do you do for the 49ers? I oversee the 49ers Kids Club and youth initiatives, help out with 49ers mascot Sourdough Sam, and assist in marketing promotions and special events. What did you study in school? Physical Education. It was awesome being able to play games and sports with my professors, but I also learned how to teach sports to kids and motivate them to stay active. How did that help you get this job? I got a second degree in Sport Management (business) which set me up for internships in the sports in-dustry and gave me experience in marketing and events. What’s your favorite part about working for the 49ers? The people who work here are friendly, full of energy, love football and being in a team atmosphere. I also enjoy bringing 49ers football to youth all over Northern California in different facets - and definitely love the cafeteria food. What advice would you give someone who

wants to work in sports? Volunteer for your local sport organizations, or try your hand at coaching or refereeing. I never played traditional sports (I was a competitive jump roper) but it taught me leader-ship, patience, and teamwork. If you find something you love, it’s so much easier to be successful. Do you have any funny experiences with a 49ers player? I helped direct the holiday e-card, which required me to dress some of the football players in ugly sweaters. The look on Patrick Willis’ face when I told him he was going to wear a Santa sweater was priceless. And lastly: I’m so proud of the team and organization this past season and cannot wait for Draft Day and next season to start!