It’s Over for Phillips in San Francisco

San Francisco Coach Steve Mariucci confirmed what General Manager Bill Walsh had already said, announcing Monday that troubled running back Lawrence Phillips will never again play for the team.

The 49ers suspended Phillips indefinitely for “conduct detrimental to the team” after an incident at practice Friday. Mariucci said Phillips will remain suspended and the 49ers plan to release him after they investigate the salary cap ramifications of such a move.

Phillips became increasingly frustrated with his dwindling role with the team and refused to participate in a practice drill Friday, causing the team to suspend him.

Mariucci also said the 49ers were looking into the possibility of signing veteran quarterback Jeff Hostetler, who was waived after the 1998 season by the Washington Redskins.

“There are no words to describe this. We’re just not very good,” safety Tim McDonald said after San Francisco’s latest loss, a 24-6 setback to New Orleans on Sunday. “We’re letting some things snowball on us. We better stop it or it could get pretty embarrassing.”

“It’s like a nightmare and I’m waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up to tell me we’re 8-2 or 9-1,” linebacker Winfred Tubbs said.

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After months of tinkering and trying to find ways to make the New York Giant offense go, Jim Fassel is considering the radical change of using the spread offense more often. The formation, which uses at least three receivers, mostly one back and tight end Pete Mitchell, produced two fourth-quarter touchdowns and had the team in position for another in the closing minutes of the 27-19 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday.

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Muhsin Muhammad, the Carolina receiver sidelined Sunday by a bruised sternum, is expected to be back in the lineup Sunday against Cleveland. Muhammad, who leads the Panthers with 56 receptions for 868 yards, left Sunday’s game against St. Louis when he was hit hard on an incomplete pass in the third quarter. He returned to make three more catches before being taken to a hospital for tests.

Running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka, sidelined for the past three games, is scheduled to test his sprained right ankle again Wednesday.