NFL NOTES : 49ers Decide to Keep Four QBs

On a day the 49ers cut 18 players to get down to the 53-player limit, the biggest questions surrounded two players they kept: backup quarterbacks Jim Druckenmiller and Steve Stenstrom.

It was widely assumed that either Druckenmiller, the team’s maligned first-round pick from two years ago, or Stenstrom, a free-agent signee, would be released in Sunday’s final cutdown with the survivor joining Steve Young and Jeff Garcia as the team’s quarterbacks.

Instead, the 49ers opted to keep four quarterbacks, cutting themselves short in such areas as the offensive line, where they have nine players instead of the normal complement of 10, and wide receivers, where they have four instead of five.

“It is unusual to carry four quarterbacks,” Coach Steve Mariucci said. “Right now, that’s how it is.

“I don’t know if it’s possible to do that the entire season. If you end up getting banged up in one position or you have a certain need that you have to fill and, you know, you’ve got a lot of guys sitting watching Steve Young work, then you’ve got to rethink that whole thing.”

Mariucci left open the possibility that the roster could change quickly, either through a possible waiver claim or even a trade.

“We’re working around the clock to alter or improve the roster,” Mariucci said.

*

Running back Rashaan Salaam, the 1994 Heisman Trophy winner, was among 17 players cut by the Oakland Raiders.

Salaam, who didn’t play last season after three injury-plagued seasons in Chicago, had a solid training camp and preseason. But Tyrone Wheatley was even more productive and wound up with a spot on the roster.

“He played well,” Oakland Coach Jon Gruden said of Salaam. “We gave him a long look, but Wheatley has really caught our eye over the last two weeks, both in practice and games. Special teams play also was a major factor.”

*

The Tennessee Titans cut veteran defensive back Darryll Lewis, making him one of the NFL’s most sought-after players, at least for a few days.

Lewis, who has 25 interceptions over the last five years, was cut because he lost his starting job and the $2 million he’s due to make is too much to pay a nickel back. Six teams immediately called his agent.

Lewis, a nine-year veteran, was beaten out for the starting job by second-year Samari Rolle and then cut in what looks to be a difference of opinion between Coach Jeff Fisher and Jeff Diamond, the new team president.

“Nowhere in this did we ever expect not to have Darryll back,” Fisher said. “I believe he can still play a number of years, if not as a starter, as a premier third-down nickel back.”

Lewis’ agent, Ken Zuckerman, said he had received calls from San Francisco, Dallas, San Diego, the New York Jets, Carolina and Buffalo as soon as they saw Lewis’ name on the waiver wire.

*

Veteran punter Louie Aguiar was among 18 players released as the Kansas City Chiefs trimmed their roster to 53 players.

Rookie Daniel Pope, acquired on waivers from Detroit, replaces Aguiar.

“It came down to Danny Pope and his hang time,” Chief Coach Gunther Cunningham said. “I feel like we can get the ball in our hands off the punt. He hung the ball 4.8, 4.9 [seconds], and I think he’ll average around 44 [yards].”

The Chiefs also settled on Todd Collins over undrafted rookie Ted White from Howard University in Washington, D.C., as their third-string quarterback.

*

The St. Louis Rams will seek counseling for offensive line coach Jim Hanifan, who was arrested on drunken driving charges.

Hanifan, 65, was stopped about 3 a.m. Saturday in St. Charles, Mo., for a traffic violation. Hanifan took a breath test at the police station, was charged and then released.