Donahue Moves Up in Ranks of the 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers promoted player personnel director Terry Donahue to assistant general manager on Thursday, another step in paving the way for Bill Walsh’s eventual retirement.

Walsh, 68, indicated Wednesday that he could step down after this season. Donahue has been considered Walsh’s heir apparent since joining the 49ers in 1999.

“I have another year on my contract following this one,” Walsh said at the 49ers’ training camp, “but I wouldn’t eliminate the possibility of stepping away sooner.”

Donahue, the former UCLA coach, will continue to be involved with the draft process and expand his responsibilities in contract negotiations, personnel decisions and administrative duties, Walsh said.

“As time goes on,” Donahue said, “I’ll start taking more of those responsibilities on.

“I want to play. It’s like being the backup quarterback. You want to play,” he said. “For me to say, ‘No, I’m going to be patient forever,’ that’s not accurate. I want to play, but at the same time I want to be respectful and appreciative of what Bill Walsh has meant to this organization.”

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The Pittsburgh Steelers turned one of Carolina’s three turnovers into Kordell Stewart’s four-yard scoring run and their third consecutive exhibition victory, 13-0, over the Panthers at Pittsburgh.

Stewart was one of seven for eight yards against the Panthers.

The Panthers got bad news after the game, when they learned receiver Patrick Jeffers, who ended last season with five consecutive 100-yard games, tore a knee ligament during the game and is out for the season.

Jeffers was the Panthers’ second leading receiver last season, making 63 catches for 1,082 yards and 12 touchdowns. His five consecutive 100-yard games were two short of the NFL record.

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Michael Irvin is innocent, his attorney said a day after the retired Cowboy receiver was arrested at a north Dallas apartment on a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.

“The marijuana was not his, he did not possess any marijuana,” Howard Shapiro said.

Irvin still has not been formally charged with the Class B misdemeanor.

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The Oakland Raiders waived Charles Mincy, the team’s starting free safety for the final six games last season.

Mincy was expected to be backup to Anthony Dorsett, who the Raiders picked up along with free-agent safeties J’Rod Cherry and Marquez Pope in the off-season. But Johnnie Harris beat him out for the role.

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San Diego Charger quarterback Ryan Leaf and receiver Curtis Conway left practice because of injuries.

Leaf felt a pop in his throwing shoulder and Conway re-injured a troublesome hamstring.

Both players underwent MRIs after practice and the results were expected today.

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Olindo Mare of the Dolphins kicked his fifth field goal with nine seconds left to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 15-13, in an exhibition at Miami.

Mike Quinn, competing for the third-string quarterback job, moved Miami 44 yards in the final 1:03 to set up Mare’s game-winning kick, a 42-yarder.