Hearst Gets Starting Job

More than 32 months after a broken ankle nearly ended his career, Garrison Hearst will start for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in the season opener against Atlanta.

Hearst, a former Pro Bowler who rushed for 4,509 yards with three teams from 1995-98, hasn’t played since a January 1999 playoff game in which he broke his left leg just above the ankle.

On Tuesday night, Coach Steve Mariucci confirmed what he has said since training camp began: If Hearst were healthy for the season opener, he would regain the starting role he held in 1998.

“We’ll start with Garrison, and we’ll use [rookie] Kevan Barlow quite a bit also,” Mariucci said. “Our plan is to mix everybody into the lineup.”

The 49ers, who lost Charlie Garner to free agency in the off-season, have no experienced running backs except Hearst. Paul Smith and Jonas Lewis, who played mostly on special teams last season, will vie with Barlow for playing time behind Hearst.

“The last time I played, Steve Young and Jerry Rice were both on the field, and for two years we were in the playoffs,” Hearst said Monday. “I hope I can bring that playoff mentality back with me. It’s a different mentality when you come here and expect to get in the Super Bowl.”

The 49ers also waived quarterback Rick Mirer, the former No. 2 overall draft pick who has played for five NFL teams.

The move comes one day after Mariucci said second-year pro Tim Rattay, who has thrown one NFL pass, had beaten out Mirer for the 49ers’ backup job behind Jeff Garcia.

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Quarterback Ryan Leaf cleared waivers and is weighing several offers, with the Dallas Cowboys at or near the top of his list.

Dallas wooed Leaf in March and considered making him the replacement to Troy Aikman, but couldn’t afford to pick up his existing contract. The Cowboys instead went with Tony Banks for about half the price, then cut him and made rookie Quincy Carter the starter.

Leaf is a free agent now and could be signed for $418,000, the minimum for a fourth-year veteran. His role would be as the third-stringer behind Carter and Anthony Wright.

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Darrell Green launched his farewell tour with candor, grace and a plea for fans to support the charity that has become a huge part of his life for 13 years.

The 41-year-old Washington Redskin cornerback, the oldest player ever to play his position, said he will retire at the end of the season.

“I learned a long time ago that this is just a job, a means to an end,” Green said. “Now it’s time for the real deal.”

Green made his announcement shortly after Coach Marty Schottenheimer revealed that second-round draft pick Fred Smoot had won the starting cornerback job over Green. Green said the coach’s move played no part in his decision to retire.

Once the season is over, Green will devote much of his time to the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation, which he founded in 1988. The foundation has a children’s learning center in Northeast Washington, and Green would like to establish more across the country.

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The NFL and its locked-out officials got nowhere in negotiations, despite facing a midweek deadline to reach a deal or go into the regular season with the replacements who worked last week’s exhibition games.

After saying last weekend that there was a good chance of a deal, hopes seemed to be fading. Both sides will meet again today.

Tom Condon, the chief negotiator for NFL Referees Association, wouldn’t even describe Tuesday’s talks as “negotiations” between two sides that are from 50-75% apart in their salary proposals.

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No negotiations are planned between the Bengals and defensive end Justin Smith, the only first-round draft pick still without a contract. The Bengals aren’t about to budge off their offer even though the player chosen right after Smith got a more favorable deal, executive vice president Katie Blackburn said....The Dolphins waived running back Autry Denson because they have been pleased with the play of third-round draft pick Travis Minor ....The Ravens signed former Viking running back Moe Williams, who will play behind another former Viking back, Terry Allen