Credit: www.cbssports.com

According to tweets from CBS Sports reporter Jason La Canfora, the San Francisco 49ers are in talks with TV analyst Eric Mangini for a consultant job with the team. Mangini currently works for ESPN and he is the former head coach of the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns.

Former Jets head coach Eric Mangini, currently a broadcast analyst, has been in talks with the 49ers about a consulting position

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) May 15, 2013

Mangini’s role with the 49ers, if it came together, would be to assist the offense with ideas on how to prepare for certain defenses, etc

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) May 15, 2013

Mangini did not have much success in his years with the Jets (23-25 record) and Browns (10-32 record), but there is no doubt he has tremendous football smarts. I believe he would be a great hire and addition to Jim Harbaugh’s staff.

If hired, Mangini would consult with the offensive line on defensive fronts the team is facing each week. Now you are probably thinking the 49ers have one of the best, if not the best, offensive lines in NFL. So why hire him?

One reason is if you look at each game the 49ers lost/tied last season, San Francisco gave up 3, 6, 4, 2.5 and 1 sack respectively in those games. Also, the offensive line ranked 30^th in sacks per pass play last season, which does not exactly scream the best offensive line in the NFL. Mangini would help limit the sacks the offensive line gives up each game.

Another reason is, why not hire Mangini? He will only make the offensive line better by bringing his extensive defensive and offensive knowledge to San Francisco. He will help the 49ers beat teams like the Seattle Seahawks whose defense held the Niners to only 13 points in each game last season.

What do you think Niner fans? Is it a smart move to hire Mangini?

Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After leading the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in only his second season, quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been the most talked about Niner this offseason. With his new celebrity status Kaepernick presented the Vocal Duo of the Year at the Country Music Awards and most recently met he with First Lady Michelle Obama. He even got a picture with the First Lady Kaepernicking.

The offseason attention is only growing with the news that Kaepernick will be featured in ESPN the Magazine’s Body Issue. Not only will Kap’s physique be on display, but also his numerous tattoos on his body. Before the Super Bowl, Kap said in an interview that each of his tattoos signify something that he believes in. Of course none of his offseason activities has prevented or distracted him from his workouts and preparing for the new the season.

Kaepernick on being featured in the Body Issue:

Being selected by ESPN the Magazine for the body issue is an incredible honor. Thank you for believing in me, my 49ers family, and my INK!

Kap is not the first Niner to appear in the Body Issue. Linebacker Patrick Willis was featured in the 2010 edition. Speaking of Willis, a new funny commercial for Foot Locker was released that featured the linebacker. He shot the commercial back in March and it’s hilarious. See the video of the commercial below.

Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday wrapped up the San Francisco 49ers 2013 three-day rookie minicamp at team headquarters in Santa Clara, CA. Last season, the 49ers were the only team in the NFL not to have a rookie make start in a game at any point in 2012. Don’t expect San Francisco to repeat that this season.

[Photo gallery from San Francisco 49ers rookie minicamp]

The two positions were rookies will likely start this season are at safety and defensive end. The selection of first-round draft pick Eric Reid will fill the void at strong safety and he will likely be starting by Week 1. While second-round draft and defensive lineman, Tank Carradine, will likely start at some point in 2013 because of injuries to other players on defense.

With the rookie minicamp ending on Sunday, the rookies will not have much rest as they continue their workouts this week. This time they will be joined by the veterans and entire roster for a helmet-free fundamental workout to prepare for Organized Team Activities that start on May 21.

Here are some highlights from the 49ers’ rookie minicamp:

• Safety Eric Reid, a first-round draft pick, and tight end Vance McDonald, a second-round draft pick, went one-on-one plenty of times on the practice field. Reid broke up one pass in a drill and in another he closed in quickly to bat down a B.J. Daniels‘ pass intended for McDonald on an underneath route. In fact, McDonald did not hold onto a couple catchable passes. But McDonald did make a nice catch on a deep corner route after beating Reid.

• Wide receiver Quinton Patton (fourth-round) did not look good in his route-running and was described as “predictable” in his routes. He did receive positive marks for his explosiveness off the line. He also was seen on the field catching punts and did a nice job of dodging tacklers.

• Even though Tank Carradine will likely start at some point this season, he was not medically cleared to practice at the rookie minicamp. Neither was running back Marcus Lattimore (fourth-round). There was a possibility Carradine would take part at the workouts, however, he is still recovering from a knee injury. Lattimore was not a surprise as he is not even expected to play this season as he recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

• Quarterback B.J. Daniels (seventh-round) not only took snaps under center, but also lined up at running back, and fielded punts and kickoffs. Daniels will be competing for third-string QB and if he does not make the team as a quarterback, his versatility could land him a spot on the roster. It should be noted that Daniels never played at running back or fielded punts and kickoffs before. At quarterback, Daniels struggled the first day, but he improved his accuracy the second day with good throws to receivers.

• Another QB taking snaps was undrafted rookie Nate Montana. The son of Joe Montana is a long-shot to make the team and he was inconsistent with his throws to receivers. There is a chance Montana can jump ahead of Daniels for a shot to make the final roster. But even Daniels is a long-shot to make the team.

• Former Olympic discus thrower and current defensive lineman Lawrence Okoye spent a lot of the rookie minicamp working one-on-one with defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. Reports said Okoye “looked natural and reflexive at the right defensive end position at the snap of the ball.” However, it should be noted that Okoye did not fare well against the rookie offensive linemen when going through drills. It looks like he has a long way to go before realizing his dreams of playing in the NFL.

• Cornerback Marcus Cooper (seventh-round) was one of highlights at the rookie minicamp because of his solid job covering receviers. Most the time he was lined up against Quinton Patton as a left cornerback. He held his own against Patton by breaking up passes and not allowing any deep passes to be completed against him.

Jim Harbaugh talks about 49ers rookie minicamp: