Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers and Levi Strauss & Co held a press conference and pep rally on Wednesday to announce the company’s proposal for the Niners new stadium naming rights. The proposal will officially be presented to the Santa Clara Stadium Authority (SCSA) on May 9. The proposal is for a 20-year, $220 million naming rights agreement for the new place to be called “Levi’s Stadium.”

The SCSA oversees and approves the functions of the 49ers new stadium set to open in 2014. It’s a foregone conclusion the new stadium in Santa Clara will be called Levi’s Stadium and feature the company’s name throughout the stadium. One reason is because the 49ers basically run the SCSA. Plus, you don’t hold a press conference and pep rally to announce the proposal if you didn’t think it will get approved.

In attendance at the pep rally at Levi’s headquarters in San Francisco were 49ers players Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, Colin Kaepernick, Justin Smith and Patrick Willis. Also at the pep rally were head coach Jim Harbaugh, general manager Trent Baalke and 49ers CEO Jed York.

No matter what the new Santa Clara stadium is called, I will likely refer it as The South Stick (Santa Clara is in the South Bay) or New Candlestick Park, rather than the official name. If Levi’s Stadium is the name I guess it’s better than names Candlestick Park had in previous years, like Monster Park and 3Com Park. Since the team is moving 40 miles south of The City, it’s great to see a partnership with a San Francisco based company. Levi Strauss founded the company in 1853 to open a dry goods store for gold miners in San Francisco. 20 years later, the company started making the first denim blue jeans.

One question I do have with the proposal is will the playing field be called Bill Walsh Field like it is now at Candlestick Park? In August 2007, then San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom had the city of San Francisco rename the playing field as Bill Walsh Field to honor the legendary head coach. It is rarely called that by TV commentators because the stadium is contractually obligated to retain Candlestick Park as its name. And from what I can recall there is only one sign in the stadium that refers to Bill Walsh Field. Let’s hope the new Santa Clara stadium continues the tradition of Bill Walsh Field.

Here is a picture released by the 49ers of what the signage in the new stadium could look like:

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Credit: Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

If Jim Harbaugh had no doubt who would be the starting QB for the San Francisco 49ers against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, he would come out and say it, right?  That would be the logic action to take for the sanity of Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and the rest of the 49ers players.  One reason why he may not be saying anything one way or the other is to mess with the Saints so they have to prepare for two QB’s with different playing styles.

I believe Harbaugh is leaning towards one quarterback, but he is waiting to see if Smith is medically cleared first so he doesn’t have to show his hand.  My guess on Harbaugh’s thinking is Kaepernick deserves to start, but the starting job is Smith’s.  From this point forward, if Smith is named the starter, Harbaugh will have a very short leash on him.

To me, it’s the opposite of a controversy. A controversy is an argument from opposing points of view. This is coming at it from a team aspect. Jim Harbaugh

Smith was back at practice on Wednesday wearing a non-contact black jersey.  However, he is still waiting to be cleared to play on Sunday.

Aldon Smith Win’s NFC Defensive Player of the Week Award

While one Smith on the 49ers is a question mark for Sunday’s game, Drew Brees and the Saints offense is hoping another Smith, Aldon, will miss the game for any reason.  Especially after Aldon recorded 5.5 sacks against the Bears and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.  Smith posted a career-high in sacks last Monday and also added four tackles as he menaced Jason Campbell and the Bears terrible offensive line.  Quite simply, Aldon Smith is a beast.

After his performance on Monday Night Football, Smith now leads the NFL in sacks with 15.  He is on pace to have 22 sacks this season.  This is the second time a Niners player won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award this season.  Patrick Willis won the award in week 4 after recording 10 tackles and two passes defended against the Jets.