What about Bob? Glauber's NFL Blog

... and now there's no guarantee he will beat out undrafted free agent Shaun Hill for the 49ers' starting job this season.

Unbelievable.

Smith did a huge favor for me in 2005. I had him going to the 49ers in my mock draft, and actually left Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers out of the round. I knew it was a huge risk keeping Rodgers out of the round, but I also knew that if the 49ers didn't pick him, he'd fall a long way. If not out of the first round, then at least pretty far down.

There was some debate on whether the 49ers would take Smith or Rodgers, so needless to say it was a massive relief when they took Smith. And Rodgers did fall. In fact, had the Packers not taken him at 25th overall, I think he would have dropped completely out of the round.

My, how things have changed. Smith might lose his job to a no-name, and Rodgers now takes over for Brett Favre.

The 49ers' newly signed receiver has decided not to wear No. 80 out of respect to Niners legend Jerry Rice. Bruce had worn the same number during his long and productive career with the Rams.

Good call, Isaac.

Now it's your turn, 49ers. It's time to retire the number permanently.

Isaac Bruce hasn't said whether he'd like to continue wearing No. 80 now that he's with the 49ers.

Of course, No. 80 was worn by none other than future Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice, who has no objections to Bruce wearing his old number.

"I have always respected Isaac Bruce," Rice said on his show "Late Hits," according to a transcript provided by Sirius Satellite Radio. "I don't know what is going to happen in that scenario, but if it was left up to me, I would say, 'Yeah.' For Steve Largent to do what he did for me, he showed me a side of him where I just feel like I have to do the same thing. He set the standard."

Largent wore No. 80 with the Seahawks, but gave Rice his blessing to wear the number when Rice played for the Seahawks in 2004. Rice took some heat from Seahawks fans for wearing Largent's old number, and Bruce would surely invite criticism if he wears No. 80 in San Francisco.

Our advice to Bruce, venerable receiver who wore No. 80 for 14 mostly brilliant seasons with the Rams: Take a different number.

Within minutes of the free agency signing period, the 49ers lost guard Justin Smiley to the Dolphins.

But they have just signed another Justin, one who figures to help their team a lot more than a guard. It's Bengals free agent defensive end Justin Smith.