News & Info/Headlines

The San Francisco 49ers landed another wide receiver in a headline-making week for the NFC West champions, agreeing to terms Saturday with free agent Mario Manningham on a two-year contract.

Randy Moss joined the roster last Monday.

Now, as Associated Press sports writer Janie McCauley asked, "The big question is who will be throwing them the ball: Peyton Manning or Alex Smith?"

Manningham met Thursday with the 49ers, who still appear to have interest in Manning after coach Jim Harbaugh worked him out Tuesday at Duke University. Manning worked out for the Tennessee Titans on Saturday and it appears he will now choose between them, San Francisco and the Denver Broncos.

Smith, meanwhile, was in Miami Sunday morning visiting with the Dolphins.

Asked about the sudden pursuit of Manning, Smith told reporters, "I'm never surprised by anything."

Indeed, the 49ers adding Manningham shouldn't come as a major surprise.

As ESPN.com's Mike Sando reminded readers last night, Manningham scored go-ahead touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10 and again in the NFC Championship Game.

If those plays did not get the 49ers' attention, Manningham's clutch 38-yard reception to sustain the winning touchdown drive in Super Bowl XLVI surely did.

He had five more receptions for 73 yards in the Giants' 21-17 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, including an over-the-shoulder 38-yard catch between two defenders on which he managed to stay inbounds to start the game-winning, 88-yard touchdown drive.

The 25-year-old Manningham had 39 catches for 523 yards and four touchdowns total last year in his fourth NFL season.

The Scouts Inc. report on Manningham heading into the 2011 season said he "runs well but is quicker than fast and gets separation out of his break points with great burst and agility. ... He isn't a physical blocker but is effective at walling off on the perimeter. Manningham is a good, young receiver with big-play ability."

The 49ers will presumably have the 6-foot, 185-pound Manningham work on the blocking part. As Sando notes, former 49er Josh Morgan was a ferocious blocker for years. Crabtree developed into one last season.

Manningham will join an upgraded receiving corps that also includes Moss, who signed a one-year contract Monday, and Michael Crabtree, the team's 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Texas Tech who had 72 receptions for 874 yards and four touchdowns in 2011.

"It's going down. Mario Manningham signs with 49ers. This is a sick WR squad. It's going to be crazy on the Offensive side of the ball," tweeted defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois.

Add the presence of Vernon Davis and it's hard to argue the Niners receiving corps doesn't have vast potential.

So, that too could be attractive to Manning, even though there's speculation he would prefer to stay in the AFC and not have to regularly face off with his younger brother.

Smith had been expected to re-sign with the 49ers and acknowledged he was weighing a three-year contract offer-but that all might have changed in a matter of a few days once Manning entered the 49ers' picture. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on its Web site Saturday, citing a league source, that Smith was considering changing agents from Tom Condon, who also represents Manning.

Meanwhile, Manning is expected to make a decision soon. But Smith's visit could put some pressure on the 49ers, who reportedly have a 3-year, $24 million offer on the table for their incumbent starter. It's safe to say Manning will work on his own timetable. And it now appears Smith will work on his.

Stay tuned. Somebody is going to have a pretty good receiving corps to throw to.