Stubblefield Takes Seat As Greene Joins Lineup

One day into his new job with the San Francisco 49ers, pass-rush specialist Kevin Greene registered an unlikely sack: Dana Stubblefield.

After signing off Wednesday on a six-year, $13 million contract, Greene took part in his first practice with the 49ers, who installed him as a starting left end in their nickel and dime defensive packages. In those alignments, end Roy Barker will slide inside and Stubblefield, a two-time Pro Bowl selection at defensive tackle, goes to the sidelines.

“I guess I’m just a base (defense) player now,” Stubblefield said. “No person that has started for a while likes the fact that he’s being taken out of a position and, of course, I don’t. But if it’s going to help the team, I’m all for it. I’m not going to harp on it.”

Defensive coordinator John Marshall said he didn’t think the lineup shuffling, which comes five days before the 49ers open the season at Tampa Bay, would cause problems.

“I don’t think it will upset the chemistry at all and if it does, we’ll have to nip it in the bud,” Marshall said. “They’re all mature guys. If somebody gets replaced in a situation or isn’t playing as much or isn’t playing the same position or whatever those things are, you give them a day or so to be mad or sulk and all that stuff. But after that, hey, you go on.”

Greene, 35, who spoke to Stubblefield during a break in the afternoon practice, said he was happy with his reception from his new teammates.

“There’s a respect factor there,” Greene said. “These guys can see that I respect them and what they’ve done. But I know the Pro Bowlers on this team. I know these guys and I think they know me. They know I’m a competitor and they know I’m going to put everything I have on the line. Whatever I have, it’s there for their benefit.”

Seau rated 50-50

While they once thought star linebacker Junior Seau would miss at least the season opener, the San Diego Chargers now have about a 50-50 chance of getting him back for Sunday’s game at New England.

Seau practiced Wednesday for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee Aug. 4. He was listed as questionable on the first injury report of the season.

“I feel great,” Seau said before participating in about one-third of practice.

But, he added, “I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize the whole season. If Junior doesn’t feel good and feels that he can’t play up to the capability of helping this team, he’s not going to go out.”

Seau refused to meet with reporters after practice.

Also listed as questionable are defensive end William Fuller, fullback Carwell Gardner and tight end Alfred Pupunu. All are coming off knee injuries.

Bishop signs six-year deal

Blaine Bishop got what he wanted from the Tennessee Oilers - a six-year contract that makes him one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL.

The strong safety, the Oilers’ leading tackler the past two seasons, signed a multi-year contract Wednesday after passing his physical.

Wednesday was the deadline established by the Oilers for signing Bishop and getting him sufficient practice time to play in Sunday’s opener against Oakland.

Terms of the deal were not announced, but the Nashville Banner reported that Bishop will get $18 million over six years with a $3.5 million signing bonus. Bishop had been looking for at least $2.42 million a year, the average for the top five safeties.

Phillips ready to go

St. Louis Rams running back Lawrence Phillips, limited to two carries in the final exhibition game by a sore left knee, was cleared to play in the season opener.

“I expect Phillips to play all four quarters,” coach Dick Vermeil said, referring to Sunday’s game against New Orleans. “We expect to do some things without him in the game and we don’t expect him to be in there every snap, but I expect him to play all four quarters.”

Phillips led the Rams with 82 yards on 27 carries in the preseason, a sub-par 3.0 average with a long gain of 11 yards. He had only 3 yards on two attempts against Kansas City last weekend before calling it quits.

On Monday, Phillips visited a specialist in Chicago who agreed with the Rams’ diagnosis that there was nothing structurally wrong with the knee. Phillips had surgery on the knee in the off-season.

NFL fines Dronett

The NFL fined defensive lineman Shane Dronett $7,500 for an illegal hit on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart during an Aug. 17 exhibition game, the league said.

Dronett, then a member of the Detroit Lions, rolled over on Stewart’s knee during the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s 28-20 victory. The 6-foot-6, 288-pounder was called for a personal foul on the play.

Stewart left the game after one play and was diagnosed with a mild knee strain. He won’t miss any of the regular season.

Dronett was cut by the Lions on Sunday and signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

Bears cut UW’s Sapp

The Chicago Bears have given up on their third-round draft pick, guard Bob Sapp, waiving the 300-pound rookie.

Sapp is the highest Bears draft choice not to make the team since defensive end Ralph Jarvis, a third-round pick and the team’s fourth choice in 1988.

The 6-foot-4 Sapp was the Bears’ second 1997 pick - the 69th NFL selection overall - after a college career at Washington, where he was chosen the Pac-10’s top offensive lineman his senior year by the league’s defensive linemen. He played in all five preseason games for Chicago but coaches said he didn’t show much progress during training camp.

Colts sign Chung

The Indianapolis Colts signed former first-round draft pick Eugene Chung, continuing to seek depth for an offensive line that includes two rookie starters.

A first-round pick of New England in 1992, Chung, a guard, is with his fifth NFL team.

“Someone has a lot of faith in me here. It’s an opportunity I’m going to take full advantage of,” said the 6-foot-5, 311-pound Chung, who was with the Green Bay Packers until their final cut on Sunday.

After starting 30 games and playing in 35 with the Patriots, Chung was selected by Jacksonville in the 1995 expansion draft. After one year with Jacksonville, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with San Francisco but was released before the 1996 season began and joined the Packers.