Team allocated rookie salary cap pool

With an impressive Sunday afternoon 27-24 win against the Los Angeles Rams, it seems like the 49ers are reaching the expectations fans had for the team before the season. Sitting at a 10-7 record with the 6th seed in the NFC, they now look to face the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday. With the 49ers being as dangerous as teams come in the NFL currently, it's hard to remember that, just prior to the season, San Francisco went through an overhaul in terms of organization on the coaching and leadership staff. Former pass-game coordinator Mike LaFleur and, most importantly, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh both departed for the Jets, leaving huge vacancies to fill during the offseason. Fortunately, the Niners elevated Mike McDaniel to fill an offensive coordinator role and former

Ambry Thomas' first NFL start came in Week 14, and it was a miserable outing. Yes, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 26-23, but the rookie cornerback surrendered three catches for 81 yards and a touchdown while being responsible for two penalties. Thomas earned the lowest overall Pro Football Focus grade of his six starts in that game. Those numbers have greatly improved since then. Thomas' 73.4 overall grade in Sunday's playoff win against the Dallas Cowboys was the rookie's highest of the season. He allowed two targets for 24 yards and just four total yards after the catch while recording a pass breakup. Thomas was inactive for five of the 49ers' first seven games. The word "bust" was being prematurely thrown out by some. The cornerback is

Two San Francisco 49ers players were named to their first NFL All-Pro team. One is third-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel, one of the most dynamic players in the game. The second is the team's nine-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle, Trent Williams. Both were first-team selections. Until now, Williams, a first-round draft pick in 2010, has gone his entire career without being named to an All-Pro team, which may be difficult to believe. On Thursday, a reporter asked the veteran tackle what it would mean to finally be named an All-Pro. "I think it would feel good, finally," Williams responded. "It sucks because I can't let it define my career because I've never made it. If I felt like that's what I needed to define my career, then anything I've done up to

When the 49ers clash with the Cowboys on Sunday, it should be a barroom brawl any frontiersman could tip his hat to. The 49ers have the talent and the passion to produce a win on Sunday. Still, many questions remain: Will Trent Williams really be able to play? Will Jimmy Garoppolo plow through the game with an injured thumb again this week? Will the 49ers shed their tendency toward injury for just long enough to broach a deep run into the playoffs, starting with a win over the Cowboys? Although these are all great questions, here's an even better one: Which 49ers team will show up to duke it out against a hot Cowboys team? There's a right answer to this question and, of course, a