Daily Madden: Kyle Williams' Stand-Up Moment
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - 49ers punt returner Kyle Williams met with reporters for a second time Monday to take full responsibility for his two turnovers in the 49ers loss in the NFC championship game. His fumble in overtime resulted in the Giants' game-winning field goal.
"No one feels worse than the guy who did it," John Madden told the KCBS morning crew. "No coach, no teammate, no one has to tell him 'boy, you really fouled up.' He knows it. And he knows it more than anyone else does, and you can't hurt him anymore than he hurts himself... I don't know how long it takes for that feeling to go away."
49er fans would like to see the entire starting defense back for next season, but Madden said that's a difficult task.
"The game doesn't let you do that anymore," Madden said. "With salary cap and free agency, everything has to fit. You have to have the players under contract and then that has to fit with your salary cap. It usually doesn't happen that way."
Madden said he likes the strategy that has worked for teams like the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"The next thing you go to is you know, 'we can't keep the same team, but we can keep the core...' The Steelers do a good job of keeping their core and changing all the other people. And I think that's what the 49ers have to strive for."
As quarterback Peyton Manning continues his recovery from neck surgery, there's speculation he won't return to the Indianapolis Colts, who went 2-14 without him this season. John Madden said there's a more fundamental question.
"Are his nerves going to regenerate so that he can play?" Madden said. "If that happens, and he can play, then I would think that he would be with the Colts."
But his future as a pro quarterback is uncertain. "
I had a medical doctor tell me that anyone that tells you that they know when nerves will come back is lying," Madden said. (9:00)
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.
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