... 2010, there will be a lull in the action until training camp opens in mid July.

Beware, however; when the pads are put on, the roster begins shrinking—and the level of competition jumps up a few notches.

The dreaded nutcracker, among many contact drills, looms large in the mind of many 49ers.

Coach Mike Singletary dismissed players early, canceling the final day of OTAs on Saturday. This does not mean Singletary is getting soft, however.

Nutcracker drills (as I remember them) start with two players lying on their backs in a confined space. One has the ball. At the whistle the players jump up. The player with the ball tries to run the other over; the player without the ball tries to tackle the player with it.

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