Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/333341
ByMichaelWagaman The Associated Press SANTA CLARA San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh de- livered a simple but emphatic message to his players as they gathered in a circle at the end of the team's three-day minicamp. Following an offseason in which three key players were either arrested or were part of an investigation by police, Har- baugh warned the 49ers to be more aware of their circum- stances and who they hang out with. Quarterback Colin Kaeper- nick was one of the three players involved in off-field incidents. Although Kaepernick was never charged and was cleared of any wrongdoing stemming from a possible sexual assault investigation in Miami, he said the incident left him more cau- tious about his life away from football. "A lot more," Kaepernick said Thursday. "Since I really started playing it's something I've been more aware of, especially in the past few months. It's something that obviously you have to be very aware of." Kaepernick and two other NFL players were investigated for an incident involving a woman at a downtown hotel in Miami in April. Kaepernick repeatedly denied that he had done anything wrong, and pros- ecutors decided earlier this week to drop the case and not charge any of the three players. Later, 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested at Los An- geles International Airport af- ter authorities said he became belligerent during a security screening and threatened that he had a bomb. That followed on the heels of San Francisco cornerback Chris Culliver's arrest in March on suspicion of felony hit and run and reckless driving after he drove a car into a bicyclist and fled. Because the players are essen- tially on their own for the next month until training camp be- gins, meaning plenty of free time with little to no supervi- sion, Harbaugh gave them a stern reminder to avoid trouble. "Be aware of who you asso- ciate with, friend or foe," Har- baugh said, summing up his message to the players. "There always seems to be a foe pres- ence. Mainly, surround yourself with good people." Kaepernick has had to do that for reasons other than what hap- pened in Miami. This month, the 2011 second-round draft pick signed a $126 million, six-year contract extension. Already a target of defensive players on the field, Kaepernick and his new wealth became a target off the field the instant he signed the deal. Thus his em- phasis on being more cautious. "You want to keep good peo- ple around all the time, regard- less of where you're at," Kaepe- rnick said. The 49ers wrapped up their mandatory minicamp with a brief workout in the afternoon. Kaepernick played catch and joked with some of his team- mates before turning serious during a 7-on-7 drill when he completed a handful of short passes over the middle and ri- fled a deep throw in traffic to wide receiver Anquan Boldin. NFL MINICAMP 49ersquarterback heedscoach'swords KaepernicksaysincidentinMiamihotelle him more cautious off field going forward JEFFCHIU—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick passes during minicamp Thursday in Santa Clara. By Josh Dubow The Associated Press ALAMEDA Miles Burris went from being a promising rookie to an injured afterthought in less than a year with the Oak- land Raiders. Now that his injured knee is completely healthy, Burris is making a run to regain the start- ing linebacker job he lost when he got hurt a year ago. Burris has been lining up as the first-team weakside line- backer at this week's manda- tory minicamp that serves as the Raiders' final practices be- fore they start training camp late next month. Burris started 15 games as a rookie in 2012 before playing just sparingly last season when he spent most of the year recov- ering from knee surgery before playing six games as a reserve and special teamer. It was the first time he ever missed a game at any level due to injury. "Mentally that was one of the toughest things that I've been through," he said. "One of the darkest years of my life but that's where my faith came through so greatly." When the Raiders drafted outside linebacker Khalil Mack last month, it appeared as if there would be no starting spot NFL MINICAMP Healthy Burris makes push for Raiders Oakland linebacker returns a er knee injury last season cost him his starting position RICH PEDRONCELLI — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Oakland Raiders linebacker Miles Burris makes a catch at the Raiders minicamp Thursday in Alameda. By Ronald Blum The Associated Press SAO PAULO Jurgen Klinsmann was 19 years old and playing for his hometown Stuttgarter Kick- ers in Germany's second division when he touched down in the United States for the first time. The team president had wanted to challenge his players to achieve more in 1983-84. "So he came into the locker room after the first part of the season and said, 'You know, guys, if you end up in the top 10 out of 18 or 20, I get you 10 days in Miami, because I have a house in Fort Lauderdale, book you a nice hotel,'" Klinsmann recalled with a smile. "We finished eighth." The son of a baker, Klinsmann arrived in sunny south Florida and was shocked. "They took us on a boat ride and I said, 'My gosh, I didn't know that this kind of a planet exists.' And so we had a blast for 10 days," he said. As soon as he got home, Klins- mann headed right back to the U.S. with a teammate. He visited New York and Chicago, then went west with a couple of California addresses of his older brother's acquaintances. "And that's how my kind of American journey began," Klins- mann said. "I never had an idea that later, years, years later, that I'd bump into a California girl in Europe." Now, he's coaching the U.S. at WORLD CUP SOCCER Klinsmann outlook changed in California German native came to America first time at 19 JULIO CORTEZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has a press conference Tuesday in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Associated Press SACRAMENTO — A bill that lim- its full-contact practices for high school football teams is heading to the governor's desk. The Senate on Thursday ap- proved AB2127 by Democratic As- semblyman Ken Cooley of Rancho Cordova on a 23-5 vote. The bill limits drills involving game-speed tackling to 90-min- ute sessions twice a week, while prohibiting such full-contact drills in the offseason. It applies to public, private and charter schools. Although most coaches already abide by similar rules to protect student safety, Cooley said he was responding to growing anxiety from parents about the risks as- sociated with concussions. The issue was even highlighted by the White House, which hosted a summit about youth sports safety and concussions. The bill has the support of the California Interscholastic Federa- tion, which oversees high school athletics. LEGISLATION Full-contact football limit bill heads to governor Luis Suarez scored twice to give Uruguay a 2-1victory over England at the World Cup on Thursday, making an instant impact on his return from in- jury to revive his team's Group D campaign. WORLD CUP SOCCER Suarezscorestwice, Uruguay beats England FULLSTORYONPAGEB2 Mercy High School will host its annual volleyball camps for sixth- through ninth-graders July 28-31. The cost is $40 and includes a shirt. For more information email ckeller@ mercy-high.org. YOUTH VOLLEYBALL Mercy Lady Warriors hosting camp The Red Bluff Derby Girls host Flood Water Roller Derby on Saturday at the Tehama District Fairgrounds. Doors are at 5:30p.m. and the bout at 6:30p.m. Tickets are $10in advance and $12at the door. ROLLER DERBY Red Bluff hosts bout Saturday at fairgrounds Edging back into a military role in Iraq, President Barack Obama on Thursday said he was dispatching up to 300 military advisers to help quell the rising insurgency in the crumbling nation. WORLD Obama: US sending military advisers to Iraq FULL STORY ON PAGE B4 SOCCER PAGE 2 BURRIS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, June 20, 2014 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1