Hasselbeck was first veteran QB 49ers pursued

Aug. 16, 2011MAIOCCO ARCHIVE
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Matt MaioccoCSNBayArea.com
SANTA CLARA -- Why didn't the 49ers go after a veteran free-agent quarterback before now?The answer: They did, but former Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck decided to sign with the Tennessee Titans, instead."My decision came down to San Francisco or Tennessee," Hasselbeck said on a radio show on Seattle's KJR."At the end of the day, that was my decision. And San Fran would have been attractive for a whole bunch of reasons. And that offense, I believe, is pretty similar. My man Bobby Engram (former Seahawks receiver who is now a 49ers quality control coach) is up there coaching wide receivers. I felt good about that, but at the end of the day, I think my conversation with the head coach and the offensive line here (in Tennessee) ... a lot of stuff just felt really good about it."RECAP: 49ers camp report -- Smith hogs first-team reps
The 49ers are continuing to look for a veteran quarterback. They brought in Daunte Culpepper, 34, for a work out on Monday. He remains unsigned.Alex Smith is atop the 49ers' depth chart. Coach Jim Harbaugh said rookie Colin Kaepernick remains in competition for the starting role. After that, there's no telling whom the 49ers will carry at quarterback on their 53-man roster.Actually, at this point, 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said it's no sure thing that the 49ers will carry three active quarterbacks in to the regular season."I think you have a decision to make, do you carry two quarterbacks or three? And thatu2019s something that we'll have to change as the roster changes," Roman said. "If X-Y-Z happens to happen, then it might free up a third quarterback spot and we'd want to be ready to strike at that point. If X-Y-Z doesn't happen, and R-S-T happens, then we would keep two. You have to be ready for all of those different scenarios."