The San Francisco 49ers signed David Carr, the free agent quarterback, on a two-year deal on Monday and agreed to trade their back-up, Shaun Hill, to the Detroit Lions for a draft pick. Carr said he found San Francisco attractive as he is from California and there was a possibility of playing time after serving as Eli Manning's back-up at the New York Giants in the past two seasons.
Last season, Mike Singletary, the 49ers head coach, played Alex Smith as their starter for the second half of the season and said he would have that role this autumn. "They have said that competition is what they love around here," said Carr. "It makes you feel better. One of Singletary's things is, 'iron sharpens iron.' "The thing that I wanted to hear, from all those guys, was I'll have a chance to be on the field if I play the way I know I can play and they said yes.
"Once I get on the field, I feel confident that we are going to play well." Carr was drafted No 1 overall by the Houston Texans in 2002, while Smith was drafted No 1 overall by the 49ers in 2005. Smith took over for Hill at Houston in October and started the for the remainder of the season for San Francisco, who finished 8-8 to end a club record stretch of six consecutive seasons of losing more matches than they won.
Carr joined the team in time for the voluntary off-season work-out programme and enjoyed spending time with Smith. "It was fun to try to push each other, but he seems like a good guy," added Carr. The 49ers will receive an undisclosed 2011 draft pick from the Lions in return for Hill. Elsewhere, Larry Foote, the linebacker, has rejoined the Pittsburgh Steelers on a three-year deal after spending a season with the Lions.
* With agencies
