49ers ax Nolan; Singletary expected to take over

The San Francisco 49ers fired coach Mike Nolan yesterday, seven games into his fourth consecutive dismal season with the club, according to FOXsports.com.

Assistant coach Mike Singletary is expected to take over the 49ers (2-5), who got off to a 2-1 start this season before four consecutive losses culminating in Sunday's 29-17 defeat to the Giants.

Instead of waiting until after Sunday's home game against Seattle and the ensuing bye week, owner John York apparently didn't wait to get rid of his choice to revive the five-time Super Bowl champions, who have endured five consecutive losing seasons and haven't made the playoffs since 2002.

Nolan informed FoxSports.com of his dismissal. He is 17-38 in 3 1/2 seasons with the 49ers, who hired the veteran defensive coordinator to run every aspect of the club in January 2005.

Contact not against rules

If Jets quarterback Brett Favre really did leak inside information about the Green Bay Packers' offense to help the Detroit Lions beat his former team last month, the three-time MVP's reputation among his fans in Wisconsin would likely take a hit.

But he - and the Lions coaches who reportedly took his call - wouldn't have broken any NFL rules.

"We do not have a comment," league spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail yesterday morning. "Even if it were true, there would be no violation of league rules."

Foxsports.com reported Sunday that Favre called the Lions before their Sept. 14 game against the Packers and spent more than an hour giving coaches information.

If true, Favre wasn't much help. The Packers beat the Lions, 48-25.

After calling the situation "disappointing" and declining further comment Sunday night, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said yesterday the team wasn't seeking any recourse.

KC's Johnson investigated

Kansas City running back Larry Johnson is being investigated for spitting a drink in a woman's face at a nightclub during the Chiefs' bye week.

It's the fourth time in five years he's been accused of assaulting a woman.

Kansas City police are investigating a report of non-aggravated assault against Johnson for an incident at Club Blonde Oct. 10.

Ashley Stewart, 24, said Johnson told her he was going to kill her boyfriend, then took a drink and spit it in her face, according to the police report.

Johnson was charged with simple assault last month for pushing the side of a woman's face at a club in February.

Jones getting treatment

Suspended Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has entered an alcohol treatment center.

The oft-troubled player has checked into a facility "in another part of the country," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said yesterday.

"It's totally done through and by the NFL," Jerry Jones said. The NFL said it would not comment.

The league suspended Adam Jones for at least four games last Tuesday for again violating its conduct policy.

Only six weeks after being reinstated from a 17-month suspension because of repeated legal problems, Jones was involved in an alcohol-related scuffle Oct. 7 with one of his bodyguards at a private party in Dallas.

Winslow may get penalty

Browns coach Romeo Crennel confirmed tight end Kellen Winslow was hospitalized with a staph infection and may discipline the Pro Bowler for comments made following Sunday's loss to the Redskins.

Winslow spent three days in the Cleveland Clinic with the infection, which has been a problem for the Browns in recent years.

Last week, the club refused to disclose Winslow's illness. On Sunday, the 25-year-old revealed he had staph and complained about the team's handling of the situation.

Winslow said he "felt like a piece of meat" and was disappointed general manager Phil Savage didn't check on him when he was in the hospital.

"It's a distraction for the organization and for Kellen," Crennel said.

Cardinals' Boldin practices

Anquan Boldin returned to practice for the Cardinals, just over three weeks after he was injured on a vicious hit by the Jets' Eric Smith. "I'm feeling good enough to put a helmet back on now," he said after the light workout. The wide receiver was scheduled to see the doctor today and hoped to gain medical clearance to play Sunday, when the Cardinals are at Carolina. "I feel like I'm ready to go," he said . . . Jason Campbell's stumble in Sunday's win over the Browns left him with a sore groin, but the Redskins quarterback isn't expected to miss any practice time . . . Rams running back Steven Jackson slightly strained a quadriceps in Sunday's win over the Cowboys but is expected to play at New England Sunday . . . After missing one game with broken ribs, Eagles running back Brian Westbrook told ESPN Radio he believes he'll play this weekend vs. the Falcons . . . Gene Hickerson, the Browns' Hall of Fame right guard whose blocking helped Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, and Bobby Mitchell make the shrine, died in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, after a long illness. He was 73.