Former Mayor Willie Brown thinks that the symbol of the Super Bowl really is San Francisco—not necessarily the stadium where the game is played. There will be almost 500,000 to a million people involved in this Super Bowl and they will be here in San Francisco, not in Santa Clara or in San Jose.  The stadium holds only about 70,000.

This is a big plus for the entire Bay Area but let’s be honest, it would have been a real tough time if San Francisco had lost out to Houston or New Orleans. Can you imagine explaining how the tech and tourist centers of universe and the 49ers’ billion dollar stadium lost against those places?

Still, it was a tough sale though, because the city had to sell the hotel rooms and the idea that you are going to have to get into your car and drive 45 miles down the stadium.

The glamour shots used during the broadcast, in between plays, will undoubtedly not be of Santa Clara but instead will likely focus on the glimmering lights of the San Francisco skyline.

And what are the odds that Brown will be in the glamour shots? Although he didn’t go to Boston to make the pitch to the NFL, he did end up in the photo smiling with Mayor Ed Lee. How does he do it?

“I’m the lucky charm,” Brown, famously known for his modesty, quipped.

“I am full-time involved in almost everything that goes on in this city by my choice. I want to do work. I want to be a part of what goes down. That’s why you see me end up on many occasions being part of the decision.”

The last time the Super Bowl was played here, the pre-game party was at the Moscone Center. The question is, will that happen again?

“Absolutely,” says Brown. “The whole Super Bowl experience and the NFL experience, that’s going to be at the Moscone and believe me when the mayor says we’re going to replicate what they did in New Orleans. We’re going to have the opportunity to wander around be a part of this great scene.”

You can hear Phil Matier’s comments Monday through Friday at 7:50am and 5:50pm on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM.

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Crabtree tore his Achilles tendon and underwent surgery Wednesday.

RELATED CONTENT from CBS Sports:
49ers Wide Receive Options Without Crabtree

Coach Jim Harbaugh said he expects Crabtree to return at some point during the 2013 season, “We do not anticipate that it’ll be season ending for Michael,” Harbaugh said. “The doctors have already been extremely positive about the success of the surgery. So, we’ll trust the doctors and Michael’s will to compete and return. And we think that’ll have a good result and great things will happen for us and Michael.”

Crabtree’s doctor doesn’t believe Crabtree will be out for the year, either. “Good news is he woke up from the surgery and first thing he asked [the] doc how it went,” Harbaugh said. “So, he talked about the success of the surgery and that he didn’t anticipate that he’d be out for the year. And his comment to that was he’s got no choice but to be back. So, every day now is a healing day. And that starts today.”

There’s no set timeline for Crabtree’s recovery yet, but if it takes six months, he’d most likely be back around Week 12. If it takes eight months, Crabtree could potentially return for a 49ers postseason run.

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“It’s a tough loss. It’s a big loss,” Madden said. “I think it’s one of those things that maybe he could be back this year, but…you have to think that he’s really lost for the year. And you have to get your team ready to play without him, and that has to be a thought right now… You just look at last year, how he came along with (quarterback Colin) Kaepernick and their timing and all that stuff, and all the work that went into that… You just can’t turn that on and off.”

Madden said Kaepernick has time to develop connections with other receivers. “(Anquan) Boldin is there, and he’ll be one of them… There’s not much good when these things happen, but one of the good things is it happened early. So you have the rest of the off-season. You have training camp. You have four preseason games. You have all those things to get whatever you’re going to do, to get it ready to go.”

Should the 49ers consider signing free agent receiver Brandon Lloyd, who was released by the Patriots after last season?

“With that organization and where they are now, and what they’ve accomplished, and the type of team that they have, I don’t know that I would chance it,” Madden said. “He’s out there (unsigned) for a reason. I’m not sure what the reason is, and maybe I’m just making assumptions, but that reason is probably the reason I wouldn’t take him…You don’t want to put yourself in a corner or let anyone think that you’re desperate (and) that you’re going to compromise who you are or what you are.” (9:20)

Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.

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Wasn’t it just yesterday I was writing about the Giants loss of Ryan Vogelsong? Was Michael Crabtree drinking the same water?  Or perhaps he took a swig from Mario Manningham or Kyle Williams. Whatever the case, Crabtree’s loss is the worst of them all.

The ever-optimistic Jim Harbaugh says the torn Achilles isn’t season-ending. But even if Crabtree pulls off a  miraculous comeback in time to play in 2013, how effective can he possibly be?  Truth is, the 49ers will prepare to play the season without their star receiver who quickly became Colin Kaepernick’s “go-to guy.”

I should point out that Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs came back to play last year after suffering a torn Achilles earlier in the year.   If Crabtree comes back in 2013 it’s a bonus, not an expectation.  Consequently, someone or some people will have to fill the void of 85 receptions, 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns. AJ Jenkins, come on down!

What a shame for Crabtree, who finally had a breakout season after the 49ers picked him 10^th overall in 2009.  He quickly earned the reputation of a diva after a 71-day holdout as a rookie.  Then came a pre-season neck injury in 2010, followed by a broken foot in 2011.  A bust alright, just not the kind you put in Canton. Then came 2012, when Crabtree played like he was back at Texas Tech. He became Alex Smith’s third-down savior, hauling in 30 catches on third down, including five touchdown. And when the Kapper took over for good, Crabtree’s talents truly emerged. It should be noted that Crabtree is signed through 2014, so the 49ers first season in their new digs could potentially be a defining year for his future in San Francisco.

What now? Well, the acquisition of Anquan Boldin certainly looks good now. Vernon Davis will have to become a bigger target for Kapernick, and we’ll see how Mario Manningham responds after ACL surgery.  I gotta believe that this is AJ Jenkins time to either step up or step out.  He was a major disappointment as a rookie and the leash is as short as it’s going to get.  I’m hearing good things about 4^th round pick Quinton Patton, but nobody wins a job in OTAs.

Free agent?  The guy that best fits Michael Crabtree’s style, to me, is Brandon Lloyd.  He’s got great hands like Crabtree and he can out leap anyone in the NFL. There are some in the 49ers front office who simply don’t like Brandon,  but when a team is this close to winning a Super Bowl,  it’s production that matters, not personalities.

Many are labeling the loss of Crabtree as a game-changer in the NFC West.  Think again. In some ways, it might make Kaepernick a better quarterback. He was so locked in on Crabtree that Vernon Davis, clearly capable of being the most dangerous tight end in football,  became an afterthought. In San Francisco’s two-tight end formation, which was used more than any team in the NFL, Davis is the guy most likely to gain from Crabtree’s loss. In the words of a longtime baseball agent, Kaepernick will be forced to “explore all options.”

Then again, I’m sure Trent Baalke’s number is busy right about now.

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San Francisco’s leading wide receiver underwent surgery Wednesday, though the team is optimistic he will return at some point in 2013. Crabtree was operated on at Stanford by Dr. Tim McAdams one day after suffering the injury during 7-on-7 drills in an organized team activity.

“Michael Crabtree underwent surgery to repair his Achilles tendon that he tore yesterday,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Surgery was successful and we do not anticipate it will be season-ending for Michael. It was completely torn, and completely repaired.”

Harbaugh would not speculate when Crabtree might return to play.

The 25-year-old Crabtree, the team’s 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Texas Tech, had career highs last season with 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns for the NFC champion Niners, who lost 34-31 to the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl.

USA Today first reported that Crabtree was hurt during Tuesday’s OTA, citing an unidentified source.

Harbaugh said Crabtree went in motion, planted to begin a route and “felt like somebody kicked him in the Achilles, which sometimes people say that feels like.” Having the operation right away was considered the best option so Crabtree has the chance to return this year – unlike with running back Kendall Hunter last season, who had the same injury but the decision was made to wait some time before surgery.

“Good news is he woke up from the surgery and the first thing, asked the doctor how it went,” Harbaugh said. “(The doctor) talked about the success of the surgery and he didn’t anticipate he’d be out for the year. His comment to that was, `Got no choice but to be back.’ Every day now is a healing day, and that starts today.”

This is a tough blow for the two-time defending NFC West champions after Crabtree’s breakout 2012 season. He was one of the big reasons the franchise returned to the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years, clicking with quarterback Colin Kaepernick after his promotion to starter in November over departed 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith.

“It’s a setback, but Michael’s young, he’s strong. Everything will be a positive approach to healing and we’ll anticipate great things,” Harbaugh said. “Another thing right now is if you look at the young receivers on our team that will emerge because they have to emerge. I’m excited to watch them compete for that spot.”

Harbaugh wouldn’t say whether the 49ers would look outside the organization for a replacement with Crabtree out, or even if the team would consider bringing back Randy Moss.

“We’re excited for the young receivers that we have, and feel that somebody’s going to emerge there,” he said. “Competition will create that, and we’ll look forward to watching that.”

Anquan Boldin, acquired in a trade with the Ravens this spring, will be counted upon to carry a bulk of the load. Boldin missed Wednesday’s practice for what Harbaugh called “some prior commitments for this week.”

Boldin had 65 catches for 921 yards and four touchdowns for the Ravens last season.

Kaepernick and Crabtree were eager to get back on the field together after falling just short in New Orleans back in February.

“It’s an injury. Nobody wants it to happen no matter who it is,” Kaepernick said.

Kaepernick’s fourth-down throw into the end zone in the closing moments sailed over Crabtree. Harbaugh and the 49ers argued that Crabtree got held, bumped by cornerback Jimmy Smith with safety Ed Reed trailing the play.

Crabtree also had five TDs and 30 catches on third-down plays last season – both stats among the top five in the NFL.

Kaepernick offered an easy explanation as to why they clicked so well: “He got open.”

He has bounced back the past two seasons from several injuries.

After a 71-day contract stalemate as a rookie, Crabtree was sidelined during the 2010 preseason with a neck injury. Again a year later he was out with a broken foot sustained while working out in Alex Smith-organized practices during the NFL lockout.

In 2011, Crabtree led the team in catches (72) and yards receiving (874), but San Francisco came up short of a Super Bowl.

While he had four catches for 25 yards and a 4-yard touchdown reception in a 36-32 victory against Drew Brees and the favored Saints in the NFC divisional playoffs, it was the NFC championship game Crabtree remembers as a most disappointing day.

San Francisco’s receivers had just one catch for 3 yards – yes, it was by him – and Crabtree was targeted four times in a 20-17 overtime loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

Crabtree said that performance helped fuel him last year.

“Obviously he’s a great player, he’s done a lot for this team,” Kaepernick said. “We just have to have someone step up. He’s not happy about it, he’s just trying to get healthy now. Crab’s going to work, he’s going to be back.”

Notes: The 49ers signed fourth-round draft pick WR Quinton Patton to a four-year contract. … The team also claimed tight end/long snapper Kyle Nelson off of waivers from the San Diego Chargers and waived P Anthony Santella. … Also gone Wednesday were S Darcel McBath, who Harbaugh said was ill; LT Joe Staley, C Jonathan Goodwin, CB Tarell Brown and LB NaVorro Bowman.

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Track officials made the later-than-usual announcement in a news release sent out early Wednesday morning.

In a statement released by track officials, the NFL coach called the opportunity a “tremendous thrill.”

Harbaugh has strong ties to the Indianapolis area. He played four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, where he earned the nickname “Captain Comeback,” and is a part-time owner of Indianapolis-based Panther Racing. JR Hildebrand, who starts 10th, and Townsend Bell, who starts 22nd, both drive for Panther.

Harbaugh led the 49ers to the NFC championship last season but lost in the Super Bowl to a Baltimore team coached by his brother, John. Harbaugh’s brother-in-law is Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean.

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Woodson, the fourth overall pick in the 1998 draft by Oakland, returns to a vastly different franchise than the one he left following his eighth season with the team in 2005. Owner Al Davis died in October 2011 and the team is now run by Davis’ son, Mark. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski is the only player left from Woodson’s eight years in Oakland that included three straight AFC West titles and a trip to the Super Bowl following the 2002 season.

The Raiders haven’t had a winning season or a playoff berth since, adding to the fans’ desire to bring back Woodson and a connection to past successes.

The 36-year-old was released by the Green Bay Packers in a salary-cutting move Feb. 15, with two years remaining on his contract. Woodson had also recently talked to two contenders, the 49ers and Broncos. So why did the eight-time Pro-Bowl selection sign with the Raiders?

“Like everything else, I would have to guess money,” John Madden told the KCBS Radio morning crew. “I think it was important to (Raiders owner) Mark Davis (to get) some continuity in the defensive backfield and just get a guy who’s a solid player. Woodson has always been a solid player.”

The move will be widely popular with Raiders fans, many of whom staked out the team’s facility on Tuesday to greet Woodson on his visit and urge him to sign with the team.

The NFL chose the Bay Area and the new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara as the site for Super Bowl L in 2016. Some say it could be the biggest party ever in the Bay Area.

“You know the one that would be hard to beat for a bigger party would be New Orleans,” Madden said. “They know how to party.”

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh will drive the pace car in the Indianapolis 500 Sunday.

“Knowing him, I bet he’ll be good at it,” Madden said. “Someone wrote somewhere today, and maybe even Jim said that he’s going to run that pace lap and just keep going. Obviously he’s not, but in the world of sports if anyone did do that it would be him.” (7:40)

Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.

The 49ers were competing with the Miami Dolphins to host Super Bowl L, which will now take place at the new 49ers stadium in Santa Clara.

Santa Clara’s mayor and City Council were watching live coverage of the NFL’s decision in City Council chambers at City Hall, where the crowed erupted in celebration after Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the decision just before noon.

“Everyone’s excited,” Beerman said.

A jubilant Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews said, “Before we built a stadium, we landed the 50^th Super Bowl.”

The 49ers are planning to move from Candlestick Park to the new 68,500-seat stadium in Santa Clara in 2014.

Matthews said that when he heard the game would be played in his city, “a shot of electricity came through me.”

He said it is estimated that a Super Bowl brings between $300 and $500 million in economic benefits to the surrounding region.

“I was not building a stadium, I was building an ATM machine,” Matthews said of efforts to push the project forward.

Accompanied by his wife Julie, Matthews said he was exhausted from the emotional “roller coaster” involved in the Super Bowl bid, and that he was heading home to take a nap.

He thanked San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee for his efforts in the process.

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• Complete Coverage: The Santa Clara Stadium Project
• Political Leaders Ecstatic About Hosting Super Bowl L

San Francisco city officials were also anxiously awaiting the decision.

“We’re on the five-yard line and ready to go,” Mayor Ed Lee said Monday.

Lee learned the Super Bowl news during a ceremony Tuesday morning to honor the Golden State Warriors and point guard Stephen Curry for their NBA playoff run. The announcement drew cheers from the crowd at City Hall.

Jed York, the 49ers’ CEO, gave his team’s 15-minute presentation and representatives of the Miami organization delivered theirs at the Boston meeting.

York said at a noon news conference in Boston, “There’s a lot of things that were going in our favor. I think it was the overwhelming support from the community that made the difference.”

“After losing a Super Bowl (to Baltimore), it feels really good to win a Super Bowl,” York cracked. “We are so excited to be able to be able to put on the `Golden Super Bowl’ in the Golden State.”

Artist’s rendering of the 49ers stadium in Santa Clara. (SF 49ers)

York suggested that San Francisco’s winning bid offered a lesson in politics.

“If this Super Bowl can show the state of California and other communities the opportunity with a new stadium to bring in fresh business, it could be a catalyst that stadiums can be built for Oakland and San Diego, which are in need of new ones,” he said. “This may be the impetus to get one of those done.”

For years, it was thought the NFL would seek to stage the 50th Super Bowl in Los Angeles, where the first one was played (but did not sell out) on Jan. 15, 1967. But with no franchise in LA and no suitable stadium projects approved, that hope disappeared.

With Santa Clara’s $1.2 billion Levi Stadium selected to host the contest, the next step is to listen to what the NFL wants the city and the 49ers to do to prepare for the big game.

“Based on any recommendations the NFL has, we start almost the next day,” Beerman said.

“We only have I think, 33 months, so we have to get going starting tomorrow. We’re going to put a team in place, a staff in place and we’re going to deliver the Bowl to the Bay,” said Bay Area Super Bowl Committee Chairman Daniel Lurie.

“We’ve been talking to Indianapolis. We’ve been talking to folks in New Orleans. The South Florida Bid Committee was gracious today. They offered their support. It’s a pretty fun club to now be a part of,” Laurie continued.

Now that the Bay Area’s bid has been accepted, what does it mean for football fans and non-football fans that live here?

“A game as big as Super Bowl L has the ability to lift up our entire community. 25 percent of every dollar we raise is going to back into our community to improve the lives of those living in poverty. We plan on making this a world-class party and also make it the most philanthropic Super Bowl the NFL has ever seen,”  he said.

Super Bowl L will be broadcast on KPIX 5. The only previous Super Bowl played in Northern California was at Stanford Stadium in 1985.

It was also announced Tuesday morning that Houston will host the Super Bowl in 2017.

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For Super Bowl L, the 50th edition of the Super Bowl, it’s the Bay Area versus Miami. Each city will get 15 minutes to present to the NFL team owners, after which time they will take a vote.

“We’re basically going to go in there and give it our best pitch and we think we’re going to be strong, said P.J. Johnston, a spokesman for the Bay Area Super Bowl Bid Committee. “We’ve got the entire Bay Area to show off.”

Presenters will include Daniel Lurie, a San Franciscan who chairs the bid committee, Johnston said.

The bid will emphasize the “state of the art,” $1.2 billion Santa Clara stadium project, and will highlight the Bay Area as a “beautiful, exciting and vibrant” region that has the infrastructure to handle the influx of about 70,000 people for the game and related events, Johnston said.

“We feel really good about our bid,” he added. “San Francisco is an incredible region. We’re one of the greatest destinations in the world for people who want to travel.”

The NFL team owners will also hear a proposal by the Miami Dolphins to host Super Bowl L in their city. The decision on who will host the game will be made that same day.

The losing bidder will be considered as a potential host for the Super Bowl the following year, in 2017.

The host city is expected to be announced by early Tuesday afternoon.

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San Francisco’s 11 draft selections and un-drafted group officially ignited the process of becoming NFL pros.

The players received their playbooks, met their position coaches, were fitted for equipment and even had time on the practice field. However, it was very much like the first day of school where everyone is getting acclimated.

There are plenty of observations to be made, but no true evaluations at this point.

CLICK HERE for a look at the biggest takeaways from San Francisco’s 2013 rookie mini-camp via Bleacher Report.

(Copyright 2013 CBS San Francisco and Bleacher Report. All rights reserved.)

$30 million has been raised so far according to Daniel Lurie, the bid chairman, who said the goal is to bring Super Bowl 50 or 51 to the area.

Lurie was pleased to announce 25 percent of the revenues from the game will go back into the community. The charities set to benefit would target those living in poverty, especially youth.

Mayor Ed Lee spoke at Monday’s news conference held along the Embarcadero, which would be the main street for the game’s hoopla despite the game being played at the new Niners’ Stadium in Santa Clara.

“I know that the NFL owners are going to be extremely appreciative of this bid package,” Lee said.

Lee said he’s not taking anything for granted unlike former Mayor Willie Brown who’s certain San Francisco will get the nod for the bid in Boston.

“Believe me. I’ve spoken to a couple of my friends,” Brown said.

Levi’s Stadium should be ready for NFL games by fall of 2014. The final decision comes next Monday in Boston.

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Currently, the Santa Clara Police Department has no such tech capabilities, making communication between various agencies difficult.

“How do we coordinate if there’s a large scale event or how do we respond if there’s an emergency like an earthquake or any other thing that can happen here in Silicon Valley? And so we want to make sure that there’s a seamless ability in public safety to be able to communicate so we can leverage all the resources regardless of the jurisdictional boundaries, to provide the response that’s necessary to be able to provide public safety,” explained Mayor Jamie Matthews.

The system, by Motorola, will costs nearly $3 million. The Santa Clara City Council voted unanimously in favor of the purchase last week. The Stadium Authority has agreed to contribute $560,000 to help the city pay for it.

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Levi Strauss CEO Chip Bergh was joined by 49ers CEO Jed York, along with Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee for the announcement at Levi Strauss headquarters in San Francisco Wednesday.

• Video: 49ers, Levi Strauss Announce Santa Clara Stadium Naming Rights Deal

The team is moving from Candlestick Park to the new 68,500-seat Santa Clara stadium in 2014, and the apparel company plans to present the Santa Clara Stadium Authority with a proposed 20-year, $220 million naming rights agreement on Thursday.

Levi Strauss had been rumored as one of the possible companies in the bidding for the naming rights, this after the company purchased 12 domain names in late March related to the term stadium.

Bergh said the partnership between the company and the 49ers is a ”perfect fit” because Levi’s made jeans “for the needs of the original 49ers of the Gold Rush era.”

York noted that the 49ers and Levi’s use similar colors in their logos.

“Our colors aren’t exactly the same but they’re close enough,” he said.

Wednesday’s announcement comes as the Bay Area is considered the heavy favorite to host Super Bowl 50, with an announcement expected from the National Football League on May 21. It will be on that day that the Bay Area Super Bowl Bid Committee provides details of its official bid to host the game at the new stadium in Santa Clara. A decision by NFL owners is expected later that day.

The only other bid is expected to come from Miami, although that now faces major hurdles after the Florida State Legislature declined acting on Miami’s request for $350 million to renovate Sun Life Stadium.

The 49ers new stadium remains on schedule to open in time for the 2014 season.

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First lady Michelle Obama tweeted out a photo of herself Kaepernickig with 49er Quarterback Colin Kaepernick from her FLOTUS account.

.@Kaepernick7: Had fun #Kaepernicking. Thanks for helping our kids get moving! letsmoveschools.org –mo http://t.co/WFKVbAaVkW—
  (@FLOTUS) May 07, 2013

Kapernick made the bicep smooching move famous as his touchdown celebration after taking over as the team’s starting quarterback mid-season.

Kaepernick appeared with the first lady as part of the Let’s Move initiative, designed to get kids exercising and eating healthy.

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Construction is underway on the stadium, designed to be accessible to both pedestrians and bicyclists with bike racks and lockers incorporated into the layout.

Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews said their plan for more bike lanes is also about the thousands of people who will come here to work. The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has offered to co-fund the bike-lane study.

“There’s a lot of focus on the potential 68,500 people coming into an event, but we’ve got over 100,000 people coming in everyday and a lot of those people are choosing to use the bike lanes and to connect to Caltrain, the Altamont Express and the light rail,” Matthews said.

Santa Clara City Engineer Rajeev Batra said they’re looking to minimize vehicle traffic as much as possible by looking into alternative modes of transportation.

The bike lane study should cost just over $56,000.

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Exact details of the proposal are being withheld until May 21, when members of the Bay Area Super Bowl Bid Committee will make their case to 32 NFL team owners in a live presentation in Boston, said P.J. Johnston, a spokesman for the committee.

“It must have fireworks,” Johnston said. “We want to hold back to ‘wow’ the owners on the day that they vote for Super Bowl 50.”

Presenters will include Daniel Lurie, a San Franciscan who chairs the bid committee, Johnston said.

The bid will emphasize the “state of the art,” $1.2 billion Santa Clara stadium project, and will highlight the Bay Area as a “beautiful, exciting and vibrant” region that has the infrastructure to handle the influx of about 70,000 people for the game and related events, Johnston said.

On May 21, the NFL team owners will also hear a proposal by the Miami Dolphins to host Super Bowl L in their city. The decision on who will host the game will be made that same day.

The losing bidder will be considered as a potential host for the Super Bowl the following year, in 2017.

“We’d like either one, but we’d love to be chosen for Super Bowl 50,” Johnston said. “We’re going to have a very strong bid.”

Miami has suffered some setbacks lately in its bowl bid. The Florida State Legislature last week declined its request for $350 million to renovate its aging stadium.

The city is also facing the uncertain outcome of a May 14 ballot measure asking its voters to support a hotel tax to back a stadium renewal project, with opinion polls showing most people are against it.

“We are mindful of the fact that Miami has hosted many Super Bowls,” Johnston said. “They are formidable competition.”

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That means the San Francisco 49ers’ competing bid to hold the Super Bowl in the Bay Area at their new Santa Clara stadium appears to be the only viable option now on the table for the NFL in 2016. The state-of-the-art $1 billion Niners stadium now under construction is the centerpiece of the Bay Area’s bid to the NFL.

It is estimated that hosting the Super Bowl would inject $400-500 million into the Bay Area economy, from San Francisco to San Jose.

The lack of action by Florida lawmakers means their stadium renovation plan, which was the focal point of the Miami-area’s pitch to host the Super Bowl, has been halted. Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford apparently balked at the public cost of the renovations and did not bring the measure up for a full vote, despite lobbying attempts from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and other stadium supporters.

“There won’t be a renovation. Simple as that. Simple as that,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross responded when asked what would happen if the Legislature failed to act. The renovated Sun Life Stadium was the focal point of the Miami-area’s pitch to host the Super Bowl.

“There won’t be Super Bowls and I doubt if there will be marquee events coming here,” he added.

South Florida’s stadium bill had sought to secure roughly $3 million in sales tax refunds from the state for 30 years. It also would have allowed residents in Miami-Dade County to vote on allowing an increase in the tourism tax to also help pay for the renovations.

The Dolphins had vowed to pay back all of the money they would be given by the county and the state in the deal, which was previously approved by the Miami-Dade County Commission before going to state lawmakers.

The Sun Life Stadium plan was to cost roughly $350 million with some of the money coming from the state, some from the county, and the rest from the Dolphins. The plan included a canvas roof, HD screens, new seating, and updated lighting.

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As part of the agreement, all 49ers preseason game broadcasts will air in high definition on KPIX 5 and be rebroadcast on CW 44 Cable 12 (KBCW-TV), which are the official television partners of the San Francisco 49ers preseason broadcasts and the flagship television stations of the San Francisco 49ers Television Network.

The partnership will also include 49ers Preview, the longest running weekly 49ers program in the Bay Area, where KPIX 5 sports anchor Dennis O’Donnell and analyst Tim Ryan break down the 49ers game from the previous weekend and take a look at the team’s upcoming opponent.

The 10-year extension will also include additional programming: 49ers Press Pass, the broadcast of Jim Harbaugh’s weekly day-after-game press conference, and the over-the-air broadcast of the official NFL Films 49ers Highlight Show.

“The 49ers are proud to continue a long-standing partnership with KPIX 5 that spans more than three decades,” said 49ers Chief Executive Officer Jed York. “As we continue to explore new and innovative ways to reach our Faithful fans, KPIX 5 has always been a consistent and valued partner in that effort. We look forward to providing our fans first-class 49ers content through our relationship with KPIX 5.”

“There’s been no better partner with KPIX 5 over the last 30 years than the 49ers. Extending our deal for another 10 years clearly displays the mutual admiration, trust and importance both Bay Area institutions have for one another. It’s a great deal for both of us,” said Bruno Cohen, President and General Manager of KPIX 5.

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He replaces Tom Gamble who departed nearly three months ago for a VP role with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Patten is in his fourth year with the 49ers after previously serving as Director of College Scouting with the team. He joined the Niners with 14 years of NFL scouting experience and more than a decade of professional playing experience.

Additionally, the team also promoted Matt Malaspina to Director of College Scouting, Mike Williams to Director of Pro Personnel, Justin Chabot to National Scout, Steve Rubio to Regional Scout and Josh Williams to Pro Personnel Scout.

“We are very fortunate to have such a talented and quality player personnel staff,” 49ers General Manager Trent Baalke said in a statement.

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The main reason for the cost savings is refinancing. The 49ers and the city of Santa Clara are taking out a new mortgage on the $850 million public loan they took out 14 months ago to pay for the bulk of the new stadium. Since construction began, rates have dropped and that translates into savings of up to $90 million.

Project Executive Jack Hill said the stadium is already about 40 percent complete.

“We’re here less than a year after we broke ground and the progress has just been amazing,” Hill said. “Great cooperation from the building trades that are building the stadium and all the other 49er partners. They’ve done a great job of getting it to this point.”

The team is also borrowing less money because fans have been purchasing seat licenses faster than expected. So far, fans have committed to buying more than $410 million in those licenses.

The new refinancing deal will have to be approved by the Santa Clara Stadium Authority in June.

The stadium is expected to open in the summer of 2014.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Sportsbook Bovada.lv pegs San Francisco at 6/1, followed by Denver (15/2), New England (8/1) and Seattle (9/1).

Odds have changed in the last six weeks. On March 15, following the start of free agency, Denver and the Niners were listed as 7/1 co-favorites, followed by New England (15/2) and Seattle (10/1).

The 49ers used two of their original 15 draft picks to acquire Baltimore Ravens wideout Anquan Boldin. The defending NFC champs also traded up 13 spots in the first round to draft LSU free safety Eric Reid, Dashon Goldson’s projected replacement.

Jacksonville remains the biggest longshot at 200/1.

CLICK HERE to see the full list of updated odds to win the Super Bowl, courtesy of CBS Sports.

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Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome launched a defensive makeover after Lewis retired and Reed led a free agency exodus following their title, signing with Houston. Newsome used his first four picks and six of 10 selections on defenders, beginning with safety Matt Elam and linebacker Arthur Brown, who have some huge cleats to fill.

San Francisco’s 11-player haul included defensive back Eric Reid, defensive end Tank Carradine and tight end Vance McDonald, but the most intriguing pick was that of fourth-rounder Marcus Lattimore. The South Carolina running back suffered a career-threatening right knee injury last season just one year after tearing ligaments in his left knee.

San Francisco took a similar gamble several years ago when it spent a third-round selection on Frank Gore, who had suffered torn ligaments in each of his knees a year apart at the University of Miami, but has made the Pro Bowl four times and is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.

“I love the aggressive mental approach he has taken through this whole process, but we’re going to slow down the aggressive physical things and make sure Marcus is 100 percent healthy before he goes out there on the field,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “If he doesn’t play this year, then he doesn’t play this year.”

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Nate Montana, son of 49ers legend Joe Montana, has been invited to the minicamp as an unsigned free agent. The news follows Minnesota’s reported signing of wideout Duron Carter, son of Vikings’ all-time leading receiver Cris Carter.

Nate Montana’s nomadic college career began at Notre Dame and included stints at Pasadena Community College, the University of Montana and West Virginia Wesleyan. At the Division II school last season, Montana threw for 2,480 yards and 19 touchdowns, leading the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in both categories.

READ MORE from CBS Sports on Nate Montana’s minicamp invitation…

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But when the San Francisco 49ers selected South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday, 131st overall, it was the latest affirmation that was once fiction has become accepted as reality.

Lattimore served notice as a freshman in 2010 that he was a potential future first round pick in the NFL draft when he rushed for 1,197 yards, caught 29 passes for 412 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. But right now this otherwise marvelous 5-foot-11 1/4, 221-pound athlete is unable to play football, but is working hard to be ready as soon as possible.

And, it seems, what is possible with injured players has become almost unbelievable.

Lattimore is an unwilling member in a fraternity of elite running backs who returned or are returning from gruesome and devastating knee injuries. They include Willis McGahee of the Denver Broncos; mew teammate Frank Gore of the 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings’ Adrian Peterson, whose phenomenal return to dominance last season with 2,097 yards rushing earns platinum status in this fraternal order.

READ MORE from CBS Sports on the fraternal brothers of rehabilitation…

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The NFC champions acquired the pick from the Green Bay Packers on Friday, giving up the 61st choice in the second round and a sixth-round pick at No. 173.

San Francisco lost Delanie Walker, the backup to Vernon Davis, to the Tennesee Titans last month in free agency.

The 6-foot-4, 262-pound McDonald caught 119 passes for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns in college.

McDonald said special teams wasn’t emphasized for him at Rice considering his high repetitions, but he is willing to take on whatever task the 49ers ask of him.

McDonald added he that is “extremely underdeveloped” but plans to use his raw talent.

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