By Cam Inman, Contra Costa Times –
WALNUT CREEK, Calif.—Manning? Not yet. Manningham? Yep.
Wide receiver Mario Manningham, whose clutch catches keyed the New York Giants’ Super Bowl run, agreed Saturday night to a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, ProFootballTalk.com first reported.
Manningham, a four-year veteran, joins a 49ers receiving corps that added veteran Randy Moss on Monday.
The last time Manningham played at Candlestick Park, his 17-yard touchdown catch sparked the Giants’ fourth-quarter comeback in a 20-17 overtime win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship game.
In Manningham’s encore, he made a 38-yard sideline catch to launch the winning touchdown drive in the Giants’ 21-17 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. He finished with five receptions for 73 yards.
Manningham visited the 49ers facility on Thursday before meeting with the St. Louis Rams, who reportedly were in serious contract negotiations with him Saturday. Two other wide receivers who visited the 49ers this past week have signed elsewhere: Brandon Lloyd with the New England Patriots and Chaz Schilens with the New York Jets.
In 28 starts the past three seasons, Manningham totaled 156 receptions for 2,289 yards and 18 touchdowns. Manningham was a 2008 third-round draft pick out of Michigan, the alma mater of 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh.
The 49ers receiving corps lost starter Joshua Morgan to the Washington Redskins on Tuesday.
Ted Ginn Jr., a part-time starter and the 49ers’ primary return specialist, has made free agency visits this past week to the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens. Incumbent starter Michael Crabtree, two-year veteran Kyle Williams and practice-squad call-up Joe Hastings are the other wide receivers on the 49ers roster.
