SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -Joe Nedney fulfilled a childhood dream simply by joining the San Francisco 49ers last season. He realized a grown-up dream Saturday, re-signing with the club for four more years.
Nedney was one of the brightest spots in the 49ers' 4-12 campaign, making 26 of his 28 field-goal attempts and all 19 of his extra points while providing strong kickoffs. After missing nearly all of the previous two seasons with injuries, Nedney revived his NFL career - and the 49ers, his favorite team while growing up in San Jose, rewarded him handsomely.
``I'm like a kid right now, sitting up in the stands at Candlestick watching the team win all those games,'' Nedney said. ``I've got emotional ties to this thing, and I've got a great coach who's really committed to bringing this thing back to greatness. They stuck to their word, and I really wasn't interested in going anywhere else.''
Nedney, who will turn 33 this month, has kicked for six NFL teams since leaving San Jose State in 1995. He had his best season with Carolina in 2000, then played for Tennessee from 2001-04.
But the 6-foot-5 kicker, who's sometimes mistaken for a linebacker by fans, made just one field goal for the Titans in the 2003 season opener before tearing a ligament in his right knee while making a tackle on the ensuing kickoff.
And exactly one year later, Nedney tore his hamstring in practice. Both injuries ended his season.
Re-signing Nedney was one of the top offseason priorities for the 49ers, whose kicking game was an afterthought in recent years. Nedney, who watched the 49ers employ a series of young or cheap kickers before he arrived, repeatedly said he wanted to finish his career in San Francisco.
``Coming back from those injuries, I developed a whole new love and respect for Sunday, for going out and being involved,'' Nedney said. ``I wanted to get out there and show I wasn't damaged goods. ... To end up right back in the Bay Area again, you couldn't have written a better script.''
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