SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -After five straight losing seasons, the San Francisco 49ers still believe everything is going according to coach Mike Nolan's plan.

Nolan will return to the 49ers next season despite going 16-32 in his first three years with the club. Scot McCloughan, their top personnel executive, was formally announced as general manager Wednesday, getting a contract extension and a raise.

And other than those new business cards for McCloughan, 49ers owner John York apparently made no significant

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -When Mike Nolan finally left the San Francisco 49ers' training complex Tuesday night, the coach sure didn't look like somebody who would never be back.

Though the 49ers maintained their stubborn public silence on Nolan's fate after his third straight losing season, two long days of meetings without a firing seemed to be strong signals Nolan will return for his fourth year with San Francisco.

``Happy new year, guys,'' Nolan said with a small smile as he drove away. ``I'll see you in

Home: Arizona, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas. N.Y. Giants, Buffalo, Miami, Chicago

Away: Arizona, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia, Washington, New England, N.Y. Jets, AtlantaSan Francisco 49ers

Home: Arizona, St. Louis, Seattle, Philadelphia, Washington, New England, N.Y. Jets, Detroit

Away: Arizona, St. Louis, Seattle, Dallas. N.Y. Giants, Buffalo, Miami, New OrleansSeattle Seahawks

Home: Arizona, San Francisco, St. Louis, Philadelp

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -Mike Nolan will be the coach of the San Francisco 49ers for at least one more day.

Beyond that, only John York knows - and the club's mercurial owner had little to say Monday about his moribund franchise's fate.

While the players packed their bags one day after a season-ending loss at Cleveland, the 49ers (5-11) delayed, postponed and then finally canceled Nolan's postseason news conference at the club's training complex.

Instead, the coach spent the afternoon deep in meetings wi

The Chargers are 0-4 in the postseason dating to their Super Bowl nightmare against the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 29, 1995. Since then, every NFL team except Detroit, Cincinnati, Kansas City and the expansion Browns and Texans have won at least one playoff game.

After losing a home wild-card game after the 1995 season, San Diego went eight straight se

As an organization, the Giants need to win a playoff game. Starting with the 34-7 Super Bowl loss to Baltimore in January 2001, they have lost four straight postseason games. They blew a 24-point second-half lead in losing to the San Francisco 49ers in 2002. They were not competitive against Carolina (23-0) two years ago. The game against Philadelphia (23-20) was close, but the Giants came up short.

Seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan downplayed the playoff futility.

``I think

Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson went to the locker room for X-rays on an injured finger on his throwing hand but returned after sitting out just one series in the Browns' 20-7 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Anderson, whose emergence pushed the Browns to the brink of a playoff berth, was hit by safety Michael Lewis while throwing an incomplete pass late in the first half and walked slowly to the sideline clutching his hand.

He sat briefly on the bench before he was escorted to the locker ro

CLEVELAND (AP) -Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson sat out one series in the first half with an injured right pinky, allowing rookie Brady Quinn to make his NFL debut in Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Anderson, whose emergence has pushed the Browns (9-6) to the brink of a playoff berth, appeared to get hurt when he was hit by 49ers safety Michael Lewis while throwing an incomplete pass.

Anderson grabbed his hand and walked slowly to the sideline. He sat briefly on the bench before h