An NFL source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract hadn't been signed yet, said Bruce chose to stay in the NFC West with the 49ers, bolstering one of the league's worst receiving corps after 14 seasons with the Rams. The deal is worth $6 million.
Bruce will be reunited in San Francisco with 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who ran the Rams' offense during the team's two most recent trips to the Super Bowl. Bruce, who teamed with Torry Holt for several years of lofty statistics in Martz's wide-open offenses, is third in NFL history with 14,109 yards receiving, only behind former 49ers receiver Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.
Bruce, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, is sixth in league history with 942 receptions. He has had eight 1,000-yard seasons, and he caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Kurt Warner in the Rams' Super Bowl victory over the Tennessee Titans in 2000.
Though Bruce is 35, his skills still seem sharper than any player on the 49ers, who had one of the NFL's least impressive groups of receivers for the fourth straight season in 2007. Bruce had 55 catches last season
- second-most on the Rams - for 13.3 yards per catch and four touchdowns.
San Francisco finished last season with Arnaz Battle and Darrell Jackson as the starting receivers in the NFL's least potent passing offense.
Battle led the 49ers with just 50 catches for 600 yards and five touchdowns, while Jackson had a disappointing debut season with San Francisco, catching 46 passes for 497 yards and three scores. New signee Ashley Lelie barely played and had just 10 catches.
