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		Niners beat Arizona in season finale By Scary Barry Rodriguez January 2, 2011

	( SAN FRANCISCO )- Under a steel gray sky the San Francisco 49ers strode out on the wet Candlestick park field one last time to play the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams with identical 5 and 10 records. This wasn't a game about the playoffs this was a game about pride. So in a way that transcends statistics, it was as the one day coach Jim Tomsula described it in his postgame press conference, " pure football ". For the diehard fans who braved another rainy afternoon it was one last chance to be entertained and retain some hope for their home team. It was obvious from the very start that the Niners were playing with unaccustomed abandon. Quarterback Alex Smith was throwing deep and not worrying about the wrath of " Iron Mike " Singletary. The team actually appeared to be having fun. It was a catharsis ! The final score was 38-7 in favor of the 49ers but the first half gave no clue to what would transpire later in the game. The Niners led 10-7 at the half and I'm sure most of the fans had learned by now not to expect much. It had been that kind of season. The 49ers scored 21 points in the third quarter and the fans were being entertained and for a time forgetting the disappointment the season represented. Playing just to play the Niners erupted in an orgy of scoring. Brian Westbrook, who spent most of the season on the bench rushed for two touchdowns, Vernon Davis caught a 59 yard touchdown pass, Ted Ginn a 37 yard touchdown pass and in the fourth quarter with only the most devoted fans remaining in the rain, cornerback Tarell Brown intercepted backup quarterback Richard Bartel's pass and sped 62 yards down the left sideline for the final score of the game. The Niner defense held the Cardinals right down to final seconds determined to finish the game ! In what was probably his last game in a San Francisco 49er uniform Alex Smith threw two touchdown passes , gained 276 yards , completing 15 of 29 passes with a 107.8 quarterback rating. Perhaps vanquishing some of the doubts of his many critics. John Skelton started under center for the Arizona Cardinals and spent most of the first half kissing the muddy turf. The 49er defense with nothing left to prove, exorcised whatever demons that losing brings by knocking the stuffing out of any Arizona player that caught a pass or tried making a big run. The team left nothing on the field ! They played all out ! Coach Jim Tomsula was eloquent in a plain spoken way in his postgame remarks. He wouldn't address any questions about himself but instead praised his team for playing hard to the very finish. This husky bear of a man , not usually in the spotlight, wasn't embarrassed to discuss his players in a affectionate way. This was part of what made this game so special. Postgame press conferences are usually dry affairs . Coach Singletary did his utmost to limit the comments he made to the basics. When Alex Smith had his moment at the podium I couldn't resist asking him about what type of coping mechanism he employed during the chaotic season. Alex said that he just numbed himself to everything and focused on just doing his job ! From the care he took in his answers I discerned that Alex is a very introspective man. Wearing an old grey Nike sweatshirt he seemed relaxed for the first time. It seemed that a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He spoke about it possibly being the last game he played for the 49ers. Its probably for the best that the onus of being a team's first draft pick won't matter if he moves on. The players left the locker room with something positive to look back on and the fans didn't mind the rain when they left. So the Niners face an uncertain future filled with speculation about who will coach next season, who will be the next GM, but the book has been closed on this season and life goes on. After all its only a game !