This one was easy, coming up with the two best-liked 49ers. And, yes, I’m doing a lot of blogs these days on most-liked and most-disliked Niners. I got a bee in my bonnet. So, anyway, I phoned Iggy at UCLA and posed the question and he immediately shot back:

FRANK GORE

AND

PATRICK WILLIS

Right on, Iggy.

This is why they are the best-liked Niners.

1)Each is a terrific player.

2)Each might turn out to be a great player.

3)Each plays hard every play, never takes a play off.

4)Each is a team player.

5)Neither complains, ever.

6)Each takes losses personally.

7)And here is a big one — each lets his play speak for him. In this they are in the tradition of Joe Montana, quiet guys who bust their butts, quiet guys their teammates rely on.

No other Niners rise to their level, although Nate Clements is a good player and Isaac Bruce is a delightful surprise, but he’s too Rammish to be loved like Gore and Willis, Niners to the core.

A few others names. Jeff Ulbrich is a fan favorite. Good guy. Plays hard. His problem? He’s not a superstar, and that’s how it goes.

Joe Nedney is terrific but, come on, he’s a kicker.

Fans so far have been neutral on Mike Martz. When he came in they were ready to make him a god, but so far, his offense has been problematic. So, while fans are not willing to throw him under the bus, they are waiting to see if he ultimately will make a difference in San Francisco.

Same thing with JTO. Fans admire his guts, but they don’t admire his turnovers.

The two hands-down favorites are Gore and Willis and they deserve to be.

— Lowell