When Kyle Shanahan was looking to get into the NFL as an assistant coach more

than a decade ago Cheap Demarcus Lawrence Jersey , his father, Mike, called Jon Gruden and asked him to hire his son for an entry-level job in Tampa.Shanahan joined the Buccaneers as a quality control coach in 2004 on Gruden's staff and got his introduction to pro football on a staff that featured five assistants who have gone on to get head coaching jobs in the NFL."It was such a good place for me to go to because Jon was doing everything," Shanahan said. "It wasn't just his stuff. He was always on top of it with the film, which everyone is now because of the computers and everything, but he was one of the first guys doing that stuff, probably being a little bit younger than most guys at that time and just introduced me to pretty much every play known to man."Now 14 years later, Shanahan gets his first chance to coach against his old boss when the San Francisco 49ers (1-7) host Gruden and the Oakland Raiders (1-6) on Thursday night.Gruden said he took great pride in that staff that featured Mike Tomlin, Rod Marinelli, Jay Gruden and Raheem Morris during Shanahan's two seasons there in 2004-05. The Bucs won just five games the first season before winning the NFC South with an 11-5 record in 2005."We had a lot of fun back in those days. The woodshed, I called it," Gruden said. "People are going to take me to the woodshed here pretty soon, if we don't get this thing going."Both the Raiders and 49ers are struggling heading into this matchup, with Oakland losing three straight and San Francisco on a six-game skid.Shanahan has struggled without starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, while Gruden's return to the NFL has been rocky after nine seasons as a broadcaster at ESPN.But Shanahan believes Gruden will turn the Raiders around if given time and sees no signs that the game has passed him by."Jon lives and dies football," Shanahan said. "He never got away from it. He probably had even more time to sit and look at everything, and not get so caught up in his own team. The whole league's evolved since then. It evolves year to year. But, you watch his system, he has a foundation of what he used to do and things like that, but he's kept up with everything."Here are some other things to watch:BEATHARD'S HEALTHThe 49ers could be forced to go with their third-string quarterback this week. Garoppolo went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 and backup C.J. Beathard is questionable this week with an injured right wrist. The next man up is Nick Mullens, who has never taken a snap in the NFL. Mullens spent last season on the practice squad and was promoted after Garoppolo's injury this year. He has impressed his teammates with strong play in the preseason and practice."He's a baller," running back Matt Breida said. "He doesn't let the game get too big for him. I think he'll do a great job if he has to play this week."DRIVE THE CARRRaiders quarterback Derek Carr is coming off perhaps his best game of the season, throwing for three touchdowns and running for a fourth score in last week's loss to the Colts. Carr completed 17 straight passes at one point and thrived in his first game after leading rusher Marshawn Lynch went down with a groin injury and No. 1 receiver Amari Cooper was traded to Dallas. Receiver Brandon LaFell, who wasn't targeted at all in his previous two games for Oakland, had three catches for 39 yards and a TD after getting the start in place of Cooper."He's friendly to the quarterback," Carr said. "He always runs friendly routes. He can play with anybody. I'm glad that we had some time to work and all those things, but he's the kind of guy that you can just throw him in and just play."SAFETY DANCEThe Niners go into this game thin at safety. Starting free safety Adrian Colbert is on injured reserve with an ankle injury and San Francisco could be without its top two strong safeties as well. Starter Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) and backup Antone Exum (concussion) are out this week. Jimmie Ward fared well last week at free safety after moving over from cornerback. San Francisco is thinner at strong safety with Tyvis Powell, who has never started a game, and rookie Marcell Harris Youth Jaylon Smith Jersey , who could be activated from IR to make his debut, the main options.DYING RIVALRYThis will be the final scheduled meeting between these Bay Area rivals before the Raiders move to Las Vegas in 2020. The teams have rarely been successful in their 36 seasons as NFL neighbors here with both making the playoffs in the same year only four times in that span (1970, '72, 2001, '02). The teams have combined for a winning record just once in 2003 and are on pace for the worst record for a two-team market since the 1970 merger. Dez Bryant and the Browns are still in the courtship phase. Their future together is uncertain.The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver and his agent, Kim Maile, met with team officials at the Browns' headquarters in Berea, Ohio, on Thursday. The sides got to know each other better, and they are expected to meet again Friday to discuss a potential contract for Bryant with Cleveland.Released by Dallas in April after eight seasons, Bryant is looking for a new NFL home and Cleveland, could be the place where he continues a brilliant career that has stalled.Before meeting with coach Hue Jackson and general manager John Dorsey, Bryant stopped in the studio of the team's in-house radio show and gave an on-air update of his visit."I'm happy to be here, you know excited, you know just trying to work out some things," Bryant said. "It's a lovely place."When one of the radio hosts observed that Bryant looked wearing orange while he played at Oklahoma State, Bryant said, "Yeah, I did. I'd still look good in the brown. We'll see."The 29-year-old has shown an interest in signing with the Browns, who are looking to add an experienced receiver to their young group which is currently missing former Pro Bowler Josh Gordon, who is away from the team for health reasons.Bryant has been waiting to latch on with another team since turning down a three-year, $21 million contract offer from the Baltimore Ravens, who may still have interest in him.The Browns have plenty of room under the salary cap to offer Bryant a multi-year deal. However, the team may opt to sign him to a short-term contract. The Browns also must decide if they're ready to take on a player who clashed with Cowboys coaches and while very talented can be highly disruptive.Last week, Dorsey said he had been trying to contact Bryant with no success. After Dorsey reached out to Bryant through the media, Bryant posted on Twitter that he intended to visit the Browns."For real . I wouldn't mind playing for the browns ... I just want to be right first," Bryant wrote.Several Cleveland players, including starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor and receiver Jarvis Landry, have expressed they would love Bryant to join them."That would be awesome http://www.cowboyscheapauthenticstore.com/jeff-heath-jersey-cheap ," Taylor said following Cleveland's exhibition opener. "We know what type of talent Dez brings to the football field. He's been a very, very good player in his time throughout this league, and he adds talent to the wide receiver room. I hope it can get done, but that's up to management. I definitely think he could help this team."Landry, a three-time Pro Bowler who is close to Bryant, said this week he would love to be teammates with him."We're just trying to figure out if he wants to be here," Landry said. "Then obviously we're open arms, and we'd love to have him. He'd be a great addition to our team and our offense for sure. You look at the plays he's making down the field, underneath. He can really do it all, given the opportunities."On Wednesday, offensive coordinator Todd Haley said he's excited about Cleveland's group of receivers, which includes Landry, rookie Antonio Callaway, the improved Rashard Higgins and undrafted first-year free agent C.J. Board."I'm excited about these young guys. I really am," Haley said. "I mean, that being said, if guys are willing to come in here and guys with the pedigrees and resumes like somebody like (Bryant), I mean, of course, we're going to accept him and coach the heck out of him. If Dez Bryant, who obviously has been a good player in this league, is in that mix, he's going to be coached like everybody else."I tell everybody that shows up here we don't care about what means you get here, if you're willing to put your hand in the pile and work and be part of moving forward and having success, I'm all for it."Bryant has been one of the NFL's top deep threats for years. He has amassed 531 catches for 7,459 yards and 73 touchdowns.Last season, Bryant caught 69 passes for 838 yards and six TDs.