SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Offensive lineman Adam Snyder and San Francisco 49ers special-teams standout Blake Costanzo sat side by side in outdoor ice tubs, each sporting a beanie to keep his head warm while playing with their respective cellphones.
“I don’t know why they do that outside, torture,” rookie fullback Bruce Miller quipped Friday after observing the duo on one of the colder Northern California days this winter.
Those are Jim Harbaugh’s kind of guys, tough to the core, ice in their veins. He wants his players ready for whatever weather comes this weekend — cold, rain and wind.
“The only thing we have to fear is being unprepared,” Harbaugh said Friday.
Harbaugh hoped for precipitation this week, and he got it — just not enough to satisfy the 49ers coach who wanted his team to practice on a soggy field ahead of Sunday’s NFC championship game against the New York Giants.
Costanzo and Snyder want their bodies to be as fresh as possible for any challenging situation on the field or with the field Sunday.
“It’s the only way to get by. Week 20,” Costanzo said.
“Rite of passage, keep your legs fresh,” added Snyder.
Safeties Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner stretched and warmed up while sporting hats of their own, Goldson’s floppy black cap covering his braids and bouncing from side to side as he skipped across the field to loosen his limbs.
More rain was in the forecast in the Bay Area, and the 49ers pulled out the cold-weather clothing before working out in chilly conditions with a stiff wind Friday.
“Admiral Bull Halsey once said, ‘If you’re going to fight in the North Atlantic, then you got to prepare in the North Atlantic,’ ” Harbaugh said, referring to the late U.S. naval officer. “They’re anticipating some rain on Sunday.”
Harbaugh said he expects the field at Candlestick Park to be in good shape, considering the grass was replaced before the team’s Monday night game Dec. 19 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
