WitP: LaBoy injured, Samson interviewed, Ikaika praised, Pisa battling, McBriar profiled

Some bad news for Travis LaBoy:

Travis LaBoy became the third player to join the 49ers' concussion list. The sixth-year linebacker walked off the field on Thursday about two hours into practice. Singletary said LaBoy's concussion was believed to be mild.
The linebacker has a history of concussions. He missed the first three games of the 2004 season with that injury and also missed two games in 2006. The 49ers listed his status as day to day.

Raiders.com has a video interview with Samson Satele.

Miami coach Tony Sparano has some great things to say about Ikaika Alama-Francis.

Said he’s been ‘pleasantly surprised’ with the transition Ikaika Alana-Francis has made from defensive end to linebacker so far. “There’s a bunch of steps left, no question. But he lost the weight we asked, he looks like a linebacker out there, he’s a handful in the rush, can set the defense, he’s a strong guy, very very smart. I like what he’s done. To get him in games and see him play in these situations is very important.”

Pisa Tinoisamoa has been getting some reps with the first team.

Basically a full-time starter since being selected by the St. Louis Rams in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft, Tinoisamoa currently finds himself sitting behind Roach on the Bears depth chart.

However, Tinoisamoa -- who played in just two games last year -- took repetitions with the first team Wednesday during the night practice.

Pisa talks about how his knee is holding up:

"I'm actually kind of surprised how everything is going as far as my health and my knee," Tinoisamoa said. "I was a little worried at first. I [wondered] if it was going to hold up. But it's been doing well and I've been able to do things I'm kind of excited about; things I was kind of hesitant about."

"Physically, at the time, it helps out a lot (being limited in the offseason). Mentally, it was kind of a crutch. So that's why I was like, ‘Hmmm [will the knee hold up?]’ But to get out here now and do it live, full speed, against the talent we have, and do it well, I feel pretty good about that."

And finally, Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News has an article about how punter Mat McBriar has been quietly phenomenal.

Sometimes you don't know greatness even when it's right in front of you.

Mat McBriar might have had the best season of any Cowboy last season. True, he didn't make the Pro Bowl. True, he only has to do one thing during a game and only a few times at that. And there's probably some of that, "He's only a punter" thing in there, too.

But McBriar's statistics are impressive if you dig deeper than the traditional gross average that measures a punter. He averaged 45.1 yards per punt, which would only be his third-best full season since joining the Cowboys in 2004. He had a 39.9-yard net, which was the best of his career and the third-best in franchise history.

He also dropped 38 of his 72 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Only one other punter in team history had more than 30 in a season (Toby Gowin, 31 in 1998). It was also the sixth-highest total in NFL history.