WitP: Sopoaga sacks, Ulbrich returns, Vote McBriar!, Mouton on IR, Pisa practices, Hunter to start, Owens has NFL tryouts, longest headline ever

Isaac Sopoaga had two tackles, including this sack (video) in a loss to San Diego on Thursday. Travis LaBoy had two tackles but left the game with a knee sprain.

Speaking of 49ers, Scott Adams of the Hollister Free Lance writes about former 49er Jeff Ulbrich's return to San Francisco as a Seahawks coach.

The homecoming wasn't all sadness for Ulbrich. There were no you-can-never-go-home-again clouds looming during warm-ups, when Ulbrich cut up with former teammates; or after the game when just about everyone in the 49ers organization said hello to him in the players' tunnel.

Not sure when the deadline for Pro Bowl voting ends, but please vote for Mat McBriar to make a return trip to Aloha Stadium! I mean, look at this!

McBriar should be a lock for the Pro Bowl this season, though for some reason, Arizona punter Ben Graham leads the NFC Pro Bowl fan voting at the position. Graham ranks 11th in the NFC in both gross average (43.5) and net average (36.2). McBriar is first in the NFL in net (42.0) and second to San Diego’s Mike Scifres in gross (48.2).

After battling hamstring issues for the past few weeks, Ryan Mouton was placed on injured reserve by the Titans.

Pisa Tinoisamoa was back practicing with the Bears, two weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

Tinoisamoa was out on the practice field doing individual drills without a brace. He was expected to be limited after missing the previous two games following the Dec. 3 surgery as the Bears began preparation for the Vikings.

"It's always good to have Pisa on the field,'' safety Chris Harris said. ``He's a special player. He brings a different type of energy than any other play on the team. Everybody's going full speed on this defense, but Pisa is 100 miles per hour."

Wayne Hunter will start at right tackle for the Jets this weekend.

Wayne Hunter said Sunday will be his first opportunity to start at tackle in his eight-year NFL career.

"I'm just happy it's finally come, it's been a long time," Hunter said. "I've had a few starts at tight end but nothing like this."

theJETSblog.com has some quotes from Hunter.And the AP profiles Hunter.

Ryan recently said he loves Hunter's toughness and said he would want him to be the first guy walking off the team bus to intimidate opponents.

"Absolutely," left guard Matt Slauson said, laughing. "Wayne is able to flip a switch. In the locker room, he's a great guy, just one of the guys joking around, laughing. Then, on the field, all of the sudden, he's a madman, just crazy. You can see the look in his eyes, like, 'Oooh, I'm not getting in his way.'"

After a spectacular season with the Toronto Argonauts, Chad Owens has some tryouts lined up with NFL teams.

The window for him to get a contract in the NFL closes on Feb. 16.

"He would have to get some money up front," Burnoski said. "He would not make the move unless it is absolutely right."

Owens has some tryouts lined up "in the next few weeks," Burnoski said. Currently, Owens is at home in Hawaii, spending time with his family.

Vince Manuwai talks more about returning to form after two years spent recovering from a torn ACL.

"Last year, I was trying to understand how you play on an ACL (injury) and how much it takes," Manuwai said. "It was the first time I've ever been hurt in 16 years of playing football. First injury, first surgery, first rehab. Coming back, even though it felt fine, my body was shocked. You had up and down days."

"Scouts says I'm even better now," Manuwai said. "A lot of it is maturity and really understanding the game more mentally than physically. When you're young, you're just blocking. Now, I understand the blocking schemes and everything comes a little easier."