MARTIN'S BACKGROUND HELPED HIM LAND NO. 3 QB SPOTSMITH'S REPLACEMENT HAS A HISTORY WITH MARTZ THAT GOES BACK 15 YEARS

SANTA CLARA -- Quarterback Jamie Martin, 38, has a history with 49ers

offensive coordinator Mike Martz that stretches back 15 years.

''I was with Mike and he wasn't a coordinator yet,'' Martin said. ''But it

was the same type of digit Ernie Zampese offense. It was my rookie year in Los

Angeles with the Rams.''

When the 49ers needed a third quarterback to fill a roster spot vacated

when the club decided Wednesday to place Alex Smith on injured reserve, it

should have come as no surprise that Martin was chosen for the spot.

''I've had crash courses in this offense before, so I'm a little bit better

prepared for it this time,'' Martin said. ''It shouldn't take me too long to

get going on it.''

Martin, a 16-year veteran, was coached by Martz with the Washington

Redskins in 1997. He also served as a backup for Martz in 2001, '02, '04 and

'05 with the Rams. Martin spent the past two seasons with the New Orleans

Saints.

He started eight of the 54 games in which he has appeared in his career,

completing 65.6 percent of his passing attempts for 3,814 yards with 20

touchdowns and 21 interceptions. His career passer rating is 82.3.

Martin was home in St. Louis with his wife and three kids when he received

the call from the 49ers. He was working out and throwing passes to his

10-year-old son to stay in shape, in case an NFL team came calling. He was not

holding his breath.

''I'm happy with my career to this point,'' Martin said. ''I figured maybe

something would happen, but if not that was just fine. And I got a call from

Mike, and here we are.''

Martin received the call Monday morning. He flew to San Jose on Tuesday and

underwent a physical.

''You pack to stay and you see what happens when you get out here,'' Martin

said. ''I was hoping to stay because I had to pay the $50 for the extra bag on

Delta.''

HOLMGREN'S LAST STAND

Seattle coach Mike Holmgren, a San Francisco native and former 49ers

offensive coordinator, has already determined this will be his final season

with the Seahawks. Next year, former 49ers defensive coordinator Jim Mora will

take over as head coach.

''This season is business as usual,'' Holmgren said. ''We made the

decision, Kathy (his wife) and I, to come back for one more year, and I'm at

peace with that. Then, Jimmy is going to be the head coach next year.

''I'm going to take some time off. And I made that promise to my family.

And then I'm looking at it as a sabbatical leave. I'm going to take some time

off and see how I feel. I don't know right now how I'm going to react to that.

And make some decision after that.''

Holmgren said he does not have any no-compete agreement with the Seahawks.

If he decides to return to the NFL after his time away from the game, he will

be able to work for any organization.

EXTRA POINTS

* Quarterback Alex Smith, who was placed on injured reserve, attended

meetings and was on the practice field Wednesday.

* The Elias Sports Bureau decided to give full credit to Justin Smith on a

sack during Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Therefore, Smith now has half

of his sack total for his entire 2007 season with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Also, Parys Haralson's sack total was officially reduced by a half-sack to

two.

* Veteran outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain was inactive for the season

opener behind Haralson and Roderick Green, who enter the game in pass-rush

situations.

''The players who are ahead of him (Banta-Cain) right now give us more of

what we're looking for at those positions,'' Nolan said. ''But at the same

time, I know it's important to him that he wants to play. He came in the other

day. He spoke with me, and that's good.''

* Center Eric Heitmann (shoulder) and cornerback Donald Strickland (knee)

did not practice. Both are expected to be available for Sunday's game against

the Seahawks.

For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at 49ers.pressdemocrat.com. You

can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or

matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.