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Simply put, training camp is a monotonous grind where scenery hardly changes and everything feels routine.

Not anymore.

Mike Singletary threw a curveball to his players prior to Wednesday’s afternoon practice, announcing that camp will be moving south for a day.

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The NFL offseason is hardly a time of rest and relaxation.  Yes, players have a chance to let their bodies heal, enjoy some time with friends and family away from the team’s facility and then quickly get back to work preparing for the next season.

Tackle Joe Staley also took advantage of the down time to go under the knife….well, laser.  Don’t worry, the procedure was not major and not even a result of playing football.  After having lasik eye surgery, Staley can now throw away the contacts that have been a part of him for so long.

“I’ve worn contacts since I was in seventh grade and it really became annoying,” Staley said.  ”The opportunity came to my attention to get lasik eye surgery with Dr. Scott Hyver.  My dad had it done four years ago and he has been really happy.  He told me how easy the procedure was so I though it would be a good idea.”

Though playing with contacts is common in the NFL, the third-year lineman recalled times when he got frustrated after opponents’ hands would get inside his face mask and knock out his contacts.  But his decision solves much more than having to head to the sidelines for a new pair of lenses.

“I didn’t just think about it benefiting my football career, it’s just benefited my life,” Staley said.  ”It’s good not to have to wake up an put contacts in and not have to worry about getting an eye infection if I forget to take my contacts out.”

Staley still has to be careful initially as he’s been given a long list of do’s and don’ts.

“I can’t rub my eyes, which I’ve done about 47 times already,” joked Staley.  ”It’s really hard not to rub your eyes, especially when you’re in the shower and you have to get the water out.  I keep freaking out that I’m going to go blind whenever I cant myself rubbing my eyes.  They told me that my lens would come off, but I wouldn’t go blind.  They would just have to do the surgery again.”

One of the items Staley has been given to help prevent him having to go in for a second procedure is a pair of goggles similar to those worn by former NBA start Horace Grant.

“They’re these plastic specs,” Staley said.  ”I have to wear them at night for this first week so I don’t rub my eyes without knowing it.  I’ve also been really good though about using my eye drops.  I have artificial tears that I can put in my eyes to prevent them from drying out.”

As a result, Staley can see clearly now…even if the rain wasn’t gone at Tuesday’s OTA session.  Below is a video as well as a few photos from Tuesday. For more photos, view our photo gallery.

QB Alex Smith

Team Stretch

WR Brandon Jones

LB Scott McKillop

Secondary Coach Vance Joseph

In the spirit of March Madness, linebacker Scott McKillop paid tribute to Kentucky’s dynamic freshman point guard during Monday’s first OTA practice session of the 2010 offseason.  While making “reload” calls in reaction to shifts by the offense, the second-year player from Pittsburgh not only called out the change in assignments, he did so with flare.

“I did the John Wall dance a couple of times, he’s the guard from Kentucky,” linebacker Scott McKillop said.  ”I also did a little Spiderman, a little bowling and a few leg kicks.  I just wanted to make it fun so when the offense watches film, we can laugh about it.”

McKillop and the rest of his teammates are much more relaxed at this point of the year than any other season in recent memory.  The offense will be running the same system for two years in a row while McKillop will play in a defense that will be headed up by Greg Manusky for the fourth straight season.

“I’ve got about a month head start compared to last year and I’m familiar with the guys, familiar with the system,” McKillop said.  ”I’m more comfortable so you can have fun.  If you can’t have fun out there, you shouldn’t be playing.”

Like McKillop, the rest of the players went through a very lively practice, especially considering training camp is roughly five months away.  Below is a video and several photos from Monday.

QB Alex Smith

WR Michael Crabtree

TE coach Pete Hoener with the tight end group

LB Takeo Spikes

The 49ers players need your support to get to the 2010 Pro Bowl in South Florida.  Here’s a recap of what some of the 49ers top Pro Bowl candidates have done through the first nine weeks of the season.  You can vote as many times as you like at nfl.com/probowl.

TE Vernon Davis: Davis is having a career-year, ranking tied for 1st in the NFL with a career-high 7 TD rec. He is also leading the 49ers with 42 rec., 477 rec. yds., and 7 TDs. Davis is on pace to set career-highs in both receptions as well as receiving yds.

LB Patrick Willis: Willis  leads the 49ers with 86 tackles to go along with 2.5 sacks, 2 INTs (1 returned for TD), 2 FFs, 6 TFLs and 8 PDs. According to gamebooks, Willis ranks 3rd in the NFL in tackles (77).

NT Aubrayo Franklin: Franklin is the force in the middle of the 49ers run defense and leads the defensive line with 50 tackles and 6.5 TFLs. He has also set a career-high with 2.0 sacks. Franklin has helped limit opponents to 3.4 yds. per carry (2nd in NFL) and the 5th-fewest rushing yds. allowed (746).

P Andy Lee: Lee leads the NFC and ranks 2nd in the NFL with a 42.5 net punting avg. He also ranks 1st in the NFC gross punt avg. (48.5) and 5th in the NFL with 18 punts downed inside the 20-yd. line.

RB Michael Robinson: Robinson ranks 2nd on the team in special teams tackles (16) and has led the team in special teams tackles in three different games. He was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2008.

LB Scott McKillop: McKillop has been a special teams standout in his rookie season. He leads the team in special teams tackles (21) and also registered a special teams fumble recovery for a touchdown vs. StL.

In his conference call with the media on Sunday, head coach Mike Singletary did not name a starting quarterback.  Singletary and the coaching staff will review the film from the game and be very detailed in their evaluation before coming to such a decision.

“I have to look at some more film,” Singletary said. “It takes me a little longer than some other people.”

Alex Smith injured his thumb against the Raiders making a tackle after his pass intended for Josh Morgan was intercepted by linebacker Ricky Brown.  Smith will be evaluated and is day-to-day.  Singletary insisted that the injury will have no impact on which quarterback is ultimately selected to start against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 13.

Other notes from the conference call included:

-  The main thing that jumped out to Singletary after watching the game was the physicality. “The execution of the offensive line was a challenge going into the game. We had to have it in order for our quarterbacks to develop. The running game allowed them to have a bit of a comfort zone.”

- Adam Snyder injured his right knee and ankle in the game.  He will be evaluated before any update is given on his condition.

- Singletary praised the play of both the offensive line and running backs.  “I think it goes hand in hand. If you put a running back behind an offensive line that is not good, he could be the greatest in the world and you’d never know. For a rookie, the more [Glen Coffee] plays the better he’s going to get.”

- Singletary was pleased with the effort of the defense which has forced six interceptions in the first two preseason games.  “It’s nice to see that early on. We certainly would like for that to be a trademark of the defense. The most important thing is do your job, the reason those turnovers happen is because guys are in the right place.”

- Linebacker Scott McKillop, guard Chilo Rachal, safety Reggie Smith and cornerback Carlos Thomas were a few of the young players who stood out to Singletary. “There are a few guys who did a nice job.  Scot McCloughan and his staff have done a great job of bringing in guys who can play, so I take my hat off to him.”

- The 49ers will travel to Dallas next Saturday, a game in which the starters will probably see more playing time.  “For us, the thing I really want to focus on is it’s our first road game and we’re playing a talented football team. I know they’re considered an elite team. We have to continue to take steps and move forward in being the team we want to be.”