PRO FOOTBALL / NFL PLAYOFF REPORT : NFC : 49ers’ Kicking Situation Is on Hold

The possibility the San Francisco 49ers may switch holders on Mike Cofer has left the kicker feeling unsettled.

Cofer is concerned the introduction of a new holder could throw his timing off, the kind of worry he does not need heading into the playoffs.

The 49ers (14-2) drew a bye this week and will host Philadelphia, New Orleans or Washington in a Jan. 9 divisional playoff.

Steve Bono is Cofer’s current holder and the backup quarterback to Steve Young.

Coach George Seifert said he may use Joe Montana as the backup to Young and make Bono the emergency quarterback.

Randall Cunningham has come back from a knee injury that ruined his 1991 season and his benching in this one. The Philadelphia quarterback returned to the lineup and the Eagles went on to their fourth playoff berth in five years, an 11-5 record and a perfect mark in eight home games.

Eagle fans have been waiting for Cunningham to bring them playoff success, but he isn’t saying much publicly about his latest chance. If Sunday’s wild-card playoff at New Orleans is a big game for him personally, he isn’t letting it show.

“There’s no personal satisfaction. My thing is we’ve got to go out as a team and win. No one guy is going to win,” Cunningham said.

“I’ll take the pressure and I’ll play with it, but we have to win together as a team.”

Asked if there was more pressure on him because of an 0-3 playoff record, he responded, “No.”

Cunningham finished the season 233 of 384 passing (61%) for 2,775 yards, 11 interceptions and 19 touchdowns. His injury last year ended his four-year streak as team rushing leader, and the acquisition of Herschel Walker shifted that burden this year as the Eagles led the NFC in rushing.

Cunningham’s 549 rushing yards, third on the team, were more than he gained in 1987 (505) to lead the club.

“When you get pressure on him sometimes, he knows how to pull the ball down and run,” New Orleans linebacker Sam Mills said. “He can change the passing game into a running game quickly.”