SANTA CLARA, Calif. » Running back Glen Coffee left the San Francisco 49ers yesterday morning, telling the team he no longer wants to play football.

It was another sudden blow in a tumultuous week for the 49ers, who saw defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer leave the team Monday. Balmer, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2008, missed practice for the fifth straight day yesterday. His absences have been unexcused since Wednesday.

"We just respond to this and move forward," coach Mike Singletary said. "We’re dealing with this in stride and continuing to have our best practice. The thing that we’re trying to do as the 49ers is that we’re trying to find 53 men that love the game of football."

Coffee apparently isn’t one of those. In a statement released by the team, the second-year veteran said, "I feel it is best for me that I move on from football."

Merriman signs tender

Shawne Merriman signed his $3,269,000, one-year tender with the San Diego Chargers yesterday, admitting his two-week holdout didn’t accomplish anything.

The star outside linebacker won’t play in tonight’s exhibition opener against Chicago, but coach Norv Turner expects him to be ready by the following weekend’s game against Dallas.

Warren placed on IR

Bill Belichick’s defensive rebuilding project just got bigger with defensive end Ty Warren sidelined for the season by a hip injury.

The New England Patriots placed Warren on injured reserve yesterday after he missed most training camp practices and Thursday night’s 27-24 win over the New Orleans Saints in an exhibition opener.

Linebacker Derrick Burgess reported yesterday and was reinstated from the reserve-did not report list after considering retirement.