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SAN FRANCISCO - Jim Harbaugh still believes in Eric Wright. And Wright has joined the San Francisco 49ers after all. The free agent defensive back signed a one-year contract Thursday and was placed on the non-football injury/illness list while he handles a personal matter, the 49ers said. San Francisco released cornerback Lowell Rose to clear room on the roster. Wright had been traded to the reigning NFC champions last month for a conditional draft pick in 2014, but he failed his physical, nullifying the deal. Tampa Bay then released Wright. "Were looking forward to Eric getting back to being the player that he thinks he can be and we think he can be," Harbaugh said after a 10-6 exhibition loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. "That would be a great story for him to be able to do that. It would be great for us if he can get there. Well work with him." San Francisco needed depth in the secondary after cornerback Chris Culliver was lost to a season-ending knee injury Aug. 1. Harbaugh isnt sure when Wright will join the team. Shortly after the trade, reports surfaced that Wright had been arrested a week earlier in Los Angeles on an unspecified misdemeanour charge. General manager Trent Baalke said the team was aware of the situation. "We are pleased to welcome Eric to the 49ers organization and look forward to his contributions," Baalke said. "Eric is currently tending to a personal matter and he will join the team as soon as possible." Wright was arrested in 2012 on felony DUI charges and was suspended for four games last season by the NFL for violating the performance enhancing drug policy in his first season with the Bucs. He finished with 37 tackles and one interception in 10 games, all starts. The 28-year-old Wright, a San Francisco native in his seventh NFL season, signed a five-year, $35.3 million contract with Tampa Bay last year. The Niners move to trade for Wright immediately raised eyebrows after Harbaughs comments during the teams June minicamp — he made it clear he wouldnt accept players breaking the NFLs policy on PEDs for a perceived edge. While Wright wasnt previously on the roster after the trade was nullified, Harbaugh made it clear his stand was the same. "That hasnt changed," he said at the time. "I think our guys do a good job of playing within the rules." Delino DeShields Jr. Rangers Jersey . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Elvis Andrus Jersey . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. http://www.texasrangersshop.com/rangers-joey-gallo-jersey/ .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Logan Forsythe Rangers Jersey . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Ivan Rodriguez Rangers Jersey . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd.TORONTO -- Four weeks into his time at Toronto FC and Duncan Oughton has yet to witness a victory. But the assistant coach, a friend of Toronto manager and fellow Kiwi Ryan Nelsen, sees good things ahead for the struggling MLS franchise. "Ive known Ryan a long time and I believe in him 100 per cent," Oughton said after practice this week. "I like the way he does things. On the coaching side Ive seen it before as a player, how he ran teams, organized teams especially with the New Zealand team." Oughton believed in Nelsen enough to uproot his life from Columbus, his home for a dozen years since the Crew chose him 10th overall in the first round of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft. Nelsen went fourth overall that same year, to D.C. United. Both men came to California for college. Oughton played for Cal-State Fullerton, while Nelsen went to Stanford. Although he was primarily a holding midfielder, Oughton played a variety of positions in midfield and the backline. His playing career was interrupted by a serious knee injury in the final game of the 2004 season. He would not return until August 2006, after an experimental surgical procedure in which his own cartilage was grown in a lab and then reimplanted in his right knee. The scar is still visible and his right leg doesnt straighten quite as well as the left. He feels the effects of the injury daily. "Even when I came back, I was never the same," Oughton conceded. "But I think I grew upstairs. My brain had to be a little faster because my legs certainly werent." Oughton and Nelsen first played together in 2002, rooming together for part of New Zealands qualifying effort for the 2003 Confederations Cup. Now they scheme together on the sidelines. "Hes definitely got things mapped out, got a plan for how he wants to do things and how the staff want to do things," said Oughton. The Toronto coaching staff discuss the approach and tweak it as needed, but the framework is always there in advance. Oughton, who turns 36 on June 14, arrives with plenty of knowledge of MLS and a winning resume that includes the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2002), MLS Cup (2008) and Supporters Shield (2004, 2008 and 2009). He retired as a player in February 2010 after making 136 appearances for Columbus. On the international scene, he made his debut for the All Whites against Tahiti in 2002 and went on to win 25 caps, scoring twice. His last New Zealand appearance was against South Africa in the 2009 Confederations Cup. Oughton scored goals against Tahiti and the Solomon Islands and has pllenty of memories of exotic locales.dddddddddddd "You do travel some great places," he recalled. But there were also some nightmare venues. "Steaming hot, bumpy fields. Theyd kick you and the referees dont give you much love down there." After retiring, he watched Nelsen lead New Zealand to three draws at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The All Whites failed to advance but they won their first points at the tournament and finished undefeated, ahead of four-time world champion Italy in their group. "Ryan was obviously the face of that team," said Oughton. "It takes a team to get things done but he was the face, he was the leader. At times, I think he was kind of the organizer/coach of that team." Oughton, who has a cheeky sense of humour, cant resist a shot at his friend, however, calling Nelsen "a B-Grade celebrity down in New Zealand." "I dont want to give him an A. His head might get too big." Nelsen, who was absent in Europe this week scouting and helping his family move, gives as good as he gets. When the two met before a pre-season game in Orlando in February, Nelsen gave Oughton the gears by suggesting he might have put on a few pounds. After retiring, Oughton served briefly in the Columbus front office as assistant to the technical director before becoming an assistant coach. Nelsen brought him on board in early May, adding to the coaching staff of Jim Brennan, Jason Bent and Stewart Kerr that he had inherited when he took over earlier this year. "When (Nelsen) called me, not that long ago now, and said Hey, would you have interest. Of course, I was interested. Its a great organization," Oughton recalled. "I feel like its got so much potential here that he will realize with this team. I was exited to be a part of that. "At the end of the day, although I love Columbus and it was a decision to make, it was a no-brainer really." With Toronto (1-7-5), Oughton has been watching games from on high, going down at halftime to report his findings. While he has yet to look down on a win, he says he sees talent, determination and improvement. "Im excited. I wouldnt have come here if I didnt think the right people were in place," Oughton said. "Theres a lot of good players in that locker-room, a lot of good guys. "Things are definitely looking up." Note: Nelsen and Oughton arent the only New Zealanders in TFC colours. Forward Jeremy Brockie, a current international, is on loan to the team from his club side in Wellington. ' ' '