When it was explained to us that the Vikings sent receiver Percy Harvin a five-day letter in order to secure a roster exemption and when we paired that up with the report that the 49ers have secured a roster exemption following the decision of defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer to go AWOL from San Fran’s camp, we surmised that the Niners had sent the five-day letter to Balmer, too.
David White of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the letter was sent Wednesday, the day on which Balmer failed to return after a two-day excused absence. The move means that Balmer has until Monday to show up.
If Balmer fails to return, the Niners aren’t required to put him on the reserve/left squad list, which would shut him down for all of the 2010 season.