Jim Harbaugh: 'San Francisco 49ers players earned roster spots'

Jim Harbaugh has said that the players who have made the San Francisco 49ers' 53-man roster for the coming NFL season have worked hard to get into the team.

The NFC West side released 21 players yesterday, including the team's longest-tenured player, long snapper Brian Jennings.

The head coach told the team's official website: "There was a lot of worthy players. The thing that was profound to me, so many guys improved, so many guys were ascending players, right up to the point of making the final roster.

"To see young football players ascend and get better as football players, that's very exciting to me. I've yet to have a day where it's not a good experience to watch the players ascend."

The 49ers open the regular season against the Green Bay Packers next Sunday.