"His value is his ability to play certain positions for us," said teammate Fred Beasley, a first-time Pro Bowl selection at fullback. "Julius is a great athlete, and most importantly he's a great person."

Peterson became the first NFL player to line up at four different positions in one game against Dallas in 2002, playing linebacker, defensive end, strong safety and cornerback.

This season, Peterson led an improved 49ers defensive unit that finished the regular season in the NFC's top three in several key categories: takeaways (second, 36), sacks (tied second, 42) and turnover differential (tied first, plus 11). The 49ers also improved on their points allowed per game last season, allowing 21.1 compared to 21.9 in 2002.

In the past, the 49ers roster has long been dominated with great offensive players. Now their upcoming defensive players are starting to get recognition.

"It's a good switch," said Peterson, a two-time Pro Bowl selection. "It's always been offense, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and others. Now we're starting to get a lot of younger players who got a lot of talent who are making things happen. I'm just glad to be a part of it."

This season, Peterson recorded 94 tackles, seven sacks, nine pass breakups and two interceptions. With seven sacks, Peterson finished tied for first with Seattle's Chad Brown as the NFC's top pass-rushing linebacker.

For his efforts, Peterson won the team's Len Eshmont award, voted on by teammates and given to the team's most inspirational and courageous player.

As one of the 26 free agents on the 49ers roster, Peterson said he has "no problem coming back" to the team, and he hoped his Pro Bowl teammate Terrell Owens could do the same. Owens verbally clashed this season with quarterback Jeff Garcia and news reports indicate that the wide receiver, who is expected to become a free agent in March, may leave the 49ers. Owens pulled out of Sunday's Pro Bowl because of injury.

"It will be like that sometimes," Peterson said of Owens. "He's a great player. Sometimes it's hard to keep some of your great players. He paid his dues in San Francisco and had some great highlights there. We want him back, but if we can't, I wish the best for him."

Owens was openly critical of Garcia on his Web site terrellowens.com last month. The wide receiver posted such comments as: "I'm willing to work out a contract if the Niners can get a quarterback to match my skills as a receiver!" and "We had a chance to still make the playoffs and they left Jeff in there!"

Peterson said he believed Garcia and Owens were just two frustrated competitors. He hoped the offseason would allow the two stars to settle their differences.

"We had so (many) high expectations," Peterson said. "We were predicted to go to the Super Bowl. We had a disappointing year. So tempers are going to flare and some things are going to be said that don't want to be said.

"I think they're two grown men and they'll work it out. But right now there's no distraction. It's after the season so people have time to cool out and relax."

Peterson also threw his support behind Garcia, who endured an injury-plagued season and an arrest on suspicion of drunken driving last month.

"We still have faith in him," Peterson said. "He started off the year banged up. It takes a little time to get your repetition back. He brought us back in one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history just a year ago (where the 49ers rallied from a 24-point deficit to defeat the New York Giants, 39-38, in a NFC wild-card game in January). We support him."

The 49ers will enter the upcoming season with a new defensive coordinator after Jim Mora Jr. accepted the head coaching job with the Atlanta Falcons. Willy Robinson, the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive backs coach for the past four seasons, was named the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator this month.

"We're going to do what we have to do," Peterson said. "Whatever (Robinson's) gameplan is, we're going to come out there, execute it, pick it up as fast as possible and win ballgames. We can't sit here and moan and say we're going to quit just because Jim Mora Jr. is gone. We're professionals. We all handle our business, and we'll try to win the Super Bowl next year."

Notes: The NFL extended the TV blackout deadline to today for Sunday's Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium.

According to league policy, NFL games, including the Pro Bowl, must be sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff in order for the game to be televised in the local area.

The Pro Bowl starts at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.

The blackout deadline was extended because tickets have been returned to the NFL from Hawai'i-based military members who have been deployed overseas or must remain on their bases. In addition, some tickets were also returned from residents on neighbor islands.

Tickets cost $30 to $150, and can be purchased by Ticketmaster (877) 750-4400, Ticket

master.com, the Aloha Stadium box office, and all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, including Times Supermarket stores, Blaisdell Arena and Brigham Young-Hawai'i.