But, coincidentally or not, it wasn't until the time that a "Deep Throat" mailed the explosive tape to The Chronicle and the San Francisco mayor's office -- and threatened to send it along to the National Football League --

that the team got off the dime.

Five long months passed from when owner John York saw a piece of the video until the day the team decided to take disciplinary action against public-relations head Kirk Reynolds, the tape's author and star. Even then, the 49ers bent over backward, keeping Reynolds' pending exit -- and any word of the video -- quiet until he could find another job.

The lid was finally pried open a few days ago when someone started sending out copies of the tape, with its racist depictions of Asians, an adults-only lesbian "wedding" and Reynolds himself cavorting with scantily clad strippers.

One tape showed up anonymously at The Chronicle last week. About the same time, a second copy was sent to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom -- whose office had provided one of the settings for Reynolds' video, without mayoral aides knowing what the contents would be.

Both copies came with similar unsigned letters, saying the video -- a "how to handle the media" primer that Reynolds made as part of diversity training for players -- reinforced the notion that "these men are nothing but thugs and hoodlums (who) must be taught through images of pornography and humiliation in order to understand simple lessons like 'treat others with respect.' "

"Obviously," the letter writer went on, team officials don't "practice what they preach" when it comes to diversity.

"I pray to my lord and savior Jesus Christ you will do the right thing and bring this matter forward to the proper people who will stop programs like this ever to be made again.''

Both letters stated the sender's intention to ship copies of the tape to the NFL and the NFL Players Association.

Reynolds said Tuesday that he was "absolutely" sure that ex-General Manager Terry Donahue is Deep Throat. Here's why: