BURLINGAME, Calif. -- From owner John York to kicker Jose Cortez, members of the San Francisco 49ers' organization gave 70 pints of blood Thursday.

In a gesture that was both practical and symbolic in the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, members of the 49ers abandoned practice to huddle at the Peninsula Blood Bank.

"Since we had the whole team here, there was an overwhelming desire to do something instead of sitting on our hands," York said.

Coach Steve Mariucci and team staff members spearheaded the 49ers' blood drive. The players were in meetings on Thursday morning when the NFL announced it had postponed the weekend's games, including San Francisco's trip to New Orleans and the Oakland Raiders' game at the Coliseum against the New York Jets.

Almost the entire team and front office agreed to take two buses up the peninsula to Burlingame. York -- who was unable to return home to Youngstown, Ohio, when air traffic was completely shut down on Tuesday -- general manager Terry Donahue and team president Peter Harris also helped out.

Afterward, smiling players walked back to the buses wearing red stickers on their sweatsuits, indicating they had given blood.

"It's just important to do what you can to help, because some of us feel helpless out here on the West Coast," said guard Dave Fiore, a New Jersey native who knew several people working in the World Trade Center. "I'm just grateful that everybody I know (is all right). It's the only relief to me."