During an appearance on The TK Show with Tim Kawakami, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about Deebo Samuel, who has yet to sign an extension with the organization as training camp approaches on Tuesday.
While Samuel hasn't agreed to terms on a new deal, Shanahan thinks that the star receiver will participate in drills annd isn't worried about the situation.
"I think [Deebo will participate in drills], but I don't really sit there and try to guess," Shanahan said. "I think that's going to take care of itself, all of it.
Shanahan acknowledged the rules of the new CBA, where players are fined for missing days of training camp and can't recoup the fees, but feels confident that Samuel will be a 49er for years to come, despite the current situation.
"The days of holding out and stuff are a little bit different now because players, regardless of what the team decides later, always have to pay [the fines] back." Now, those fines can't get paid back [because of the new CBA]. What I do know is I'm not worried about it not getting done. I feel very confident that Deebo's going to be on our team this year, and he's going to be for many years after. I do believe he'll get a deal."
While the 49ers' representatives have been working with Samuel's agent Tory Dandy on a deal over the past few weeks, Shanahan said he's mainly stayed out of negotiations, while re-affirming his belief that the situation will be handled.
"I know they're working on it right now, our upstairs with John and Paraag, I know they've been through negotiations with Tory [Dandy], so that's something I know they've been doing [for] the last couple weeks. That's my time to really stay out of it. I think they'll get something done sooner than later, but there is no timeline I'm not really concerned about it right now, I think it's all going to work out."
Shanahan also described the change in becoming a coach in the NFL, recognizing the importance of balancing the desire to pay players what they deserve with giving a team the best chance to win.
"I think every player in the league is underpaid. I think this league makes a lot of money and these players go through a lot of stuff, so like you always look at it that way. But, when you become a head coach or a general manager and stuff like that, you do get to see the other side, and your job is to put the best football team together possible. And so you work with these players and your goal is to get them paid, [but you] got to balance all that stuff together so you have a chance to win."
The 49ers report to training camp for their physicals on Tuesday, while practices begin on Wednesday at 10:25 AM.
