San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed reporters on Tuesday as the team reported to training camp. Here is everything they had to say.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
Opening comments:
President of Football Operations and General Manager John Lynch opening comments: "Just to help you guys out, some players that we anticipate starting on the PUP list, [WR] Ricky Pearsall injured his hamstring away from here. He'll start on the NFI list. [DL] Drake Jackson coming off the patella tendon surgery, [LB] Dre Greenlaw with his achilles and [S] Talanoa [Hufanga], all tracking well, but we will start training camp with those guys on PUP and after that, open up for questions."
Has WR Brandon Aiyuk reported? Do you expect him to report if he hasn't?
JL: "Well, they still have another hour and change. So I don't know if he is here, but we expect all our players to report and be here."
Has there been any understanding with him that you will continue to negotiate?
JL: "We've had great communication. We started this really early. We made it a priority to try to get done. We've had excellent communication throughout. I really don't want to characterize. We haven't been able to and that's a shame, but Brandon's a big part of our team and we expect that he will be this year."
Is there a possibility that you do some sort of restructuring like you did with Miami Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert in the past?
JL: "Everything's a possibility. We're not going to get into negotiations and as Kyle says, there's no absolutes. So, we're open to anything. And like I said, Brandon's a big part of this team and we expect that he will be going forward."
Do you know yet whether he'll practice once he reports or whether he will be?
JL: "We expect all our players to practice."
Last year you gave us an absolute that DL Nick Bosa would not be traded. Can you make that same statement about Brandon?
JL: "Well, I did say that with Bosa and I felt that way, but I think, again, no absolutes there. We fully intend on Brandon being a Niner moving forward. We're always open to listen to things, but like I said, we expect Brandon to be an integral part of our team like he has been and excited about that."
Bosa mentioned last year that he thought maybe the really long negotiation did affect him during the season, saw his numbers go down. WR Deebo Samuel Sr. has mentioned during his contractual offseason that kind of threw off his season that followed. Are you concerned that this could happen with Aiyuk or anybody, but specifically Aiyuk?
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan: "Anytime you don't get to practice like you're used to, I mean a NFL season's real hard. So anytime you don't really get to prepare the right way in training camp, it's a challenge for all those players. But tons of players have gone through it. Some have bigger challenges than others. Each one's different. I don't remember Deebo missing much. I think we got him done the first couple days from what I remember. Bosa, just the way a D-Lineman is, I think is a little bit different. But then getting in football shape, no matter how hard you work out it, it's tough. It's tough to catch up throughout the season. So both of those guys have their individual experiences with it. It never helps. But, it's something that's not a new thing. It's something you've got to deal with."
When Deebo requested a trade a couple years ago, you were asked why you were confident it would work itself out, and you said that you have a personal relationship with him and you hadn't even talked to him yet. Why are you confident that you can work things out with Aiyuk if things get lumpy?
KS: "I don't remember exactly and knowing you, I don't know if I exactly said that, but I don't remember. But I have a personal relationship with all our players and you like to be able to talk with those guys and usually when it does get close, it can work out. And I would feel the same with Brandon. I've been with Brandon here for four years. I'm going in our fifth year together. I've got a lot of love for B.A. I think I'm close with him. Hopefully that can help, but only can help so much. There's also business side to it. But when you have relationships with people, it helps."
You have been able to work at these huge contracts for the star players like Bosa and Deebo in the past. Has this been one of the more challenging ones since you've come to Santa Clara?
JL: "I think first of all, I think it's important to note, we're fortunate to be in this position where we have a lot of talented players, so you have to have these conversations. This one has been challenging. As I said, we set it out, we started it earlier than we have in the past, made it a priority. And there's a lot of dynamics. I'm not going to get into all of them, but there's a lot of dynamics as to why it's been challenging. And the fifth-year option is something we all sign up for when you have a first-round pick and that's been out there, but we've tried diligently to get this done. We haven't been able to get there. What I've learned from my past experiences for the last seven years going into our eighth is that sometimes when you think there's no way this thing's going to progress, they do. Sometimes when you think, 'alright, this thing's done tomorrow' it's not. So you just keep going. You stay in communication and you understand that it's a business. I've been in their shoes. I know where they're at. I know the challenges. I take a lot of pride in having things done so that our team can focus on the job at hand. And it hurts me when that's not always done at this time of year. So, I understand that. But again, I think we've got a lot of talented players and we've rewarded a lot. So it does become more challenging in time when you've rewarded so many players. That's also why this is a very good team that has such high expectations."
Judging from the outside, it would seem like the amount of receivers that have signed around the league would maybe make it easier. Has it in fact actually made it harder? Is there concern that this is pushing the price to a place that you aren't willing to go?
JL: "No, I wouldn't say that. And again, I'm not going to get into the specifics. I think there's a privacy that is earned. I always go back to I didn't like my business being aired out, so I'm not going to get into the specifics. There's certainly markets that happen and developments that happen that affect, but we also have our own roster. And like I said, we've rewarded a lot of players, so things do get more challenging. We put our best foot forward, but both sides have to come to agreement. We haven't been able to do that yet. So where that goes, we'll see."
What do you expect the timeline to be for Ricky with that hamstring injury?
JL: "I think we feel pretty confident he's in a good place. We kind of work in blocks. Our thought is that he misses the first block and then on that second block. But we're not going to put him out there. That's on our trainers, our performance staff. And we won't put him out there too early. On that note, [former head of player health and performance] Ben Peterson moved on to the Atlanta Hawks. We thank Ben for all his contributions. We'll announce formally what their titles are and all that, but Dustin Little, our head athletic trainer and [head of strength and conditioning] Dustin Perry will be taking that kind of in a dual role. And we're excited about that. Those are good people that we've got a good system in place and those guys will be taking the reins."
With these extensions, it seems like you are comfortable taking your time with them as long as it takes, other teams seem to be doing them as soon as a player becomes eligible. Why do you like to take your time with these extensions?
JL: "I don't. I'm impatient. I like going. I think, again, we've had a lot of really talented players and I think I put our track record against anybody in terms of getting players signed. I wish it could happen quicker. But I'm proud of our record."
One thing you did get done during the offseason was RB Christian McCaffrey. How important was it for both of you to make sure you have him around?
JL: "He's a pretty good football player."
KS: "Very important. It's always tough with all this stuff. Just everything. The question you guys are asking pertaining contracts and stuff, it's a whole challenge that you've got to understand the market and how that works in the league. And you've also got to understand what works for our team and how to build your own team with it. And there's two things that you're constantly weighing and it's not easy to figure out. There's never an obvious right way or wrong way. You try to figure out the best way. A lot of stuff goes into that. And to be able to get Christian here, with what he's done the last couple years and what we plan on him doing for the next few years, we were really excited to get that done and felt great about it."
From the outside, when the guy makes a trade request and other social media comments, it's like, oh, this is not going well. There's a real huge impact. The fact that he appears to be showing up and maybe just holding in, is that an optimistic sign of where he might be?
JL: "I always want to be optimistic. This has been a tough one. I think it's been hard to find that common evidence by us not having a deal in place when we both have tried. So I guess we're going to continue to work towards finding resolution and not optimistic, not pessimistic, just going to keep attacking it and trying to find the right endpoint for each of us and leave it at that."
Just clarification on Pearsall, you said PUP. Is it NFI?
JL: "NFI, yeah. Treated the same way as PUP, but because he did it away from here, NFI."
How long is a block of practice?
KS: "Four days. Everyone in the league has to do four days and then you get a day off. Hopefully he'll be in there in the next three, at least ease him into there."
How are TE George Kittle, CB Charvarius Ward and OL Jake Brendel coming? Will they have any restrictions of any kind?
KS: "We'll be smart with them. They're all 100-percent healed. You've just got to be careful with how you get them back in. They'll have some days off and stuff like that, but they're all good to go."
In your remark about Bosa, you said getting a defensive lineman ready is a little bit different. How so?
KS: "I think each team is different. But I would say, a kicker, you wouldn't worry about at all because they're not tied to many other people. I think a defensive lineman especially with the four down scheme and the way we play it, it's a little more individual based. Now you have to get back into football shape in the movement. But as far as an offensive lineman, when you're moving in combination with a guy next to you or sometimes both guys next to you, three people, and you have to zone stuff off, it just takes longer to build guys together and things like that at other positions. D-Line, not that any of them are good, I would put probably behind kicker at that."
Do you have a date, a timeline, that you would like to have Brandon's situation resolved?
JL: "No date. Yesterday. We'll continue communication and keep working."
As a coach, how does it affect you to have a piece like Brandon, not knowing to what capacity you're going to have him? It's a question mark. How does it affect you and your planning?
KS: "It's tough. Especially a player like Brandon. But that's something where, if I just found that out today, you'd probably see me in a lot more of a panic. But it's something that you understand what's going on. I've understood that the whole offseason. It's something I hope that we don't have to deal with, but if you do, you've got to deal with it. So you prepare for that in how you think, how you plan and it's not something that you can let surprise you in my situation. So it's definitely not the ideal situation. Not at all what you want, but it's something that you're prepared for as a coach, and you plan your team accordingly."
Have you decided how you're going split the quarterback reps? Are QB Josh Dobbs and QB Brandon Allen going to split the twos?
KS: "Yeah, they'll keep splitting those reps to compete for the two spot."
A year ago, QB Brock Purdy was entering training camp not fully healthy. How different is the experience now coming with him full offseason, good to go?
KS: "It's cool. It's nice. There was a lot more uncertainty. I felt good about him last year, just talking to him every day and watching his rehab. He looked great, but it's still a scary injury and you're nervous when he comes back. This year, just being able to go through an offseason that wasn't just in the film room, that was the film room and the football field was great. I know he had a good 40 days away. Awesome that he got married and I think he's in a great spot in his life, great spot physically, and I'm just pumped to start tomorrow with him."
How is this offseason different than the ones you had where you were so close, where you couldn't win the big one?
KS: "It was a lot shorter. Last time after the Super Bowl, we got three weeks off and then you come back in and I think I came back in for two days before the whole world shut down and then went home and stayed in sweats and hung out with my kids for the next four months because of COVID. So, it was different. We weren't even sure if we were going to have a season and then we just crammed in a training camp right before the season. So, it was totally different. This one went a lot faster. I think that is the tough thing about going to the Super Bowl, whether you win or lose, is how long it takes to deal with some of the things that you put off all the way to February, the recovery you need just mentally and physically. But when you get to this point, it all kind of feels the same. If you would have asked me this 40 days ago, I'd been like, 'Oh, I need a little bit more time.' But now that I've been away from this building, everyone really has, and we've gotten 40 days with our family, it's time to get back. I know my family wants me back, bad, in here and I'm ready to start doing some things besides going to the beach with them."
What did you learn?
KS: "In what aspect?"
About yourself as a coach, the season, the game. What did you learn in these 40 days about yourself?
KS: "In 40 days? I learned how much fun I can have before I need to get back and it gets less and less each year as I get older. You start to realize how you have to balance more stuff out. I did a lot more going on morning walks and stuff with my family, which made me feel very old, but after doing it for about four days, it made me feel a lot healthier. I enjoyed that stuff. Got into a lot more routines. It's really about, I think as you go, this is my 20th season, and you so know what it's about. You so know what you're doing every single day. You so know about the seven-month grind. It's not at all coming back to the hours, it's coming back to you're not going to have a day off, minus that BYE week, until hopefully February. You know what that takes, you know what you're going to go through. So, you kind of know how to handle yourself the 40 days away. Spiritually, mentally, physically, all the stuff. And players have to build their body up in a certain way. And guys who go to the Super Bowl, you know, our vets who have been in the playoffs for the last few years, who always do that extra stuff, when you do that your first time, you're like, 'Holy cow, I didn't know how hard this was.' And then everyone kind of learns what it's like, coaches, players, everyone. I think you kind of understand what you need to do for yourself to get through what you're expecting to happen."
Where did facial hair experimentation fit into the equation of your offseason?
KS: "I always experiment in my offseason, out of boredom. But I got very used to it and I liked it because my wife did. But I knew you guys would talk about it too much, so I had to shave it yesterday."
Did you think you were going to create such a big stir with it?
KS: "You never know. I thought it was going to be more lowkey and not as many people would see, but that was probably dumb of me. You do the first week, because I've never worn a mustache before. But once you wear it for a week, you get used to it and it's not a big deal until you see someone who hasn't seen you yet and then they look at you very weirdly. I learned it demands respect. Whether it's good respect or bad respect, no respect, it still makes someone decide. But no, can't carry that into the season.
JL: "I think he inspired some people in the process. I've seen some nice staches in the early check-ins."
In the offseason, you said to us, 'Hey, we really want to add some finishers.' How do you define that? And now looking back at the offseason, were you able to add some finishers?
JL: "Yeah, we always want to. That's one of the things we always talk about, adding finishers. And what does finishing mean? It means finishing the day, it means finishing a meeting, finishing a game, finishing a series, finishing a season. That's important in this league because this league is a grind, and you need people that can close things out. I think as close as we've come, I think you just keep adding those type of people and you give yourself a chance. Kyle and I, I think were kind of raised the same way. My dad used to say, 'In life, all you want is a chance, and you have to earn that.' His dad used to say that as a head coach all the time. I remember hearing that in my years at Denver. We have a chance. This team has a chance. It's an awesome opportunity that we have going into camp. I'm really excited. I'm fired up. I think that's why you need finishers to close everything you do, to finish everything you do."
Other agents have said in the past that the best time to have your player hold out is when you're playing for a team that is on the verge, or close, to winning a championship. That it puts the most pressure on the team. How do you react to that on the other side of it?
JL: "I guess I understand that narrative. But we're trying to have success right now, first and foremost, but always keep in mind of out into the future. And so, that's what we'll continue to do. That's our charge, that's who we are as an organization. We're going to push each year to compete for championships and do so, I think, in a responsible way, and that's what we try to do. It's been good. It's been good to us. We have to find a way to be a little bit better and I'm excited for that opportunity."
Have you guys had a chance to watch the Netflix "Receiver," and did you learn anything from Deebo and Kittle watching it or even just about the team in general watching it from them?
JL: "I haven't watched it. I hear a lot. My kids have watched it. I don't have anything against it. I think there's great programming. During those 40 days away, I try to really embrace my family and embrace some of the things we're doing with our kids and all that. So I've shut it off. Maybe I'll get to it as we're traveling this season, but I have not. I've heard great things about the content. It's the world we live in, and I think some of those things are exciting. I think back to, I think I was the first player, me and [former 49ers WR] Jerry Rice in Super Bowl XXXVII, to wear a live mic during the game. That was such a foreign concept, it was unheard of. And [former NFL head coach] John Madden talked me into it because he said, 'you'll have this for your kids someday.' I was most concerned about my mom hearing my language on the field. Nowadays, I think people are accustomed to it. It's just kind of what you know, and they're going even further. Some of this stuff, "Hard Knocks" during the offseason, it's like, 'Alright, those guys can have that.' We like doing our business the way we like doing our business."
KS: "Yeah, I'm the same. My son has told me everything about it, but I haven't personally watched it."
