Kyle Shanahan keeps it real in response to Brandon Aiyuk's absence from San Francisco 49ers minicamp
With Brandon Aiyuk taking advice from Deebo Samuel as he negotiates a long-term contract extension, the San Francisco 49ers might have hoped he would follow the lead of his fellow All-Pro wide receiver. Back in 2022, Samuel staged a 'hold-in' during mandatory minicamp as he went through his own contract saga. Samuel reported for minicamp […]
With Brandon Aiyuk taking advice from Deebo Samuel as he negotiates a long-term contract extension, the San Francisco 49ers might have hoped he would follow the lead of his fellow All-Pro wide receiver.
Back in 2022, Samuel staged a 'hold-in' during mandatory minicamp as he went through his own contract saga. Samuel reported for minicamp but did not take part in practices.
Aiyuk, however, didn't even bother to report, putting himself at risk of a six-figure fine as talks over a lucrative extension continue with no end to his impasse with the 49ers in sight.
The 49ers have grown used to players who are seeking new deals reporting to minicamp while talks are ongoing, but head coach Kyle Shanahan is not concerned by Aiyuk going down a different route.
Asked in a press conference if his view of Aiyuk and his status has changed now the 2020 first-round pick has elected not to report, Shanahan replied: "To me, that doesn't change at all.
"You find out when guys are in those situations whether they come or not. Some guys come because they want to avoid a fine, and some guys don’t. But regardless, it doesn’t change anything.
“We know what the process is. We know what the business part is, and that’s just how they decide how they want to handle this thing."
Though Aiyuk did not replicate his decision-making, Samuel has continued to offer his teammate guidance throughout the process and has great empathy for what he is going through.
“As much as I can actually,” Samuel said when asked how much advice he has been giving to Aiyuk.
"I know this is a stressful time and he’s done a tremendous job throughout his career here, and when it comes to things like this, it gets tough. Some things you kind of take personal, and overall it’s just a stressful process to be honest with you.
"At the end of the day you want to get what you deserve and you hope it happens, but it’s not going to happen in the timely manner that you want it to happen. It's just a waiting game and it’s a situation where his agent communicates with them and they communicate back and it’s just a back and forth for a long time."
With wide receiver deals continuing to be signed this offseason, the most recent being a megadeal for Justin Jefferson that saw him become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, Aiyuk's leverage has continually increased as the waiting game has gone on.
Aiyuk may have deviated from what the 49ers are used to and he may be increasingly frustrated by the lack of movement towards a deal, but Shanahan's calm is reflective of the still clear likelihood that both player and team will eventually get what they both want.
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He’ll continue to be an outlier.
