Shanahan says he was surprised by Samuel's request
SANTA CLARA >> Coach Kyle Shanahan didn't indicate this weekend that the 49ers are nearing a peace accord or a contract extension with disgruntled wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
Nor did Shanahan express fright that this week-long drama, following Samuel's trade request, could tear apart an organization he and general manager John Lynch built into a playoff contender since 2017.
So, business as usual? Kind of.
Emotions riding high? Definitely.
Salvageable? “I would hope so,” Shanahan said with a hint of exasperation Friday after the 49ers' initial three draft selections.
Three years after drafting Samuel in the second round, Shanahan said “we were surprised” at Samuel's trade request, which the All-Pro receiver confirmed a week ago to ESPN.
Here are the Samuel-related excerpts in Shanahan's first public comments regarding Samuel, who hasn't been quoted on the record about his specific motives or displeasure:
On the trade request, which went unfulfilled Thursday as the 49ers rejected at least two reported offers:
“I was real surprised. John spoke a lot on that last week. I felt pretty much the same.
“We were surprised. Also, once it does happen, you know this business, so it can't surprise you too much. But yeah, we were disappointed a little bit. But it's part of this business. You'll consider anything. You have a responsibility to help your organization the most you can.
“Losing a player like Deebo, it's hard to see how that helps your organization. You try to look into all aspects and what people are willing to do.
“Nothing was remotely close to what we thought was fair to us or the 49ers.”
On if he relayed that to Samuel on Thursday:
“I haven't talked to Deebo for a couple of weeks.”
On if his personal relationship with Samuel breeds confidence about a happy resolution:
“It's part of the business. There are certain things people have to go through, certain things everyone is trying to get and do. You see what you can and work from there. You can work out anything.
Hopefully when it's all said and done, we'll get the best thing for the Niners, the best for Deebo and hopefully that's the same thing, because we'd love to keep going how we've been.
On if Samuel's receiving/rushing hybrid role factors into a dispute over money:
“I could sit here and talk what we said for a long time, which I'm not going to do. There's a lot of things that play into it and those are things we'll discuss with Deebo. I'd love to share it all with everybody so people can understand more. It's not right to Deebo. It's not right to the 49ers. Hopefully we can work this out and some day it will clear up for you guys.”
On if a team should part with any player who doesn't want to be here: “You can.
“We have a great relationship with Deebo. I haven't seen him a lot since the season ended. It's a little bit easier when you're dealing with people without screens and phones in front you, what you guys read, wherever it is. Most of the world is like that. I know my kids are.
“I try not to get too caught up in it. You know somebody. They know you. When there comes a time when it settles down — hopefully it'll settle down more after this draft and things get somewhat easier — but this is not somebody we just met. We've been with him for three years. We know him pretty well. He knows us pretty well.
“I know things haven't been the best over the past couple months, through outside perception, but I see that happen a lot in this league, especially in contract situations. You try not to overreact one way or the other on it. You try to be patient with it, because emotions can get high with people. A lot is riding on it. But you can't react to it.
“When it's all said and done, you do what's right for the organization, and you try to get a win-win for both sides.”
49ers general manager John Lynch, sitting aside Shanahan, was asked late Friday evening whether wide receiver A.J. Brown's contract extension in his trade to the Eagles sets a parameter for Samuel's eventual extension, beyond the upcoming final year of his rookie contract:
“All these situations are unique,” Lynch said. “You're aware of what's going on around the league. We were focused on our situation. We tried to do what was right there. We believe we did and we believe we can find a way through this and it will all be good. We're encouraged about that.”