Tomsula denies TMZ’s report of fight.
Niners head Jim Tomsula said there is no truth to a report that outside linebacker Aldon Smith and quarterback Colin Kaepernick got into a fight in practice before Smith’s arrest Thursday night.
Tomsula said his players were laughing about the report: “Nothing even close. I don’t know where that could even come from.”
On Friday, TMZ.com reported that Smith and Kaepernick got into a scuffle at practice Thursday, which was a day off for the players. The site later amended the story and said a fight occurred Tuesday.
Smith’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, told The Chronicle that reports of a fight on TMZ and other gossip sites were “absurd and a joke.”
There were no fights in the 49ers’ first five training-camp practices, although their walkthrough sessions in the morning are not open to the media.
“There was no fight out here,” wide receiver Anquan Boldin said. “I don’t know where that comes from.”
When told the origin of the report, Boldin said: “Y’all listen to TMZ? Wow.”
The 49ers released Smith after his arrest Thursday on suspicion of hit-and-run, DUI and vandalism. GM’s absence: Three days after Trent Baalke discussed Smith in glowing terms with reporters, the 49ers’ general manager was not present Friday when Tomsula addressed the media in a news conference shortly after Smith’s release was announced.
On Saturday, Baalke explained his absence to a group of reporters: He spent hours with Smith after he was released from jail Friday morning and wanted to make sure he was OK.
Earlier, Tomsula said he preferred to handle the news conference role by himself. He explained that he felt more comfortable doing so and said he also believed it was his responsibility as the head coach.
“I wanted to be alone,” Tomsula said. “… I’m better that way. I’m just more comfortable, to be honest with you. In terms of anything else, that’s my job. That’s not anybody else’s job. That’s my job.”
In January, Tomsula had a disastrous performance in a news conference introducing him as head coach during which he shared the stage with Baalke and CEO Jed York.
On Friday, an emotional Tomsula spoke from the heart, displaying compassion for Smith and making a plea for others battling personal issues to seek help.
“It’s been well-documented — I’m not real good on these podiums looking down on people and talking,” Tomsula said. “It’s just not me. I’m not good with a predetermined speech. That’s just not me.”
Well-traveled LB signed:
The 49ers signed outside linebacker Shawn Lemon, 26, who has made stops with four CFL teams and three indoorleague teams, including the San Jose SaberCats.
Lemon has not played in an NFL game but signed with the Steelers in January. He was waived by Pittsburgh on July 29. He had been on the physically unable to perform list with a strained Achilles tendon.