49ers beat:
Rams QB Jared Goff, who went to Cal and grew up in Novato, tries to keep things civil with 49ers.
It’s possible 49ers versus Rams is moving back toward bitter rivals status, but the leadup to Sunday’s kickoff has featured sweet nothings between two of the game’s central figures.
On Wednesday, shortly after 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan described the Rams’ Jared Goff as one of the NFL’s most underrated quarterbacks, Goff was asked about that assessment.
“Thanks, Kyle,” Goff said, laughing. “I don’t care. Most of the people doing ratings aren’t in the buildings. They can do that. But thank you, Kyle. I appreciate it. I think you’re one of the more underrated coaches.”
Unlike Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield, the last quarterback the 49ers faced, Goff hasn’t agitated two of the 49ers’ best defensive players.
Cornerback Richard Sherman incorrectly stated after a 313 win over the Browns on Monday that Mayfield refused to shake his hand during the pregame coin toss. Sherman said Wednesday he plans to apologize to Mayfield, but insisted he still felt disrespected.
Whatever the case, Goff won’t be providing prekickoff ammunition.
“I usually do (shake hands) and I expect to this week,” Goff said.
In addition, Goff, a Novato native and Cal alum, never faced rookie edge rusher Nick Bosa when the No. 2 overall pick played at Ohio State. Bosa said he was mocking Mayfield during the game because of a grudge dating to Oklahoma’s win over Ohio State in 2017.
Has Goff ever done anything to anger Bosa?
“Not yet,” Bosa said. Winner, winner: The 49ers and Rams were heated instate rivals in the 1980s, but the Rams spent 21 seasons (19952015) in St. Louis and both franchises have endured long stretches of losing for nearly two decades.
Sunday’s game will end a 34game series streak in which at least one of the teams didn’t have a winning record. Not since Dec. 9, 2001, have the 49ers (40) and Rams (32) both had winning records when they played each other.
Both Shanahan and Rams head coach Sean McVay have memories of the rivalry before the Rams moved to St. Louis. Shanahan was a ball boy when his dad, Mike, was the 49ers’ offensive coordinator from 19921994. McVay’s grandfather, John, won five Super Bowls as a 49ers executive from 19801999 and is in the franchise’s Hall of Fame.
“Those NFC West days were pretty cool back in the day,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully, we can get that rivalry coming back.”
Said McVay: “I remember a lot of good positive memories with the 49ers … when I was growing up and my grandpa was there.” Flag fallout: Bosa has heard from a host of college teammates this week after a twosack performance against the Browns that included a flagplanting celebration directed at Mayfield.
“That was a real thing,” Bosa said. “We wanted some revenge there.”
Said Mayfield, who planted an Oklahoma flag at midfield in 2017 to celebrate a win at Ohio State: “Good for him. He has been thinking about that obviously for two years now. That is a long time to think about that loss.” Injury report: Rams running back Todd Gurley (quadriceps) missed his second straight practice with an injury he sustained Oct. 3 in a loss to Seattle. Niners pass rusher Dee Ford (knee tendinitis) was limited for the second straight day.