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WR Brandon Aiyuk, SF (2 Viewers)

The way I am reading this: The Steelers have offered the 49ers a deal and have negotiated a deal with Aiyuk.
The 49ers said something along the lines of "that sounds good. let me think about it". . . now the 49ers either have to officially say yes or sign Aiyuk themselves. . . .

Are the 49ers truly trying to sign Aiyuk? Part of me says yes, but then part of me says that if they were willing to pay him and meet his demands, this would have been done a long time ago.
So. . . are the 49ers just holding him and not saying yes to the Steelers, hoping the Steelers will get nervous and sweeten the pot???

I have no idea. I feel like we're at the same spot we were a few days ago
I think they agreed on a deal but said we want to make a final offer to Aiyuk in hopes he will take it before we agree. I am with you, if they were willing to pay him it would be done so I think we can assume the offer is not as good as the Pittsburgh offer.
 
Al Sacco making sense:

To trade away their most productive offensive weapon from 2023, their quarterback's favorite target, would be silly at any time -- but especially so this close to this season, when there is little time to onboard replacement receivers or adjust the offense to Aiyuk's absence.
These comments assume they have a choice. If they won't pay him enough to make him happy, they really don't.
 
All that said... they may end up giving in when they are presented with no other option.
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just say “ok fine. We tried. Play for $14M or sit out the year.”

they don’t actually have to do anything here.
It is really clear at this point he is not going to play for the 14 million. They could pay him to not play or they could trade him for the best they can get.
 
All that said... they may end up giving in when they are presented with no other option.
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just say “ok fine. We tried. Play for $14M or sit out the year.”

they don’t actually have to do anything here.
Agreed... when I said 'no other option'. I was referring to the scenario with no offer without draft pick compensation only and Aiyuk sitting out.
 
All that said... they may end up giving in when they are presented with no other option.
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just say “ok fine. We tried. Play for $14M or sit out the year.”

they don’t actually have to do anything here.

If they did this and told him to get out there, does he start to the fake hold in thing . . . "Sorry, my hammy is tight . . . I'm not risking my long term health on this deal . . . "
 
All that said... they may end up giving in when they are presented with no other option.
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just say “ok fine. We tried. Play for $14M or sit out the year.”

they don’t actually have to do anything here.
It is really clear at this point he is not going to play for the 14 million. They could pay him to not play or they could trade him for the best they can get.
One small quibble here... if he sits out, he doesn't get the $14 million either.

Update - read your 'hold in' comment. That is ok for training camp... but that wouldn't fly the entire season.
 
All that said... they may end up giving in when they are presented with no other option.
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just say “ok fine. We tried. Play for $14M or sit out the year.”

they don’t actually have to do anything here.

If they did this and told him to get out there, does he start to the fake hold in thing . . . "Sorry, my hammy is tight . . . I'm not risking my long term health on this deal . . . "
Exactly
 
All that said... they may end up giving in when they are presented with no other option.
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just say “ok fine. We tried. Play for $14M or sit out the year.”

they don’t actually have to do anything here.
It is really clear at this point he is not going to play for the 14 million. They could pay him to not play or they could trade him for the best they can get.
One small quibble here... if he sits out, he doesn't get the $14 million either.

Update - read your 'hold in' comment. That is ok for training camp... but that wouldn't fly the entire season.
Was just gonna post that. The best he can do is fake an injury.

But this isn’t 1876 - a quick MRI would show the hammy isn’t hurt, and they’d have cause.
 
All that said... they may end up giving in when they are presented with no other option.
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just say “ok fine. We tried. Play for $14M or sit out the year.”

they don’t actually have to do anything here.
It is really clear at this point he is not going to play for the 14 million. They could pay him to not play or they could trade him for the best they can get.
One small quibble here... if he sits out, he doesn't get the $14 million either.

Update - read your 'hold in' comment. That is ok for training camp... but that wouldn't fly the entire season.
Players get played when their "hurt", correct?
 
All that said... they may end up giving in when they are presented with no other option.
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just say “ok fine. We tried. Play for $14M or sit out the year.”

they don’t actually have to do anything here.
It is really clear at this point he is not going to play for the 14 million. They could pay him to not play or they could trade him for the best they can get.
One small quibble here... if he sits out, he doesn't get the $14 million either.

Update - read your 'hold in' comment. That is ok for training camp... but that wouldn't fly the entire season.
Players get played when their "hurt", correct?
Except it’s hard to fake an injury when we have medical technology to prove their lying.

It’s not like calling in to work on a Friday saying you have a head cold & nobody checks so you get a 3-day weekend.

lol

Ps - a good friend of mine once wisely said “if you’re gonna call out on a Friday, make sure to call out on a Monday too, so they think you really were sick”

Kinda slimy, but also kinda brilliant.
 
No idea who these guys are, but apparently they're at the same $$ number, but it's the years that is keeping them apart. https://x.com/49erssportstalk/status/1823715912551424065

The San Francisco #49ers have met Brandon Aiyuk’s demands of Annual Salary (near $28M avg), per source.The hold up I’m told is:Amount of years & guaranteed $ on the deal. #Niners want to give Aiyuk a 3Yr extension (4yrs total), BA wants a 4Yr extension (5yrs total).

Which I find interesting, because you'd think the player would want the shorter deal to hit FA sooner when the salaries have all gone up again.
 
All that said... they may end up giving in when they are presented with no other option.
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just say “ok fine. We tried. Play for $14M or sit out the year.”

they don’t actually have to do anything here.
It is really clear at this point he is not going to play for the 14 million. They could pay him to not play or they could trade him for the best they can get.
One small quibble here... if he sits out, he doesn't get the $14 million either.

Update - read your 'hold in' comment. That is ok for training camp... but that wouldn't fly the entire season.
Was just gonna post that. The best he can do is fake an injury.

But this isn’t 1876 - a quick MRI would show the hammy isn’t hurt, and they’d have cause.
There are lots of things he can say that a medical test can't 100% rule out . . . a mild pulled hamstring may not show up on an MRI, while a more severe one would. . . Back pain can be nonspecific and not have an obvious cause based on medical tests but still limit players . . . A lot of what doctors do is based on the history they are getting from the patient . . . Forcing a player to play when he states he is in pain and cannot is a slippery, dangerous slope for a team, even if all the medical tests are negative.
 
Al Sacco making sense:

To trade away their most productive offensive weapon from 2023, their quarterback's favorite target, would be silly at any time -- but especially so this close to this season, when there is little time to onboard replacement receivers or adjust the offense to Aiyuk's absence.
I read the bolded part and was like, “Why would they trade away Christian McCaffrey? :ponder:
 
a mild pulled hamstring may not show up on an MRI, while a more severe one would. . . Back pain can be nonspecific and not have an obvious cause based on medical tests but still limit players . . . A lot of what doctors do is based on the history they are getting from the patient . . . Forcing a player to play when he states he is in pain and cannot is a slippery, dangerous slope for a team, even if all the medical tests are negative.
First, any tissue strain typically shows up with inflammation.

As for forcing them to play, that wasn’t my point. No team would do that.

But going to the NFLPA and saying “he’s clearly faking it, we aren’t gonna pay him” might be on the table.

I don’t know how that works, but we’re talking millions of dollars and literal fraud. I see this speculation offered up frequently and it’s become accepted as something players just do, and I’m skeptical that’s true.

Let’s all hope it doesn’t come to any of that though.
 
No idea who these guys are, but apparently they're at the same $$ number, but it's the years that is keeping them apart. https://x.com/49erssportstalk/status/1823715912551424065

The San Francisco #49ers have met Brandon Aiyuk’s demands of Annual Salary (near $28M avg), per source.The hold up I’m told is:Amount of years & guaranteed $ on the deal. #Niners want to give Aiyuk a 3Yr extension (4yrs total), BA wants a 4Yr extension (5yrs total).

Which I find interesting, because you'd think the player would want the shorter deal to hit FA sooner when the salaries have all gone up again.
Good point.
 
All that said... they may end up giving in when they are presented with no other option.
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just say “ok fine. We tried. Play for $14M or sit out the year.”

they don’t actually have to do anything here.
It is really clear at this point he is not going to play for the 14 million. They could pay him to not play or they could trade him for the best they can get.
One small quibble here... if he sits out, he doesn't get the $14 million either.

Update - read your 'hold in' comment. That is ok for training camp... but that wouldn't fly the entire season.
Was just gonna post that. The best he can do is fake an injury.

But this isn’t 1876 - a quick MRI would show the hammy isn’t hurt, and they’d have cause.
There are lots of things he can say that a medical test can't 100% rule out . . . a mild pulled hamstring may not show up on an MRI, while a more severe one would. . . Back pain can be nonspecific and not have an obvious cause based on medical tests but still limit players . . . A lot of what doctors do is based on the history they are getting from the patient . . . Forcing a player to play when he states he is in pain and cannot is a slippery, dangerous slope for a team, even if all the medical tests are negative.
For the record, I think this seems very unlikely to happen. If he did this, it would lead to lots of speculation he is doing it and a huge pissing match and would be a giant mess for everyone. . . but I think this is why the 49ers also don't feel comfortable with "play at 14 mil for one year or sit out" stance. . . It has the potential to be a huge mess and distraction for the whole team . . .

I imagine it will either be an extension or a trade . . . but we have been saying that for a while
 
Al Sacco making sense:

To trade away their most productive offensive weapon from 2023, their quarterback's favorite target, would be silly at any time -- but especially so this close to this season, when there is little time to onboard replacement receivers or adjust the offense to Aiyuk's absence.
Not to pick nits but calling Aiyuk the most productive weapon from 2023 when CMC had over 2,000 yards and 21 TDs is a pretty silly claim. Honestly, calling Aiyuk "Purdy's favorite target" probably isn't necessarily accurate either, as Aiyuk, Kittle and Deebo were all within 16 targets of each other, and Aiyuk was the healthiest one. He could easily be 3rd in targets this year if he stays.

I'm not trying to downplay Aiyuk's accomplishments or ability, but Sacco is making it sound like he's Tyreek Hill, which he's not even close to. Of the 4 main weapons, Aiyuk is the most expendable/easiest to replace. CMC and Kittle are the best players at their positions, and Deebo is a 1 of 1 irreplaceable talent.

Ideally, they can keep them all, but if they can't Aiyuk is the right choice to move on from.
 
As a 49ers fan, losing Aiyuk scares me. He wins so quickly off the line and was Purdy's go-to target when under pressure (which, with this oline, happens often)

Brock Purdy with and without Brandon Aiyuk in 2024:

With Aiyuk:
0.30 EPA/play
52.4% Success Rate

Without Aiyuk: *84 dropbacks
0.03 EPA/play
46.7% Success Rate

He is the most valuable receiving option on the 49ers especially when Purdy is under pressure. Purdy under pressure threw the most yards (446) to Aiyuk than anyone else on the team
 
For the record, I think this seems very unlikely to happen. If he did this, it would lead to lots of speculation he is doing it and a huge pissing match and would be a giant mess for everyone. . . but I think this is why the 49ers also don't feel comfortable with "play at 14 mil for one year or sit out" stance. . . It has the potential to be a huge mess and distraction for the whole team . . .
Plus the fact that the team likes him, his teammates are counting on him, they’re trying to win - all the normal football stuff.

It’s so easy to say, “a player can just fake an injury”, but the reality is far more complex, and involves personal relationships.

I’m a little tired of that trope. Have players taken a game off like this? Probably. Is it a widespread phenomenon or something a player would do for an extended period while maintaining self-respect & the respect of their team & colleagues?

Doubtful.
 
I think this has been a huge game of chicken. Aiyuk is using all his leverage to get as much money as he can from Niners. Don't blame him. He prolly was kinda shocked the Niners, as it is being reported, have agreed to deal with Steelers. They called your bluff man. I think he resigns with them soon. All my opinion of course.
 
I think this has been a huge game of chicken. Aiyuk is using all his leverage to get as much money as he can from Niners. Don't blame him. He prolly was kinda shocked the Niners, as it is being reported, have agreed to deal with Steelers. They called your bluff man. I think he resigns with them soon. All my opinion of course.
Agreed. Otherwise he’d be a Patriot.
 
Al Sacco making sense:

To trade away their most productive offensive weapon from 2023, their quarterback's favorite target, would be silly at any time -- but especially so this close to this season, when there is little time to onboard replacement receivers or adjust the offense to Aiyuk's absence.
Not to pick nits but calling Aiyuk the most productive weapon from 2023 when CMC had over 2,000 yards and 21 TDs is a pretty silly claim. Honestly, calling Aiyuk "Purdy's favorite target" probably isn't necessarily accurate either, as Aiyuk, Kittle and Deebo were all within 16 targets of each other, and Aiyuk was the healthiest one. He could easily be 3rd in targets this year if he stays.

I'm not trying to downplay Aiyuk's accomplishments or ability, but Sacco is making it sound like he's Tyreek Hill, which he's not even close to. Of the 4 main weapons, Aiyuk is the most expendable/easiest to replace. CMC and Kittle are the best players at their positions, and Deebo is a 1 of 1 irreplaceable talent.

Ideally, they can keep them all, but if they can't Aiyuk is the right choice to move on from.
The point is it would be dumb to trade him at this point in time.
 
Very distinct possibility:
SF and Aiyuk are using other teams to correctly set the market for the extension. Aiyuk needed to come down and SF needed to come up. The other teams were just a means to an end.

That may not have been exactly what either side thought they were doing at any point (or may have) but that will end up being the effect.

That's why NE bowed out. They gave a great offer and knew it. Therefore, no longer interested in being a pawn in SF and Aiyuk's game.

Not sure how close that needs to be true for this whole charade to be viewed as so much bad faith.
 
Except it’s hard to fake an injury when we have medical technology to prove their lying.
Just curious, what happens with mental injuries like Simone biles 2021? A player says he’s not able to compete mentally. You can’t disprove that with a test.
 
I don't think any of this has been a charade or SF/Aiyuk were using other teams as leverage.

I simply believe SF always wanted to resign him and eventually let Deebo walk but preferred to wait until after this year unless they got Aiyuk to agree to really favorable terms. None of these things happened and it led to SF seeing what they could get and I truly believe they'd have traded him to Cleveland already if Aiyuk would have agreed to sign an extension with them. I believe if they could have got another quality WR back for him he'd have been traded already, to Cleveland or somewhere else. That they can't seem to acquire another quality WR is just making SF go back to the drawing board and try harder to placate Aiyuk.
 
Except it’s hard to fake an injury when we have medical technology to prove their lying.
Just curious, what happens with mental injuries like Simone biles 2021? A player says he’s not able to compete mentally. You can’t disprove that with a test.
That's true. But see my last post about this.

If in the context of a contract dispute, it becomes somewhat more obvious in terms of timing. Players stand to lose the respect of their teammates, coaches, and fanbase. Also prospective teams might see the next AB and be hesitant to pay them $30M a year.

And then there's the whole "team" concept where they are still competing for a championship, which matters to some players.

Like I said, it's an ugly assertion, and while it might happen, I do not believe it is widespread. I don't believe anyone thought Biles was faking her issues, because context.
 
I don't think any of this has been a charade or SF/Aiyuk were using other teams as leverage.

I simply believe SF always wanted to resign him and eventually let Deebo walk but preferred to wait until after this year unless they got Aiyuk to agree to really favorable terms. None of these things happened and it led to SF seeing what they could get and I truly believe they'd have traded him to Cleveland already if Aiyuk would have agreed to sign an extension with them. I believe if they could have got another quality WR back for him he'd have been traded already, to Cleveland or somewhere else. That they can't seem to acquire another quality WR is just making SF go back to the drawing board and try harder to placate Aiyuk.
This seems like the most likely scenario.
 
Perhaps apropos of nothing, Brandon Aiyuk is on the sidelines at practice today. Could be meaningful, could be nothing. You decide.

And he's wearing a 49ers shirt. I take that as a good sign. First time seeing him in any branded 49ers stuff (I believe, could be wrong). Most of the time we saw him in that black hoodie.


Brandon Aiyuk is here at practice and he’s wearing a red cutoff 49ers shirt.
 
Great, we went from overanalyzing a handshake and greeting between him and Lynch/Shanahan, to his wardrobe choices in an attempt to gather any indication of what's going on behind the scenes.... please, just let this be over.
Don’t you want to know about his socks? :excited:
 
If the sticking point was really guaranteed money, and the Niners dragged this thing out into the middle of August with it being a major distraction and not having BA on the field, I'd call it anything but a master class.
It’s not the Niners who dragged anything out.

Remember: Aiyuk is currently under contract. The 49ers had zero obligation to entertain an extension or a trade.

They went out of their way to do both.

There was reportedly a deal in place with the Pats, who were willing to pay Aiyuk $30M a year to play in New England.

Aiyuk rejected it. Putting that on SF is a little odd.
It's obvious at this point that Aiyuk wants to stay with the Niners. If they were truly only $2m apart on salary before training camp, and now increasing guaranteed dollars is potentially going to get it done, the Niners could have avoided this whole thing by just giving him the guaranteed money then that they are apparently about to now.

For a team that believes they are close to Super Bowl this season, seems like an odd thing to do, to invite drama and speculation rather than getting all their players on the field and focusing on the season.
 
Great, we went from overanalyzing a handshake and greeting between him and Lynch/Shanahan, to his wardrobe choices in an attempt to gather any indication of what's going on behind the scenes.... please, just let this be over.
The only thing that would make this even more excruciating is if The Niners were on Hard Knocks this year.
Then we could relive it all every Tuesday Night.
 
If the sticking point was really guaranteed money, and the Niners dragged this thing out into the middle of August with it being a major distraction and not having BA on the field, I'd call it anything but a master class.
It’s not the Niners who dragged anything out.

Remember: Aiyuk is currently under contract. The 49ers had zero obligation to entertain an extension or a trade.

They went out of their way to do both.

There was reportedly a deal in place with the Pats, who were willing to pay Aiyuk $30M a year to play in New England.

Aiyuk rejected it. Putting that on SF is a little odd.
It's obvious at this point that Aiyuk wants to stay with the Niners. If they were truly only $2m apart on salary before training camp, and now increasing guaranteed dollars is potentially going to get it done, the Niners could have avoided this whole thing by just giving him the guaranteed money then that they are apparently about to now.

For a team that believes they are close to Super Bowl this season, seems like an odd thing to do, to invite drama and speculation rather than getting all their players on the field and focusing on the season.
There are a couple of issues with that.
1. The sticking point was apparently three years, versus four. That’s a difference of around $30 million.
2. It’s not just about this year. They have to prepare for next year as well. That means paying Brock Purdy. That means Fred Warner potentially asking for more money guaranteed. There are several other guys whose contracts are coming up as well.

Yes, the 49ers are in a win now window.. That doesn’t mean it’s 2024 or bust. This isn’t like my dynasty league where I traded away my future picks for players to help me go back to back and put it all on the line this year knowing that I’ll probably have to rebuild over the next two or three… Professional sport seems don’t typically operate like that. well, the ones outside of Cleveland anyway.
 
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Feels like a lot of these deals come down to guaranteed money even more than total money anymore anyhow. The agent reported totals look great on paper and give the players something to dong swing about in the locker rooms; being "the highest paid 'x' in the NFL". So it could really just be SF not wanting to lock up too much guaranteed.

Knowing Khan, his financial offer for Aiyuk was probably solid, and sure maybe even higher than SF; but odds are he's treating it like a car salesman. Giving you a great OTD price on the vehicle but then bending you over on your trade in vehicle to make it all back. And they are likely giving SF crap compensation in terms of players/picks. Why not? Puts SF in the hot seat and makes them look like the bad guy.

I lost most empathy for Aiyuk when he turned down NEs offer (supposedly). He needs to realize very few in any WRs leave in a trade and get both the money they want, and to play for the team/organization they want. And regardless what he thinks of the 49ers now, they are the team that took a chance on him and spent a 1st round pick on him. His value has improved since then, but that value improved not just because of himself, but also because of the organization that gave him that opportunity and put him in a spot with a great staff and supporting cast. They 100% deserve fair compensation for moving him and have all the right in the world to decline any trades that they don't feel give them their due for the initial investment they made as well as the part they played in helping him ascend to this point.

At this point I would rather enjoy a situation where no trade gets done, he decides to jog through his mandatory 6 games to count as a played season and sits out the rest, and watch the 49ers do just as well if not better than they did last season without him.

All this said, overall I do think the PA does a crap job with negotiating CBAs and at this point NFL players should pretty much universally be getting guaranteed contracts. IMO the long tenured vets and elite players are taken care of much better than the other 80% of other players who make this league as popular as it is and help it generate all the revenue it does. They should be aiming to move much closer towards how the NBA deals with this stuff. Sure, that comes with it's own problems as well; but I still think it's overall a better and more fair way of going about it.
 
Perhaps apropos of nothing, Brandon Aiyuk is on the sidelines at practice today. Could be meaningful, could be nothing. You decide.

And he's wearing a 49ers shirt. I take that as a good sign. First time seeing him in any branded 49ers stuff (I believe, could be wrong). Most of the time we saw him in that black hoodie.


Brandon Aiyuk is here at practice and he’s wearing a red cutoff 49ers shirt.
And he was drinking a blue Gatorade. If only he'd been drinking a yellow Gatorade...
 
I mean, there’s also the remote possibility that you’re incorrect.

I'll never try to convince anyone of something they don't want to acknowledge. Just no upside in it.
I mean, there’s also the remote possibility that you’re incorrect.

But like you, I’ll bow out for the same reason.

:confused: Of course, I may be incorrect. That happens multiple times a day.

But we're not talking about me.

Me not trying to convince someone of who to listen to has zero to do with me.

Again, if you want to continue the Rickey talk or anything about me that's not Aiyuk, please send me a PM and let's keep this thread Aiyuk.
 

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