In the offseason, there is not as much to write about unless something unexpected occurs, such as the monster trade when the Cleveland Browns sent superstar defensive end Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams.

Much of what we read falls into the categories of speculation, fantasy, and clickbait. The first of these can help fans learn more about their team. The second might contain a fragment of an idea and perhaps the outline of an issue, and the latter is a waste of time. Here are examples.


Speculation


Recently, SportsBoom's Jason La Canfora wrote an article speculating on what the 49ers' attitude toward backup quarterback Mac Jones could be during this season. This is a legitimate topic for several reasons. First, Canfora had actual league sources who addressed certain possibilities. Second, there is a recent history of teams being interested in Jones and the 49ers responding to those offers.

In other words, the Niner brass has set a price for his services, and though teams balked at the requirement ahead of the draft, it is not impossible that other front offices could change their minds.

Fantasy


The Forty-Niner pass rush last year was poor, especially because star defensive lineman Nick Bosa and rookie Mykel Williams were injured. A weakness on a unit that John Lynch has focused on in the past has led many to speculate about avenues the Niners could explore to improve. Even though Lynch addressed the need in both the draft and free agency, roster building is never done.

For instance, for months, Bosa's older brother, Joey, was rumored to be a Forty-Niner target.

No, "rumored" is the wrong word. In all of those articles, the writers had to admit that this was just an evaluation of a potential rumor for a potential transaction. (And the Bosa boys' mother has said she would love it.)


Recently, the Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport published an article fantasizing about a Maxx Crosby-to-the-Niners transaction. I do not mind such articles when they are in the realm of reality, and Crosby has been shopped before. But in this one, San Francisco would send a first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028, and promising second-year defensive end Williams to Las Vegas for the rights to the recovering (he failed a physical this spring, scuttling a deal with Baltimore) pass rusher.

Now, let's look at the likelihood of this.

John Lynch prizes draft picks.

He would be giving up his top pick next year, or the likely chance of getting an impact player.

John Lynch has stated he wants to go young.


Crosby will be 29 (often at the end of when an edge rusher is most effective) when the season begins, while Williams will be just 22.

John Lynch wants to be frugal with money because of the coming jump in Brock Purdy's contract and the extensions of others.

Crosby is in the middle of a huge deal and wants an extension.

Mykel Williams is talented.

Lynch would be writing off a promising player after half a season.


John Lynch gave away early picks once before.

Remember the Trey Lance deal? It was a disaster.

The Rams gave up a first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028, a third-round pick in 2029, and a young defensive end for a likely Hall of Famer, a generational talent, spreading the damage over three seasons.

John Lynch would be giving up a first, a second, and a former first for someone whose best year was a little over half of Garrett's.

I would not call this clickbait because Las Vegas did try to trade Crosby just last spring, and trades get made, but it's certainly fantasy. Generally speaking, John Lynch does not make deals this dumb. If Davenport had been writing about the Jets, perhaps I might consider this one differently.


Clickbait


One thing that won't go away is the assertion that head coach Kyle Shanahan is on the proverbial hot seat.

Some fans have no sense of reality and believe that any loss, for whatever reason, or even a win that is not a blowout, is grounds for firing and, therefore, frequently call for Shanahan's head during the season.

But they don't have bylines.

Some journalists, however, have so little to write about or are simply so bored that they throw out the idea of a shake-up in the organization.

Recently, Niner tight end George Kittle had to respond to this kind of speculation and said, "Anybody that says Kyle Shanahan is on the hot seat, you guys are not the smartest."


What I find annoying is that these writers do not even try to take context into account.

Last year, the injury-ravaged 49ers made the playoffs in what many called Shanahan's best year of coaching. Some even lobbied for him to receive Coach of the Year honors.

In his nine years at the helm, Shanahan has taken the 49ers to two Super Bowls, four conference championships, and that playoff berth last year. Since quickly rebuilding the team, the only times his squad did not make the playoffs were when the roster was so riddled with injuries that I was on their speed dial. (One should also note that two of the postseason losses were when key players went down with injury during the game.)

Forty Niner owner Jed York has come out quickly and supported Shanahan whenever a potential change has been speculated. There has not been the silence, or even the equivocation, from the owner that one receives when a coach is actually on the hot seat.

And my favorite response to a question about whether Shanahan's job is in jeopardy came from former 49ers defensive back Richard Sherman: "It's an iceberg . . . If he somehow was on the hot seat, there'd be twenty seats in the NFL getting hotter as his got hotter."


Shanahan is one of the most respected coaches in the NFL— by players, coaches, general managers, and owners. When you see a headline questioning his place of employment, don't fall for the bait.

Written By:

Jack Stewart


Jack Stewart was educated at Alabama and Emory and was a Brittain Fellow at Georgia Tech. His poetry has been published widely in the US and several other countries. His book No Reason was published in the Poeima Poetry Series in 2020.
All articles by Jack Stewart


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