SANTA CLARA — Brandon Aiyuk is reportedly huddling with the 49ers after anguishing this offseason about his future.
Aiyuk called for that meeting to discuss his contract impasse, ESPN’s Ryan Clark reported on Monday’s “NFL Live” show.
July 23 is when Aiyuk and his teammates must report to the 49ers’ training camp or else face $50,000 in daily fines for unexcused absences. He is already subject to $100,000 in fines for boycotting the 49ers’ mandatory minicamp this month, after staying away from the voluntary offseason program.
The 49ers have insisted all offseason they want to retain Aiyuk for years to come, and he is under contract this coming season at a $14.1 million salary on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. Meanwhile, wide receivers around the league have signed contract extensions this offseason for average salaries nearly twice that amount.
Last week, Aiyuk shared a video of a FaceTime call (with close friend and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels) in which he presumably said of the 49ers: “They said they don’t want me back. … I swear.”
The 49ers’ brass has insisted all offseason it’s wanted to retain Aiyuk, and general manager John Lynch said during the NFL Draft in late April that they did not entertain any trade offers for Aiyuk or fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Two weeks before the draft, Aiyuk’s agent, Ryan Williams, squashed an online rumor that Aiyuk had officially requested a trade.
If Aiyuk is taking the negotiations personally, Samuel can sympathize, having dealt with his own protracted contract talks two years ago. “I know this is a stressful time and he’s done a tremendous job throughout his career here,” Samuel said at minicamp June 4, “and when it comes to things like this, it gets tough. Some things you kind of take personal and overall it’s just a stressful process to be honest with you.”
After an up-and-down start to his career as a 2020 first-round draft pick, Aiyuk led the 49ers with 1,015 yards and 1,342 yards the past two seasons, respectively.Related Articles
San Francisco 49ers |
Happy campers flock to Brock Purdy in 49ers QB’s appearance at Iowa State
San Francisco 49ers |
49ers’ training camp date announced — for Brandon Aiyuk and all
San Francisco 49ers |
Santa Clara was ‘outplayed’ by the 49ers; council has ‘irreconcilable differences,’ according to new grand jury reports
San Francisco 49ers |
Kurtenbach: Klay Thompson, Brandon Aiyuk’s social media antics put a price on embarrassment
San Francisco 49ers |
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk to his ex-quarterback: ‘They don’t want me back’
On Sunday, Aiyuk posted an …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
