San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel speaks to the media after training camp practice Wednesday in Santa Clara.Brandon Aiyuk’s contract hold-in took a major twist earlier this week when sources told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco that the 49ers had the framework of trades with the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots done.
The situation has evolved in the days since, with the Patriots removing themselves from Aiyuk trade talks and the Pittsburgh Steelers re-engaging in conversations with the 49ers.
While all this is going on, it’s unclear if the 49ers and Aiyuk still are trying to negotiate a contract extension.
But Aiyuk’s personal coach, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, wants the 49ers make things right, and the former NFL wide receiver pointed the finger at coach Kyle Shanahan, in particular.
“I don’t know what he’s thinking,” Houshmandzadeh told Mark Willard and Dan Dibley on 95.7 The Game on Thursday. “I mean, he’s like any other player. He just want to play football like anybody would. I just want the 49ers to realize what they have and [for] Kyle Shanahan [to] fix this situation. It really is disheartening when other teams — plural — are willing to pay you so much more than your own team. But you’re still willing to take less to stay with your own team. It’s crazy.
“Like figure that out, because y’all did this with DeForest Buckner. Y’all remember that right? They traded him to the [Indianapolis] Colts and drafted Javon Kinlaw because he was supposed to be the answer, and I’m probably guessing if DeForest Buckner was still with the Niners these last few years, they may have a Super Bowl. He was that good up front. So, don’t just think you can draft a guy and replace a guy. Like it’s not that easy, and the Niners have been really, really good without Buckner, but they may have a Super Bowl if they had them. So, don’t let a total of [$5 million or 6 million] cost you a Super Bowl.”
Shanahan and Aiyuk have had a up-and-down relationship over the last four seasons, with the former first-round draft pick eventually earning his coach’s trust and blossoming into a Second-Team All-Pro selection.
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