SANTA CLARA, Calif. — John Lynch said a lot in his press conference Monday.
But he didn’t actually say much.
In all, Kyle Shanahan’s hand-picked general manager turned in a perfect human-shield performance to kick off NFL draft week.
Or, in other words, he earned his salary for the month, all while making sure Deebo Samuel couldn’t increase his salary demands.
Shanahan has said that Lynch could be the president one day. He remains a sought-after analyst for NFL games. You can understand those stances a bit better after Lynch’s 30-minute filibuster and question-and-acknowledge session (answers were not on the menu Monday). It was a series of audio Rorschach tests for fans, media, and high-profile, disgruntled players alike.
And while we didn’t learn much of anything, credit where it was due: Lynch was masterful.
His press conference was a perfect encapsulation of the 49ers’ offseason: A lot of talk and not much action.
While Monday’s media session was ostensibly called to discuss the NFL draft, it was really about Samuel and his ever-changing, perpetually peculiar contract negotiation saga, which has reportedly reached the point where the wide receiver has demanded a trade.
It’s a trade demand that Lynch neither confirmed nor denied on Monday.
As for the possibility of trading him:
“I can’t ever imagine wanting to move on from Deebo,” Lynch said. “He’s just too good of a player… a game-changing player for our franchise.”
Infer what you will from that, and several other comments of a similar (if not identical) ilk Lynch made Monday.
If you want to believe that means Samuel will be a Niner in 2022 and perhaps even beyond, feel free. I can’t tell you that’s wrong.
But do note that what Lynch said doesn’t mean that Samuel won’t be traded before the first round of the NFL draft starts Thursday.
Yes, Lynch’s feelings are valid, but neither his imagination nor desire are in question here. He could have said “we’re not trading Deebo” on Monday. He had multiple opportunities to do so. But there was no pounding the table or emphatic ultimatum. Lynch didn’t even do any third-party, passive-aggressive negotiating.
Instead, he praised Samuel again and again and when pressed on the actual issue of Samuel’s trade request, Lynch opted for multiple variations of “I can’t see that happening.”
But remember: Lynch could not have foreseen Jimmy Garoppolo still being on the 49ers roster right now.
The crazy world that is the NFL and the bubble that is the 49ers’ facility haven’t been seeing eye-to-eye much as of late. I doubt the Samuel saga is going to change that.
Actions speak louder than words, and while Lynch had some impressive words, the actions of the 49ers this offseason shouldn’t inspire confidence that the Niners will, as Lynch said “find the solutions to work through whatever’s going on” with Samuel.
There’s no doubt that Lynch loves Samuel as a player. Lynch is a Hall of Fame safety who played the game with a toughness that bordered on recklessness.
Samuel and Lynch might have come from different backgrounds on opposite sides of the country, but they are cut from the same cloth. Sports — especially football — can be cool like that sometimes.
So while Lynch might not want to trade Samuel, it’s important to remember that No. 1, it’s not his call and No. 2, well, it’s not his call.
Lynch has some power in Santa Clara, no doubt, but moving an All-Pro wide receiver is not one of them. No, that’s a decision for the big boss, and that is Shanahan. The buck stops with him.
And while I can’t imagine there’s a soul at 4949 Marie P. DeBartolo Way who is keen to trade Samuel, the toxicity of his contract negotiations to date and his public and early trade demand cannot be ignored.
The 49ers remain in a no-win scenario with Samuel. Trade him and you lose the best offensive weapon on your team. Sign him to a mega-deal and you are betting on a player whose career looks poised to be short but spectacular. Exert the team’s leverage and do nothing and you continue this toxicity for months to come.
I don’t know what the 49ers should do here. There are no right answers to be had, just varying (and ever-changing) degrees of bad. It’s good they have someone as likable and well-spoken as Lynch to talk about it all.
Whether Lynch’s obfuscation was contrived or ad hoc, it did the job. The 49ers lost zero leverage with Samuel in contract negotiations or possible trade partners, either. I suppose that’s good.
The gullible might feel convinced by Lynch’s performance Monday that the Niners and Samuel will work things out, too.
But outside of Lynch sorta, kinda slipping that center Alex Mack is leaning towards retirement — just another issue that the Niners have failed to address until this point — Monday’s press conference was a lot of pretty words that didn’t provide much value.
To which I say to John Lynch: stay out of my lane.
