The San Francisco 49ers appear poised to cut ties with linebacker De’Vondre Campbell.
If they’re looking for a maximum punishment for the linebacker after he refused to play in Thursday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, granting him his outright release may not be the move.
CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones suggested on Twitter (currently X) that by releasing Campbell it would afford him an opportunity to sign with another club (although another team’s willingness to sign a player who got released for quitting on his previous team is a question mark). Instead, the 49ers could suspend and fine him for conduct detrimental to the team.
Joel Corry, Jones’ colleague at CBS, pointed out on Twitter (currently X) that a fine and suspension would maximize the punishment for the veteran LB.
The maximum penalty for conduct detrimental to the club under the NFL CBA is a fine of 1 week’s salary & a 4-week suspension without pay. De’Vondre Campbell’s weekly salary is $67,222. 49ers have 3 left weeks in their season. https://t.co/XBltKVgHLe
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) December 14, 2024
The 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan may just want to release Campbell. However, given some of the clear anger from inside the locker room, a fine and suspension may be a better move to signal that the organization’s overall feelings match the players’ feelings. A fine and suspension that ends Campbell’s 2024 season would certainly do that.
