Aiyuk shares honest reaction to 49ers contract offer leak, originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Since John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan arrived in Santa Clara, the 49ers have eliminated any information leaks outside the building.
Until recently.
Earlier this month, Mike Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the team had offered Brandon Aiyuk an extension with an annual salary of approximately $26 million. The second-team All-Pro was recently on “The Pivot Podcast” and discussed his emotions about the details becoming public.
“It’s a little frustrating, especially when we get into details like this,” Aiyuk said. “Like we put exact numbers in negotiations where those are conversations between the team and my team. We’re trying to work things out, work out a lot of things.
“So to put out real numbers and stuff like that, I think it was a little bit, I thought it was a little bit disrespectful, a little bit unfair to me, but that’s part of it. That’s part of it.”
Aiyuk was so frustrated that he wanted to tell his side of the story, but it’s likely that both Lynch and Shanahan were equally frustrated to see the information reach the public. The organization is proud that all denials have successfully cut off the leaks it was known for before taking over the reins in 2017.
“It is what it is,” Aiyuk said. “It’s a dirty game. It’s a dirty game so I just feel like social media is a way for me and my team to amplify myself and what I’m trying to achieve because that’s the way to message. That’s the way to get the facts out. And the facts are the facts.”
The two sides have been at an impasse since the end of the season, prompting Aiyuk to skip mandatory mini-camp even though the former first-round pick faced fines of more than $100,000.
Last week, Aiyuk seemed ready to move on and took the initiative to schedule a meeting with Lynch and Shanahan at the team’s headquarters. The wideout reported on social media that the meeting went well and that the two sides would meet again soon.
On Friday, Aiyuk filmed himself pulling into the parking lot at the team facility, but whether the two sides are any closer to reaching an agreement has not been shared.
“There were times during this process where we were really close,” Aiyuk said. “I felt like I was telling people, hey, let me get my suit ready. I’m ready. I’m going to bring it back to the Bay. I need to make sure I sign this contract.
“Then there are days and moments, like the last month or so, where you can say, yeah, we’re pretty far apart.”
A second meeting is a positive sign for both parties, but specific salary details remaining private will be a necessity for both Aiyuk and the team to remain on workable terms.
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