As estranged 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk continues in his efforts for reinstatement from the reserve/left squad list in San Francisco, he and his recently hired representation, Drew Rosenhaus, met the decision-makers of the franchise this afternoon. The intention of the meeting was to seek a resolution that would allow both sides to move on with their futures.
Rosenhaus had originally relayed that the meeting would take place at the team’s training facility, but Cam Inman of Bay Area News reported that the meeting would actually take place at the 49ers’ business office. Aiyuk owes the franchise about $13MM in bonus forfeiture, per Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. It was not just team and player who met today, though, The NFL Management Council and NFL Players Association both have become involved in attempting to resolve the situation, as well.
Aiyuk and Rosenhaus clearly came into the meeting with a goal of getting the 28-year-old pass catcher back in the NFL, but the intentions on the other side appear to be a bit more mixed. Head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked by reporters what he hoped to get accomplished in today’s meetings, and he essentially responded with the sentiment that he couldn’t “care less” (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) and that he wouldn’t be participating in those discussions. Shanahan had been asked whether he thought a resolution might be reached before the meetings took place, but he made clear that any possible resolution would require Aiyuk to “show up for stuff to happen.”
Before the meetings, general manager John Lynch answered some questions from the media, as well, and in doing so, he referred to the situation as “fluid,” offering that further details couldn’t be provided. Brian Murphy of KNBR 104.5 FM followed up, asking if “fluid” meant that “all options are on the table, including (the 49ers) listening to what Rosenhaus and Aiyuk have to say about a possible reunion,” to which Lynch replied that “of course…everything’s possible.” When Shanahan was asked a similar question about Aiyuk ever playing for San Francisco again, he replied that “there are no absolutes in life.”
After meeting for an hour and 15 minutes, according to Matt Barrows and Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Rosenhaus spoke to the press, saying, “To be continued. We don’t have any further statements right now.” In order for Aiyuk to be reinstated and return to the NFL, the two sides could either come to an agreement to pay back the money Aiyuk owes or go to arbitration. Either way, the complicated scenario doesn’t appear to be going away just yet. In fact, Lynch offered that the team would “have a lot more (they) can share…in the coming weeks.”
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