The San Francisco 49ers have a new quarterback this year. There is a time and a place for it.
Kyle Shanahan halted practice for a second time because of a fight, and ordered his players to huddle up.
He immediately said something about what had just happened. A simple message about how to play was underneath the anger.
Are you talking about physical? It's absolutely true. What a tough question. It's absolutely true. Is it making you feel happy? It's definitely true.
The Niners threw punches in that Tuesday practice, which included a fight between Fred Warner and Brandon Aiyuk.
"I would like everyone to challenge each other," he said. I don't care what they talk about, I don't care how close they get to a fight. It's possible for them to do whatever they want to get themselves to be as intense as they want and bring the best out of each other. The same thing is happening on the field.
If you throw a punch, you get ejected or you get a penalty, and we pride ourselves on that. You can't black out on the football field or cost your team if you get right on the line.
The problem was that it happened on the practice field. Multiple players said factors that contributed to the situation were the warm day and a longer padded session. This fight happened between two players who are expected to play significant roles this season.
Warner and Aiyuk started fighting after Warner hit Marcus Johnson in the head.
Aiyuk told media a few days before that Warner was "annoying" and his insistence on continuing to rip at the ball and touch guys after plays ended was "irritating."
Warner thinks Aiyuk is ready to take the next step in his career and he's doing what he can to help him.
Warner chose Brandon out. He's ready to take the next step in his career. I know how much he has in him. He's going to get sick and tired of that if I try to get him to hold his own. He knows he's a guy and he's capable, that's what he's starting to gain. I want to get the best out of him. It's all done.
On Friday, he said he trusts his players to do it the right way and that he is fine with pushing one another. The incidents of Tuesday have to stop.
"I like the intensity of it," he stated. I don't think you have to be aggressive. Scuffles are not always fights. I think that's why we have a guy in protocol because he took an unnecessary shot on someone and then we had a bunch of haymakers and stuff thrown in there, which broke hands.
The Niners went through the rest of Tuesday's practice and all of Wednesday's. The point that the team can be physical without resorting to fighting has been hammered home by the coach.
"I think our team is strong," he said. We are pretty physical. We didn't get in a fight last year because we were voted the most physical team on tape. I don't think that's related to strength.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
