NFL Network’s Mike Silver reported that the San Francisco 49ers and tight end George Kittle are not close to a deal right now:
Silver hints that Kittle wants to be paid as a wide receiver and not as a record-setting tight end.
Is Kittle’s camp doing everything possible to increase its value by saying it will exclude itself? I don’t think it will get there. Kittle is one of the best players in the game and wants to be paid as such. August 7 is an important date as players must decide by then whether they will choose not to play in the 2020 season. If Kittle chooses not to participate, he would win $ 150,000, but would have to pay it next season. Anyone who knows Kittle would say that it is a long shot to happen. Silver said he believes a deal will be made.
Supposedly, the two sides have been going in the wrong direction for a few days, and it was only a matter of time before the national media took over for this. I’m not sure how much inventory I put into this information, but I asked earlier this week if there are any updates on Kittle, and apparently her deal is “disrespectful” all of a sudden. Kittle plans to show up for training camp, but doesn’t actually practice. Again, this has not been verified, but the information is in line with what Silver says above. I understand that the negotiations are smooth, but everything was fine and elegant a week ago, and now the two sides are very far apart? What changed?
Kittle’s teammates believe that he is the seventh best player in all of football. You won’t get many arguments from anyone who says Kittle is not a great player. He wants to be paid like one. Why wouldn’t he? On August 12, the team will begin “practicing”. So August 7 and 12 are days to keep an eye on Kittle’s contract. I hope this does not leak in the season. The last thing San Francisco needs is for this to hang overhead as the team tries to win a Super Bowl.
