On Wednesday, former NFL executive and media analyst Mike Lombardi, now with The Ringer, said Wednesday on the site's official podcast that the San Francisco 49ers may be willing to trade All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman. The story picked up steam on Thursday.
49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan issued a joint statement to NBC Sports Bay Area refuting the report by Lombardi.
Here is what Lynch and Shanahan had to say:
"The report that we have been shopping NaVorro Bowman is completely false. From the time we joined the organization, NaVorro has been the consummate professional. It is evident he has been working very hard to prepare for the upcoming season and we have been impressed by what we have already seen on the field. We are looking forward to NaVorro's future contributions to this team."
Lombardi had implied that Bowman's contract and his injury history were the reasons the 49ers might be willing to offload the linebacker. He's also scheduled to make about $9.5 million in 2017.
"They've made it known that if you want him, he's healthy," Lombardi said via The Ringer podcast. "That they'd be willing to move (Bowman)."
Lombardi said that 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan want to clear out the roster and make it their own.
"Bowman is a guy who's been a leader in the locker room," Lombardi said. "He's been part of the team. He had a realy good relationship with the old general manager – Trent Baalke. I think this is a message that they would send to the locker room: He's no longer in control anymore. He's available if you want him. I don't know who's going to pay him nine-and-a-half million coming off all of the injuries that he's had, but you can have him.
"And I think ultimately, you've got to make that decision and I don't think it will be a lot. I think the 49ers will get rid of him for very little."
Earlier this month, Shanahan spoke very positively about Bowman and his recovery. "I couldn't be more excited with Bo than I am right now," he said during an interview on KNBR. "I didn't know what to expect. I've gone against him over the years and have the utmost respect for him as a player. Never knew him as a person, though. To get here and -- he's been winning out drills out there, our shuttles. [Head strength and conditioning coach] Ray [Wright] takes him through a lot of competitions and stuff. And just to come out there and watch him, he does not look like a guy coming off Achilles.
"I thought it would take him some time. I didn't think he would really be looking himself until training camp but when I go out there right now and watch him work, he looks a lot better than I was expecting this early. He's put the time and he's put the work in."