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The San Francisco 49ers are wrapping up their organized team activities this week, and Robbie Gould continues to be a no-show. The team used the non-exclusive franchise tag on the kicker in February and less than a month later, after growing tired of the lengthy negotiation process, he requested to be traded.
"The bottom line is, I'm unsure if I want to play there anymore," Gould told ESPN. "At this point, I have to do what's best for me and my family back home."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said in April that the 49ers have no plans to trade Gould, who continues to train in the Chicago area. While he is not with his teammates and seemingly has no intention of heading to Santa Clara, that doesn't necessarily mean everyone has been out of contact.
Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower told reporters on Tuesday that he keeps in touch with all of his current and former players.
"I care more about them than football," Hightower said. "I love my players, and I think you can ask any of my players that question. But in terms of in touch, not in touch, all that stuff, those guys know that I love them. They all know that, and they know I'm going to push them and demand the most out of them.
"The best thing about that has already kind of been spoken on with John (Lynch) and Kyle (Shanahan), and I really don't have any more to add on that other than I know that Robbie is a pro. He's a pro's pro. He's a delight to coach, and that kid is always ready."
You can watch Hightower's press conference below, courtesy of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat's Grant Cohn.
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In his mock draft, Palazzolo predicts that the 49ers will select former Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa with the No. 31 overall pick.
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BREAKING: Brandon Aiyuk has officially requested a trade from the 49ers, per confirmation from my San Francisco source. Benjamin Allbright & 49ersSportsTalk have also done some preliminary reporting on this story. As of Sunday morning, April 14, the Steelers have been the… pic.twitter.com/plCkQo87lj— John Frascella (Football) (@LegendSports7)
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Purdy then led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game. He followed up with a remarkable sophomore season, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 yards and guiding San Francisco to the Super Bowl during his 2023 campaign.
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While Purdy's critics have diminished, some skeptics still question whether he deserves to be considered among the league's
