Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Ryan Clark calls 49ers ‘pretenders,’ says ‘they are not the real deal’
Sep 19, 2019 at 11:00 AM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
A lot of people are high on the San Francisco 49ers after the team's impressive and, for some, unexpected 2-0 start. Don't count former NFL safety Ryan Clark as someone who is jumping on the media-led bandwagon. He went out of his way to bash the team during a segment on "NFL Live" this week called "Contender or Pretender."
The Buffalo Bills were the lowest-ranked 2-0 team within ESPN's Week 3 power rankings. They sat at No. 15 while the 49ers sat two spots ahead of them at No. 13. Clark took exception to that.
"[The Bills] should be higher because you know who should be behind them? The 49ers," Clark said. "They are pretending. They are faking us out. They are imitators, pretenders, whatever you want to say. They are not the real deal at 2-0."
Apparently, at least some of Clark's disdain for the 49ers has to do with the team's quarterback.
"Listen, I still don't believe in Jimmy Garoppolo, and I know a lot of people said he's gotten over some of the struggles of the preseason and he's fully back from the injury," Clark continued. "Kyle Shanahan did a great job of scheming people open against the Cincinnati Bengals but [Garoppolo] was not sharp against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They won that game because Jameis Winston was just actually worse.
"Watching this team progress down the rest of the season, Jimmy Garoppolo is going to have to be better, but they have to continue that run game that we saw unveiled in Cincinnati this weekend."
ESPN's NFL insider, Adam Schefter,
joined KNBR on Thursday morning and defended the 49ers' fast start.
"So what?" Schefter said of Clark's comments and pointed out that there is always a team that manages to rise from worst to best in a division.
Added Schefter: "Ryan Clark is thinking of the 49ers from last or the previous years. This is a different team. The defense is better. The running game is strong. Jimmy G has another year in the system.
"And yes, there are questions. Let's not anoint them as potential Super Bowl contenders yet. There are definite questions that this team has to answer, but the team is still 2-and-0 on the road."
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers LB Dre Greenlaw to receive Dwight Clark Legacy Award
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that Dre Greenlaw will receive the Dwight Clark Award this year. The San Francisco 49ers linebacker will take the stage on Thursday, May 16, at the fourth annual Dwight Clark Legacy Series in San Jose to accept the prestigious award.
Each year, a current 49ers player is honored with the Dwight Clark Legacy Award, presented to a player who best exemplifies the late receiver's spirit of teamwork. Linebacker Fred Warner was the recipient last year. Defensive lineman Arik Armstead, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, was the recipient in 2022, while tight end George Kittle earned the first-ever award in 2021.
"Dre is more than deserving of the 2024 Dwight Clark Award," Warner said of his teammate, per Maiocco. "The
ESPN analyst: I 'dominated' mock draft for 49ers
Matt Miller, a longtime San Francisco 49ers fan and ESPN analyst, recently conducted a mock draft using ESPN Analytics' mock draft simulator. Proud of his projections, Miller shared the results on social media.
Basically DOMINATED this mock draft for the 49ers.https://t.co/j7ag09VRAY pic.twitter.com/COOE0M1eku— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April
Rumor: Steelers believe they can acquire 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk at a bargain
According to Sports Illustrated contributor Noah Strackbein, who writes for "All Steelers" on the network, there's a level of confidence within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization that they can strike a deal for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk—and at a bargain rate.
"According to a team source, the Steelers and 49ers trade talks are real," Strackbein wrote. "While nothing is imminent, they 'would be surprised if it didn't happen.' But it all comes down to compensation, and Pittsburgh isn't willing to budge much on price."
While it seems unlikely that the 49ers would part ways with Aiyuk for anything less than a first-round draft
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk seemingly celebrates news of Amon-Ra St. Brown's deal
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is in high spirits, and it's no wonder why. He's well aware that his bank account is about to get a significant boost, one way or another.
Aiyuk posted a video to Instagram, showing himself dancing and seemingly celebrating the good fortune of one of his NFL peers. The Detroit Lions recently inked their star wideout, Amon-Ra St. Brown, to a lucrative four-year, $120 million contract extension. Aiyuk eagerly awaits his own deal from the 49ers and recognizes that the news out of Detroit will only strengthen his agent, Ryan Williams' hand at the negotiating table.
Brandon
