San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel wants his contract extension finalized. The team would likely love to get the situation resolved. Most fans want to see the dynamic playmaker remain in the Bay Area for a long time.
However, Samuel is claiming that the situation has escalated to embarrassing levels. He says that fans are saying some pretty hateful things to him. If true—and there is no reason to believe it isn't—this has gotten very ugly. Samuel says he has received death threats and racist remarks from the fans who once cheered for him.
"It don't bother me," Samuel said via Instagram Live (h/t TheSFNiners). "It don't. You all were the same ones that was just hoorahing and [yelling] 'Go Deebo.' Now you all want to send death threats and send all these racial -- all the stuff that I got. It don't bother me. I'm cool. I'm chillin'. I'm happy."
#49ers Deebo Samuel says fans are sending him death threats and racist comments over contract negotiations pic.twitter.com/P1XnC9uYKU
— 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙎𝙁𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@TheSFNiners_) April 15, 2022
Samuel recently scrubbed his Instagram account of all things 49ers-related. Perhaps it is a negotiating tactic, or maybe it's just a way to send a message to the team as the two sides try to work out a long-term deal.
Samuel is entering his fourth NFL season. He amassed 1,770 total yards and 14 total touchdowns for the 49ers in 2021, setting an NFL record for the most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a wide receiver with eight.