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Nick Mullens, on the eve of a potential season-saving win over the Los Angeles Rams, learned from a friend’s text that Santa Clara County is essentially kicking the 49ers out of town to stem a COVID surge -19.
Raheem Mostert’s eyes filled with tears after Sunday’s victory as he tried to explain the sacrifice he and other teammates made to isolate themselves from their families – even before next month’s unknown trip outside of Santa Clara.
Some learned via social media of the county’s ban on games and training, and General Manager John Lynch informed others once he grabbed the intercom on Saturday’s trip to Los Angeles.
Kyle Shanahan? He was furious. He’s furious, even after the 49ers upset the Rams 23-20.
The 49ers coach isn’t so determined by the county’s decision and his team’s uncertain travel plans, but more by how the 49ers learned the county’s stealth guidelines. James Williams, the Santa Clara County lawyer, said on Saturday they had kept in touch with affected parties, including sports teams.
Shanahan is “extremely disappointed” with the “very inconvenient place” the 49ers found themselves on Saturday’s surprising news that county health officials delivered at a 1 p.m. press conference.
“It was a very disappointing thing that we had yesterday,” Shanahan said to begin his rant. “Our organization has been working hard from training camp with the county, trying to do this beyond all NFL protocols and (county) protocols, whether it’s masks, training or of daily tests.
“I don’t think you can do more than anyone in this country, all the NFL teams, not just us. We worked with them as a partner to try to understand it.
The 49ers weren’t perfect. As of Monday, they had nine top-of-the-season players on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list due to positive tests or close contact. Only four players stayed there before Sunday’s game.
“For us to come here yesterday and the relationship that we have with (county health officials) and for all of our players and coaches and everyone on that plane and our wives, to find out as we got on in a plane and no one to tell us, it was just extremely disappointing, ”Shanahan said.
“We can handle it all and we understand how important this virus is,” Shanahan added. “This is why we are so committed and why we think we did it the best we can, and not only have we protected, but also really protected our community.
Shanahan has said he doesn’t know where the 49ers are heading, and while Arizona would be a prime option ahead of Dallas, the 49ers coach needs his team at a training ground somewhere here. Thursday, to prepare for their Monday night game against the Buffalo Bills somewhere. .
Shanahan has repeatedly expressed how proud he is of his team for putting aside this distraction, and he’s repeatedly gone over the county’s poor communication with the 49ers.
“To find out through a tweet or a press conference, where I have a whole plane approaching me, I have all the wives, everyone’s girlfriends, the members of everyone’s family, kids, what they heard, ‘Are we going to be gone all December? Are we going to be quarantined when we get back? That’s all we could talk about in the last 18 hours because we haven’t gotten any response from them.
“I was just very disappointed. And very proud of our guys, that I couldn’t give them the answers and that they could put that aside and come out and play like that. I have so much appreciation for our team and I’m very proud to be the coach of these guys.
Jed York, the CEO of the 49ers, echoed that sentiment in a post-game tweet: “Our players have fought so hard and sacrificed a ton to play this season. I couldn’t be more proud of them.
Mostert said that despite the 49ers’ uncertain travel route, he is confident they can handle it, as many have done in their family’s past four months in exile.
“I left my family at home to be a part of something like this. I don’t take anything for granted, ”said Mostert, whose wife is at home with their two young sons in Cleveland. “It was a struggle not having my little family, sorry if I get emotional, but it’s really hard and I miss them so much. It’s a fight every day. You are fighting for your life. I want people to understand this.
Mullens said the 49ers have discussed as a team this latest twist on the one-season roller coaster.
“I found out when my friend texted me. I didn’t know what he was talking about then he sent me a screenshot. We focused on the job at hand and what matters most. All we can do is follow the rules and perform. We will see what the future holds.
“It’s hard for us, but harder for families.”
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