San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan stated linebacker De’Vondre Campbell won’t be a member of the 49ers after refusing to take part in a sport after dropping his beginning job.
Shanahan stated the group remains to be evaluating choices for tips on how to cope with Campbell, who entered the locker room within the midst of a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday evening when he refused to enter the sport.
“His actions within the sport will not be one thing you are able to do to your group or your teammates and nonetheless count on to be part of our group,” Shanahan stated Friday. “We are engaged on semantics proper now, however we are going to deal with the state of affairs appropriately.”
Shanahan stated Campbell won’t be on the group for the ultimate three weeks. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, groups have the power to droop gamers for as much as 4 video games with out pay for conduct detrimental to the group. The Niners may additionally waive Campbell outright, which might probably enable him to be claimed or signed by one other group.
Campbell signed a one-year, $5 million contract with San Francisco in March.
Campbell had began 12 of the primary 13 video games of the season and performed 90 p.c of the defensive snaps for the 49ers, however was benched Thursday evening after Dre Greenlaw returned for his first sport since tearing his left Achilles tendon in final season’s Super Bowl.
When the 49ers needed to place Campbell within the sport within the third quarter as a result of Greenlaw was out with a sore Achilles tendon, Campbell refused, one thing Shanahan stated had by no means occurred to him when he was a head coach or assistant within the NFL. Shanahan stated Friday he had obtained no clarification from Campbell as to why he did not play.
Campbell then walked off the sector with a towel draped over his head and entered the locker room earlier than the tip of the sport with the Rams, which almost ended the 49ers’ playoff hopes. Shanahan stated he did not ship Campbell to the locker room and did not know why he left the sector.
“Once I discovered he wasn’t enjoying, I moved on to folks we may depend on,” he stated.
“I’ve by no means seen a extra egocentric act,” Mark Schlereth stated on Friday’s version of “Breakfast Ball.” “Leaving your teammates? Absolutely unacceptable. I’ve been saying this for weeks. I stated, ‘There’s one thing that smells fishy in regards to the 49ers. There’s one thing flawed with the 49ers.’ … The reality that you just abandon your teammates since you really feel sorry for your self … it is unacceptable that that occurred.
“As far as I’m involved, that man is retired. I do not need him anyplace on my soccer group.”
Co-host Danny Parkins he added that it was completely “egregious” for Campbell to step away from his group when guys like Charvarius Ward, Trent Williams and Ricky Pearsall have struggled so badly for enjoying time this season.
“Charvarius Ward … misplaced his one-year-old daughter this yr,” Parkins stated. “Trent Williams is a first-ballot Hall of Famer whose spouse delivered a stillborn child this yr — and he is working his approach again from harm. Ricky Pearsall acquired hit, and he got here again and performed. I am unable to even perceive what these youngsters are pondering.
“It was so stunning given the obviousness of it, but in addition as a result of what do these guys who’ve overcome a lot appear like within the locker room (in your face)? How may you do this?”
The Rams beat the 49ers 12-6, De’Vondre Campbell leaves the group | Breakfast ball
Campbell’s choice additionally left his teammates offended and bewildered.
“He’s an expert,” cornerback Charvarius Ward stated after the sport. “He’s been enjoying a very long time. If he did not need to play, he should not have dressed up. He may have advised him earlier than the sport. So I believe it was egocentric. It positively harm the group. Dre went down and we would have liked a linebacker. . .. For him to do one thing like that, in my view it is silly. He’ll in all probability get lower quickly.”
Ward is one among many 49ers who’ve handled accidents or private tragedies throughout a tough season for San Francisco. Ward’s 1-year-old daughter died on Oct. 28, however he returned and performed the ultimate three video games for San Francisco.
George Kittle referred to as Campbell’s actions “silly” and “immature”.
“He’s an individual making a egocentric choice,” Kittle stated. “I’ve by no means handled anybody who has ever finished this, and I hope I by no means meet anybody who does it once more.”
The 31-year-old Campbell signed within the offseason with San Francisco after being lower by Green Bay in March. He was an All-Pro in 2021 for the Packers, however his play fell off over the previous two seasons in Green Bay.
This led Campbell to complain on social media that he was being abused by Green Bay. He expressed pleasure about being on a brand new group, however by no means returned to his All-Pro degree. Campbell has had some brilliant moments in San Francisco this season, however has typically struggled in tackling and protection.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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