A San Francisco 49ers columnist for the San Jose Mercury News is taking Jim Harbaugh to task for allegedly making up the columnist's side of a conversation with Michael Crabtree. Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News published a blog post Tuesday questioning Harbaugh's integrity as a result of the reportedly misrepresented exchange.
49ers columnist claims Jim Harbaugh fabricated his interaction with Michael Crabtree
A Bay Area columnist is claiming that Jim Harbaugh misrepresented the questions he asked wide receiver Michael Crabtree after Sunday’s game.
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Kawakami and his colleague, Ann Killion, reportedly talked to Crabtree after the 49ers' win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, and asked the wide receiver about an important catch he made on fourth-and-10. Kawakami claims that Crabtree then made comments, unprompted by the reporters, that suggested he was dissatisfied with his playing time:
“I’m a third-down receiver,” Crabtree said. “I mean, I’m like the third option. So I come in and I do my job.”
When Harbaugh was asked about Crabtree’s comments at his Monday press conference, he claimed that the reporters were specifically questioning Crabtree about his lack of playing time:
“And again, I just caught the end of it, but what I heard the two reporters asking him was, ‘You don’t seem like you’re getting the ball as much. Are you not part of the offense? Why aren’t you getting the ball? You dropped some balls.’ Again, I didn’t see the whole thing, but I felt a little defensive for Michael. Here’s a guy who makes a great play and now he’s answering this question or that question. Maybe I might’ve gotten a little defensive too.”
Kawakami wrote that Harbaugh was nearby while he and Killion were talking to Crabtree, but was not standing next to them as they spoke to the wideout. Kawakami reportedly recorded the conversation and offered to play it for the 49ers, but was turned down. He then published the alleged transcript of the 30-second conversation:
-Q: Your reception was the moment of the game.
-CRABTREE: Third down. I’m a third-down receiver. I mean, I’m like the third option. So I come in and I do my job.
-Q: That was fourth down, I think.
-CRABTREE: Fourth down. I guess when they need me, you know, I guess that’s when I play.
I know you all count stats-look that up.
-Q: You weren’t on the field all the time.
-CRABTREE: No, no, no. Do what I’m supposed to do, you know?
-Q: Did you see Kaepernick... were you moving-looking with him?
At that point, Crabtree grabbed his travel bag and walked out of the locker room, on his way going right past Kaepernick and almost directly into Harbaugh, who tapped him on the chest while Crabtree burst past him.
Harbaugh has been the subject of reports over several months detailing a growing rift between him and the 49ers’ front office and players. Recently, former San Francisco great Jerry Rice claimed that Harbaugh would be “gone” from the organization after the season, citing the coach’s “collegiate mentality” as a reason for discord.
Harbaugh has been successful as the 49ers head coach, taking the team to the 2013 Super Bowl and the NFC Championship Game last season. The team is off to a rocky start relative to the 49ers’ standards, though a 5-4 record would hardly be a cause for panic elsewhere in the league. Any tension with media likely won’t help matters.
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