On Sunday, both PFT and Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that 49ers running back Frank Gore has become frustrated with the status of talks regarding a new contract. Asked about the reports during a media conference call, coach Jim Harbaugh opted not to give them any credence.
“I don’t think there’s any substance to the things you’re asking me and the examples that you’re citing,” Harbaugh said, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. “We will deal with Frank man-to-man [and] won’t listen to the water-cooler talk, so to speak. We’ll deal with Frank and his agent.”
Harbaugh twice repeated the catch phrase.
“It all sounds like water-cooler talk to me,” Harbaugh said. “I’m not interested in it, in the water-cooler talk.
Sometimes, however, the things discussed at the water-cooler are true. In this case, it’s hard to fault Harbaugh for not conceding that Gore is frustrated and that he may request a trade, especially since Harbaugh isn’t the guy with his fingers on the franchise’s purse strings.
Entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $4.9 million in 2011, Gore wants to be paid on par with Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams, who signed a five-year, $43 million deal, with $21 million guaranteed.
Don’t we all.
Except Chris Johnson.