NFL owners are continuing to reach out to fans and present an often coordinated message explaining the lockout from the management’s perspective.
Owners are also hoping to get the fans focused on football, not on labor fights. That’s what 49ers President and CEO Jed York attempted to do in a letter to 49ers fans about the lockout, noting that the primary focus of the football people in his organization -- General Manager Trent Baalke and head coach Jim Harbaugh -- is the draft.
“As you might expect, Trent Baalke and Coach Harbaugh, as well as their respective staffs, are working tirelessly to prepare for the upcoming draft,” York wrote in the letter. “In fact, to every extent possible, we will be operating with a business-as-usual attitude.”
York also gave the standard owners’ spiel about how the owners think mediation is the best way to reach a labor deal, but his letter to fans was mostly an attempt to focus on football.
“Please know that regardless of how this offseason unfolds the 49ers commitment to building a championship football team remains steadfast,” York wrote. “As such, we will be prepared to take advantage of every opportunity within the league rules to be ready for a successful 2011 season.”
Which assumes there will be a 2011 season.