49ers coach Jim Harbaugh takes issue with Rich Gannon’s contention that Harbaugh said Randy Moss is the team’s best receiver.
In Harbaugh’s mind, he has five best receivers.
“The way that was reported was misunderstood,” Harbaugh said Friday, via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “What I said -- and I remember the conversation vividly -- I was describing Randy having the fastest time in a specific drill on a specific day of the offseason OTAs.
“What we have here on this team, really, we’ve got five guys who are No. 1 receivers as we go into camp. It will play out what the roles are, who the starters are, who the backups, the contributors. We’ve got five guys tied for first.”
The five No. 1 wideouts are, in Harbaugh’s assessment: Moss, Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, Tedd Ginn (no, really), and Kyle Williams.
Coincidentally, first-round draft pick A.J. Jenkins has yet to land on the first tier.
Look, I don’t want to say Harbaugh is lying because then he would say I’m being diabolical. But how in the hell can five guys be tied for first after the full offseason program?
Moreover, if Harbaugh truly viewed the quintet of pass-catchers as having No. 1 talent, he shouldn’t have burned a first-round pick on Jenkins.
Harbaugh’s a great coach. Fiery. Competent. Inspiring. I’d run through bounce off a wall for him. But it would be nice if he tried to make his feelings known in a way that doesn’t insult the intelligence of the average 11-year-old.