San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York denied the report that the team nearly traded Jim Harbaugh to the Cleveland Browns in a great way.
On Friday afternoon, Pro Football Talk reported that the Niners nearly traded Harbaugh to Cleveland. They say Harbaugh decided to stay with San Francisco and that’s why the trade wasn’t made.
In response, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted that two high-ranking 49ers officials denied the trade report. What’s interesting is that the Browns did not deny the report when issuing a statement on the matter.
Mike Florio, who reported the news for PFT, told Rapoport that his source was lying.
@RapSheet . . . Your source is lying or misinformed. #justsaying
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 21, 2014
He then asked why the 49ers weren’t denying the trade report on the record.
@RapSheet . . . Why won't they deny it on the record? Because they can't.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 21, 2014
That’s when York chimed in:
@ProFootballTalk @RapSheet is this on the record? Report isn't true
— Jed York (@JedYork) February 21, 2014
Game. Over.
P.S. I still believe Florio’s report that the Browns attempted to acquire Harbaugh despite York’s denial, I just don’t think they got as close to making the trade as Mike says.
