As the buzz continues to grow louder about the 49ers trading Brandon Aiyuk, one prominent football reporter has had enough.
While appearing on “The Insiders” on NFL Network, Tom Pelissero launched into an epic tirade surrounding reports from non-credible football accounts to co-host Mike Garafolo.
“Well, Mike, it depends if you choose to listen to people who bought blue checkmarks on social media to pretend that they have information,” Pelissero said. “And then the scam, as they do it, is they take real information — bits and pieces — and then they try and do the fake thing, where they say, ‘This is now done!’ where they’re really just getting and they’re hoping. And then they just pretend the nine things they got wrong didn’t actually happen. And then, they’ll just be like, ‘Well, they get one right.’ They’re like, ‘Oh, look at this over here!’”
On Monday, social media was set ablaze by a slew of football accounts claiming that the 49ers would imminently trade Aiyuk.
The parade began when 93.7 The Fan’s — and notedly loud Steelers fan — Andrew Fillipponi claimed that Pittsburgh was “working hard” on landing Aiyuk, and that “a deal could get done soon.”
Fillipponi later suggested that talks between the organizations were “at the goal line.”
Then, Cam Marino reported that the Steelers and 49ers “agreed” to a swap for the star receiver.
Beyond that, quasi-viral but conspicuously anonymous insider account @prettyrickey213 reiterated that Aiyuk would end up in Pittsburgh throughout the day.
Ultimately, Pelissero — known for his usually upbeat and professional demeanor — refuted such reports with his own sourcing.
“So, no, there is no trade done to the Pittsburgh Steelers. There is no trade done to any other team,” an animated Pelissero said.
The big breakthrough on Monday wasn’t an actual trade for Aiyuk, but rather that San Francisco may actually be willing to move him after all.
“I can tell you, since this is ‘The Insiders’ — this is a show you should trust for accurate information, and not whatever somebody’s decided to aggregate and misrepresent for their own benefit — is that there certainly have been trade discussions surrounding Brandon Aiyuk,” Pelissero said. “In fact, certain specific other teams have been granted permission from the 49ers to speak with Aiyuk’s agent … and try and work out a contract that would have to be a part of any deal getting done.”
“Tell me how you really feel, Tom,” joked Garafolo.
The big bombshell arrived late Monday evening, when NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported that the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns appeared to be the only teams that could send the 49ers their desired compensation, specifically a veteran receiver — like Cleveland’s Amari Cooper or New England’s Kendrick Bourne.
The holdup in any deal with either franchise is that Aiyuk would have to agree to the terms of a deal presented by the Browns or Patriots, plus want to play for those teams.
Maiocco also shared that while Aiyuk had the opportunity to negotiate a trade to Pittsburgh or Washington, the Steelers aren’t expected to pony up the assets that the 49ers would require in a move.
Although the tide seemed to turn toward Aiyuk actually being traded, he could still decline to play for either the Browns or Patriots — i.e., refusing to play for them if sent there — further muddying the matter.
In that case, assuming that Pittsburgh’s offer isn’t satisfactory, Aiyuk would likely be confronted with the reality of continuing to hold out — even into the regular season — or simply re-signing with the 49ers.
One way or the other, it appears that Aiyuk’s situation is finally reaching a resolution after several grueling months of speculation.
