The San Francisco 49ers overhauled the roster this offseason, but for those who remain in the Bay, at least there seems to be less drama this offseason.
The contract for George Kittle was done early this time around. And even as the Brock Purdy deal hangs overhead, the quarterback reported to Santa Clara for Phase 1 of the workout program, a positive sign a new contract for the starter is on the way.
Speaking with , Kittle sounded relieved that there were no elongated holdouts -- as the club had experienced the past several years -- or real QB drama.
"I'm happy that we don't have a bunch of guys holding out for contracts," Kittle said. "I'm glad that we are not having a super drama-filled offseason. I think every year of my career we've had a quarterback controversy at some point. And to not have that, it's going great.
"And just when you have everybody in the building or the majority of the guys in the building, just the energy in the locker room is fantastic, the weight room is awesome, guys are working really hard. We have a lot of new free agents this year, so you want to meet everybody. You want everybody to get to know you before you get into the grind of training camp."
Purdy reported for voluntary workouts, while Kittle skipped the initial sessions in April before landing his new big-money contract.
"Brock being here reinforces that because everybody knows who Brock is and he is a very social person in the locker room," Kittle said. "His being around, getting to meet everybody, is just good for our team chemistry."
Having gone through multiple contract negotiations, Kittle has been able to advise Purdy on how to navigate the waters. The veteran tight end said he's passed on an analogy that former Niner Richard Sherman once passed on to him: Negotiations are like braces -- meaning they're often unpleasant and lengthy, but ultimately can lead to a positive result.
"Just trying to help him out as best I can without ever trying to overstep," Kittle said. "Because he's an adult, and he knows what he wants to do with his life, but if I can help with a little guidance here and there, I try my best."
