As if there weren't already enough construction sites for the San Francisco 49ers in the near future, a new one was added in the most recent game. However, the De'Vondre Campbell share is no longer widely traded.
Will no longer play for the San Francisco 49ers: De'Vondre Campbell.
IMAGO/Icon Sportswire
The playoff hopes have received a bitter setback after the dismal 6:12 against the Los Angeles Rams at the start of this week 15, the planned plan to return to the Super Bowl has loudly collapsed for the time being – and there are construction sites for the team of the future en masse. In short: The San Francisco 49ers, whose remaining chance of a final round ticket is virtually non-existent, have a lot to do.
Even a separation from head coach Kyle Shanahan (in office in the Bay Area since 2017) is being called for by some fans, although this status is not currently planned by the Niners bosses.
What has now been decided: De'Vondre Campbell no longer has a future in San Fran.
Pure lack of understanding from colleagues
The 31-year-old linebacker, who has been playing in the NFL since 2016 and, after his first stops at the Atlanta Falcons (2016 to 2019), Arizona Cardinals (2020) and Green Bay Packers (2021 to 2023), brings a lot of experience to his new team the offseason had brought, allowed himself to make a sporting scandalous decision.
So the veteran simply stayed in the locker room at halftime at the home game against the Rams and refused to continue playing. And that at a time when the 49ers were still 3-3 and would have remained even further in the playoff race with a win in this internal NFC West duel. At that moment, however, the defender decided against the sport, against the team, against his colleagues and thus also against his future career in San Francisco.
This is not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still be part of our team.
Kyle Shanahan on player De'Vondre Campbell
Because as is now known: The athlete, who was brought in primarily due to Dre Greenlaw's Achilles tendon rupture in the Super Bowl at the beginning of the year (the player is now fit again), is no longer used by Niners coach Shanahan. “He said he didn’t want to play today,” said the head coach, who said he had never experienced such behavior in his long career as an (assistant) coach, after the party. And further: “This is not something you can do to your team or your teammates and then still be part of our team.”
According to the collective bargaining agreement, NFL teams have the option to suspend players for up to four games without pay for behavior detrimental to the team. However, San Francisco could also cut Campbell from the roster completely, meaning he could potentially be signed by another team. Is that ultimately the player's goal?
In any case, Campbell, who signed a one-year contract for five million US dollars after leaving the Green Bay Packers in March of this year, caused total incomprehension with his scandal in the middle of an absolutely important game.
“I think it was a selfish action. “He really hurt the team,” said cornerback Charvarius Ward. Tight end George Kittle added: “A selfish decision by one person. I have never seen anyone do anything like this and I hope I never see anyone do it again.”