Brandon Aiyuk is still a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Despite reports swirling about a potential, if not imminent exit, Aiyuk remains on the team, with the Pittsburgh Steelers the most prominent suitor.
The All-Pro wide receiver's former Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards joined the Morning Roast Thursday morning.
Edwards was asked if the 49ers can get a deal done with Aiyuk at this point.
"Absolutely [they can]," Edwards said. "This is business. And this is what you tell every player when you're the head coach when a player is going through a contract negotiation. You always tell the player just watch what happens through these negotiations, if it gets into the news cycle and you're going to have to deal with all that, but at the end of the day, that's the business part of things. It's not personal. It's just business.
And I think sometimes players need to learn that, too. This is business. It's nothing against you, it's just business. And business is different than being a football player or being a football coach. With that being said, hopefully this thing will transpire where it can get done where both parties will shake hands and hug each other and get going. And if not, then Brandon will go somewhere else and the 49ers will have to regroup."
Despite all that, Edwards said that if the two sides can't find some common ground, they have to "move on."
But does Aiyuk want to find that common ground? Does he want to stay with the 49ers? Edwards thinks so, and thinks both sides want to get a deal done.
"Absolutely," Edwards said. "Brandon likes to win."
Listen to the interview above.