The revelations from ESPN reporter Seth Wickersham's new book, "It's Better to Be Feared," don't stop at the New England Patriots, though there's a whole lot in there about that organization alone that's plenty intriguing.
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Apparently, though, there are some other teams involved in the book as well. We've already found out that the Texans are in the mix, seeing as it was reported that Bill O'Brien was allegedly (and maybe jokingly?) trying to get fired and subsequently step in as Bill Belichick's potential replacement, though all that plan did was get him hired as Houston's general manager. And now, thanks to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, we know that Wickersham's work uncovered a connection to the 49ers as well.
According to Maiocco, the book shares that Brady called up one of his favorite former targets, Wes Welker, after the longtime receiver had become the Niners' wide receivers coach. In that call, he told him that he would decisively drop everything and finish his career out in San Francisco if they were willing to have him and satisfy the "20 or so" elements he was seeking, including a two-year, $50 million deal. More from the book via Maiocco:
Brady informed Welker that if the 49ers wanted him, there would be “no free-agency tour, no bidding war, full stop; he would end his career where his love of football began, in scarlet and gold, allowing his parents to drive to (his) games for the first time since the 1990s,” according to the book.
A source told Maiocco that the 49ers were aware of Brady's preference and were "initially skeptical," which is also how it's reported by Wickersham. Still, it proved to be enough to warrant head coach Kyle Shanahan to have his assistant coaches watch film of Brady while he did the same, and their conclusion was that Brady's film was "only marginally better" than what they saw from Garoppolo at that point in their respective NFL journeys.
And the rest is history. Though they ultimately stuck with Garoppolo, it didn't quite seem that the 49ers were sold on his future as their starting quarterback, a belief that was further reinforced as Aaron Rodgers rumors spread like wildfire. The move up to draft Trey Lance all but cemented Jimmy G's status as a non-definite answer in the long term.
Had they pulled the trigger on Brady — a move that apparently wouldn't have required much to pull off, considering Brady's reportedly willingness — who knows what the story in San Francisco would be right now?
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