<
>

Jim Harbaugh denies trade report

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh backed up the denial of team owner Jed York about his near-made reported trade to Cleveland for a package of draft picks in a text to ESPN's Ed Werder.

Harbaugh wrote this to Werder: "I echo Jed York's comment ... 'isn't true.' I know nothing about a trade with the Cleveland Browns and us, involving me."

Friday, York tweeted this: Report isn't true.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen confirmed the Pro Football Talk that the Browns' pursuit reached a serious point. But such a trade would take total cooperation by all sides and obviously it never happened.

My thoughts remain the same. The story doesn't matter. What only matters now is that the 49ers and Harbaugh iron out any rough spots in their relationship and agree on a contract extension. The two sides are good for each other and are only set up for more success.

Meanwhile, the NFL Network reported the 49ers had preliminary talks with the agent of quarterback Colin Kaepernick at the NFL combine. That was expected. The two sides will discuss a long-term deal over the next several months. Kaepernick is entering the final season of his rookie contract, but the team can give him the franchise tag next year.