The ongoing standoff between the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has officially shifted to an all-out war of words.
Aiyuk has repeatedly taken to social media to aggressively blast the front office, including a profane video on Instagram directly calling the 49ers “little boys” and “female dogs.” The drama peaked over Father’s Day weekend when Aiyuk posted a video explicitly saying “go Commanders” and using Washington’s team slogans despite still being under contract with San Francisco.
While critics and teammates view Aiyuk’s public campaign as unprofessional, former All-Pro NFL running back LeSean McCoy is applauding the strategy. Speaking on Speakeasy, McCoy explained that Aiyuk’s aggressive tactics have earned him a massive fan.
“I don’t know why, he’s became my favorite wide receiver,” McCoy said. “I like it, man. Hey, it’s time to fight back. Don’t let these ownerships, man, just try to own you. Them days is over with. So, if you want to move go to the team, why not? Let’s go Commanders.”
McCoy invoked controversial sports icons like Kyrie Irving of the NBA and boxer Muhammad Ali to explain why he Aiyuk’s methods are valid, pointing out that public perception rarely captures the reality behind closed doors.
“I was judging Kyrie Irving because he was supposed to play for the [Brooklyn] Nets and he didn’t play [when he refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19]… but then I had a chance to meet with him and we met and we talked,” McCoy said, noting how Irving chose to stand up for social justice despite losing millions. “Same thing with Ali. People say what they want… but for him, he believes in whatever he believes in with his religion, that ‘I’m fighting for that. And I’m going to jeopardize me losing my license to box or my money.'”
As for Aiyuk, McCoy thinks a similar conviction has forced the NFL receiver to act the way he has been acting.
“If he is that focused on throwing shots at the Niners to go to Washington to play, it’s something there that happened to him that for him, it’s a big reason why and I’m leaving,” McCoy said. “There’s sometimes where players has had enough from a team… So, I’m rocking with Aiyuk, man.”
The 49ers, for what it’s worth, are in no rush to trade or release Aiyuk. The Commanders, meanwhile, aren’t budging on giving anything up for the receiver, either.
This might still be a long offseason standoff, despite the social media hits.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Ex-NFL RB explains why Brandon Aiyuk is his ‘favorite’ WR
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
