Just under two weeks ago, Brandon Aiyuk sparked a new wave of speculation about his San Francisco 49ers future by posting a video to TikTok in which he claimed the Niners had said they did not want him back.
The suggestion always seemed like a dubious one, given Aiyuk's value to the 49ers as their leading receiver and that the Niners have consistently stated their desire to sign the second-team All-Pro to a long-term extension.
And in an appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Aiyuk was asked about the motivation behind posting the video, in which he made the claims to close friend and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, and what the 49ers actually said to him.
"First of all that’s my dog right there," Aiyuk said pointing at Daniels.
"We good friends, we talk on the phone everyday. We’re starting to get our own footage, recording everything, just enjoying the process, just have my lady record stuff, record everything that’s going on so I can look back on it.
"It’s exciting times, it’s stressful, but it’s exciting and I want to have these memories. That was just a moment that she caught that, got off the phone with the Niners, they told me what they told me, I passed on the information onto him.
"They told me that they didn’t think we were on the same page and that they didn’t believe we were going to, and that was about it at that time, but it’s part of it, it’s part of the contract negotiation, trying to sway stuff in either direction.
"So whether that’s 100 percent true or not, I guess that’s still to find out."
Aiyuk's appearance on the podcast predated the meeting he had with 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday, one which was reported to have been a positive discussion , reaffirming that neither side ideally wants to part ways.
The wide receiver streamed himself entering the 49ers' performance facility on Instagram Live on Friday, though that does not appear likely to be any precursor to a break in the contract impasse. Aiyuk told The Pivot he was set to return to the facility to work out.
But this week can probably viewed as a positive step in what by all accounts has been a difficult negotiation. Hopefully, it is a step that moves the 49ers and Aiyuk closer to getting on that same page and finding a resolution on a deal that satisfies both parties.
Related: Brandon Aiyuk's latest social media activity suggests 49ers talks may finally be going in the right direction
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