49ers CEO Jed York yesterday "wore the blame for fielding a lousy team" this season, using words like "'frustrating' and 'difficult' to describe a season that ended with five wins, 11 losses and countless questions," according to Al Saracevic of the S.F. CHRONICLE. York "set himself up for scorn last offseason, when he 'parted ways' with popular head coach Jim Harbaugh and hired an unproven talent" in Jim Tomsula. At the time, York "asked the fans to hold him accountable for the results." That request was "met enthusiastically throughout the season, and finally came to roost" yesterday. The 49ers fired Tomsula Sunday following the season finale, and to his credit, York "owned both coaching decisions." It might be "hard for 49ers fans to fathom right now ... but these admissions bode well for the future of the franchise." York's willingness to "acknowledge his own limitations was something new." He admitted that he was "not a football expert." He also said that his job was to "find the right executives and step out of the way" and that money "was no object." Saracevic: "He basically said what everyone wanted to hear" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/5).
NO EXCUSES: In San Jose, Cam Inman writes York "struck a conciliatory tone throughout his press conference, repeatedly apologizing to his team's irate fan base" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/5). ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez noted York "did not make excuses, nor did he pass the blame." There was "no spin" (ESPN.com, 1/4). In S.F., Eric Branch writes York was "contrite and humbled." He earned "overall favorable reviews by addressing some of his recent missteps directly." However, he was "less forthcoming when asked if he regretted what’s widely perceived to be his biggest mistake: Didn’t he wish he’d found a way to keep Harbaugh?" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/5). However, the CHRONICLE's Katie Dowd wrote the press conference was "underwhelming" (SFGATE.com, 1/5).
ARE YOU SATISFIED? SI.com's Don Banks wrote York deserves "props for standing up and facing the music" at his press conference yesterday, but that is the "extent of the credit he deserves." While everyone else could "clearly see the disaster in the making that Tomsula's hiring was last offseason, York and 49ers GM Trent Baalke seem shocked that the move didn't work out." Banks: "But now York and Baalke are to be trusted once again to find the next guy to not measure up to Jim Harbaugh? That's rich. That's like the guy who tells you he was lying to you before, but telling you the truth this time. Promise" (SI.com, 1/4). YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote York was "eating a lot on Monday, taking all the blame, making all the apologies but never quite getting to the root of the problem." York has "learned to lay low as the owner, now trying to avoid pointless social media squabbles with fans." York: "You've seen me take a step back from Twitter. I can't be a distraction to this team" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/4). In San Jose, Mark Purdy in a front-page piece writes under the header, "49ers' Next Move Better Be Good." Yesterday was "part confessional and part therapy session." It was "part motivational stab, part sales pitch, some spin, some regrets and a sincere familial defense." Purdy: "None of it is likely to satisfy the segment of 49ers fans who would have preferred that York show up at the podium with a hammer to drive nails into his own eyes" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/5). In S.F., Ann Killion in a front-page piece writes, "This is what happens when your team has bottomed out, largely because of your own actions. This is what happens when you’re hosting America’s most high-profile sporting event in a few weeks. You have to eat it" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/5).
IN TRENT WE TRUST: CSNBAYAREA.com's Matt Maiocco noted York "expressed confidence" that Baalke is the person to "hire the next head coach and reconstruct the roster." Baalke has "spent the past 11 years with the 49ers with the past five" as GM. He was named NFL Exec of the Year in '11, but the 49ers had a "disastrous" draft in '12, and Baalke’s player selections have "netted few playmakers in recent seasons." York: “I’ve seen Trent build a championship-caliber roster, in his time as director of player personnel (and) in his time as general manager. I believe in Trent’s ability. We have a lot of opportunity in front of us.” Maiocco noted Baalke has "three years remaining on his contract" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 1/4). CSNBAYAREA.com's Ray Ratto wrote Baalke should have been at the press conference there with York, "sharing the shame of the day they made necessary." Baalke did meet with reporters "several hours after York met with the media." Baalke "apparently has an eternal hall pass from his boss, or York still thinks the minimum public exposure will do at a time when it clearly won’t" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 1/4).
