New 49ers GM John Lynch yesterday during his introductory media conference call said that his secret ascension to the role "came out of necessity, partly so he could learn more about the 49ers’ chaotic state 'without the world breathing down my throat,'" according to Cam Inman of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. Lynch said, "I’m incredibly appreciative and fortunate in this world that things stayed quiet. It allowed me to truly assess this situation, to ask the tough questions, to just get with the people I’m going to be working with, and (as for) any elephant in the room, just get rid of it and ask questions." He said that he will "report directly" to 49ers CEO Jed York. But he did not confirm a report which said that the 53-man roster "will fall under the control of presumptive coach Kyle Shanahan." Lynch: "The most important thing I can do is I articulate the vision I have for this team to everyone in this building." Inman notes Lynch "considered joining" the front office of his former team, the Broncos, a few years ago. He also said that a couple other organizations "recently approached him about his services." Lynch has "never worked in a NFL front office" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/31). In S.F., Eric Branch notes Lynch yesterday "might have swayed some of his skeptics" during the 25-minute call. He is "hoping to follow" the successful path of Broncos Exec VP/Football Operations and fellow Stanford alum John Elway. Lynch: "I can’t tell you that I’ve had 20 years in front offices working my way up, but I know football. I’ll put my football acumen up with most in this league. I know people. And I know how to lead. And as I’ve watched John, those are things he’s done extremely well. And what I strive to do in this role" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/31).
UNDERSTANDING THE DOUBTERS: Lynch: "There’s situations that I haven't experienced before, but I didn’t hide from that. I think that’s important, the team I put around me, and the 49ers are going to give us the resources to do that. ... I’m smart enough to know what I don't know, I’ll make up for that, but what I do know, I know football and I know people and I know leadership" ("Super Bowl Opening Night," FS1, 1/30). Lynch said that he "recognizes and understands the skeptics questioning his first foray into running an NFL personnel department." Lynch: "I'm eager to earn their trust. I think the feelings that some might have there are natural." He added, "There's a lot of things in my life that haven't been conventional, and I appreciate that Jed was willing to think outside the box." Lynch "emphasized the importance of coming to a consensus on major football decisions." Lynch: "I can tell you that from the outset, what has been communicated to me is that we really want this to be a true partnership. Jed has communicated that, [Chief Strategy Officer & Exec VP/Football Operations Paraag Marathe] has communicated that, that's my wish" (ESPN.com, 1/30). In San Jose, Tim Kawakami notes Lynch "understands he’s coming in as a total NFL executive neophyte and wasn’t about to start dictating philosophies or roster changes." This was a "smart way to enter this very uncertain situation." Shanahan and Lynch are "going to be the team here, they’re first-timers in these jobs, but it would’ve been much sillier if Lynch tried to over-sell his qualifications or map out some exaggerated picture of a 49ers franchise that he clearly doesn’t really know yet." Kawakami: "Under-promise and over-deliver, and if that’s Lynch and Shanahan at the outset, that’s not a terrible way to go after the last several years at Levi’s Stadium" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/31).
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX: ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner wrote under the header, "John Lynch's Surprising Hire Demands Patience ... And Plenty Of Scrutiny." Jaws are "still being picked up off the floor in the Bay Area" after the "stunning, out-of-left-field decision" to hire Lynch. While the likes of Elway and Ravens Exec VP & GM Ozzie Newsome "gained their experience in other positions, the Niners are asking Lynch to learn on the job." Only time "will tell if the Niners' big gamble will pay off" (ESPN.com, 1/30). CSNBAYAREA.com's Ray Ratto wrote Lynch handled yesterday with "expected deftness, volleying comfortably though without much specificity on most subjects." But until he has "gotten a season or two nailed to his headboard, all we know is that he 'knows what he doesn’t know'"(CSNBAYAREA.com, 1/30). In Buffalo, Bucky Gleason writes how Lynch fares "could alter future thinking" among NFL clubs, and the 49ers "deserve credit for thinking outside the box" (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/31). ESPN's Darren Woodson said adding Lynch is a "good hire," but there is "so much that goes on, and they will have to bring someone else in to manage some of those things" ("NFL Live," ESPN, 1/30).
IS THIS GOING TO WORK? ESPN.com's Jim Trotter wrote under the header, "John Lynch's New Job As 49ers GM Is A Head-Scratcher To Many." Lynch's hiring "begs the question: Did the 49ers essentially say the ability of the two men to get along was more important than the candidate's qualifications?" (ESPN.com, 1/30). ESPN's Field Yates said of the Lynch-Shanahan dynamic, "You have to find two men who are aligned in unison and see football roster construction the same way and want to play football the same kind of way" ("NFL Insiders," ESPN, 1/30). The Washington Post’s Kevin Blackistone said Elway has “worked out pretty well” for the Broncos, so “it all depends how you operate your system" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 1/30).
STILL A MESS: In S.F., Ann Killion writes 49ers leadership is "best known for their lack of experience in football matters," so it is "not terribly shocking that they would end up selecting a general manager whose previous experience in personnel amounts to exactly zero." Lynch is a "fresh, intelligent, likable man who will be the face of the franchise." Killion: "Still, I imagine fans would find competence and a successful track record the sexiest kind of hire" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/31). ESPN's Dan Le Batard said, "I don’t know that there’s anybody on this planet that can fix the 49ers.” Le Batard: “Lynch has no experience for this position, none whatsoever, not even a football internship. ... It's crazy to me that John Lynch would be given power over an entire organization." ESPN’s Bomani Jones said it is "entirely possible that Kyle Shanahan is actually going to get the power and John Lynch is going to work for him. It is also possible that Mike Shanahan will be coming to work with Kyle Shanahan." Jones: “This is the dumbest collection of ideas that I can think of in football" ("Highly Questionable," ESPN, 1/30). Jones said the 49ers “look like they’re not going to wind up in better shape anytime soon." ESPN's J.A. Adande said, "It's a sign the 49ers don't think things are going to change anytime soon, so they've got time for him to learn on the job" (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 1/30).
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: The S.F. CHRONICLE's Branch notes since the 49ers hired Lynch, many have pointed to former Lions President & GM Matt Millen’s tenure as "evidence the inexperienced Lynch is doomed to fail." Millen acknowledges that his 12-year tenure as a player "didn't adequately prepare him for the job." Millen said, "It’s a steep curve for (Lynch). I was too stupid to even realize it.” But Branch notes Lynch "could have a stronger support system than Millen, who had wide-ranging control for most of his tenure." Millen: "You need to be schooled. You need to be taught. You need to be mentored. You need to have somebody you can go to. That’s not easy." Millen added of Lynch, "He’s a good football guy. Not one to get caught up in politics. His yes is a yes; his no is a no. He’s got great character. It’s easy to see why you’d be drawn to a guy like that. ... I will tell you this: It doesn’t matter how much Xs and Os you know. That’s meaningless. What it comes down to is managing human capital." Millen: "Here’s what he’s up against: He doesn’t know the building. He doesn’t know where all the booby traps are. He doesn’t know where all the politics are. He doesn’t know where all the other little agendas are. He doesn’t know where the alliances are" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/31).ESPN's Jon Gruden, who coached Lynch with the Buccaneers, said, "I wouldn’t bet against him" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/31).
TV TIMEOUT: Lynch on leaving his role as a Fox Sports analyst, "The people at Fox, (President & COO) Eric Shanks, everybody from Eric on down, couldn’t have been more gracious. They knew that this was something in my heart when I called them and they gave me their blessing." Lynch: "I've loved what I’ve done for eight years, working with Kevin Burkhardt, the crew I’ve been working (with), Pam Oliver, it’s been awesome" ("Super Bowl Opening Night," FS1, 1/30).
SWITCHING SIDES? In San Diego, Tom Krasovic writes the 49ers now may be a team that "holds appeal" to fans who stopped following the Chargers when they moved to L.A. Lynch is a longtime San Diegan who "blasted" Chargers Chair Dean Spanos and Special Counsel Mark Fabiani last year in a "stunning, sweeping critique from an employee of an NFL rights-holder." Lynch "didn’t begrudge the Spanos family their right to move the team, but he disapproved of how Spanos and Fabiani treated the city and the team’s fans in San Diego" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/31).
