49ers linebacker suspended 3 games after refusing to take field against Rams

[Auggie]

San Francisco Chronicle

In a transaction telegraphed shortly after De’Vondre Campbell refused to play in a loss to the Rams last week, the San Francisco 49ers have suspended the 31-year-old linebacker for their final three regular-season games. The team announced the decision Monday in a terse statement from general manager John Lynch.

“We have suspended De’Vondre Campbell Sr. for three games due to conduct detrimental to the team,” Lynch said. “We will have no further comment on the matter.”

By suspending Campbell for his conduct, rather than releasing him, the 49ers can avoid paying him $261,666 in base salary and per-game bonuses. They could also avoid paying more than $100,000 from the $3.35 million signing bonus the nine-year veteran received when he joined the 49ers on a one-year, $5 million deal in March. A suspension would also prevent Campbell from signing with another team during the regular season.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan and players strongly condemned Campbell after a 12-6 loss to the Rams on Thursday night during which Campbell refused to enter the game as a backup. On Friday, Shanahan made it clear that Campbell had played his last snap for the 49ers.

Link and paywall: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/49ers-plan-suspend-de-vondre-campbell-refusing-19983771.php

Any guesses who would be motivated to sign him next year? Or will teams make an example of him and end his career?

[hlthe2b]

1. Why did he refuse to play?

[Auggie]

5. Campbell hasn't publicly commented, though it is suspected he was miffed ...

at being surpassed on the depth chart by another backup, linebacker Dee Winters. Campbell was signed off season to sub for starter Dre Greenlaw recovering from an Achilles' rupture suffered in last years Super Bowl.

[Otto_Harper]

7. I'm not a sports guy, so it isn't precisely clear to me, but here's more of that story

From SF Chronicle

Head coach Kyle Shanahan and players strongly condemned Campbell after a 12-6 loss to the Rams on Thursday night during which Campbell refused to enter the game as a backup. On Friday, Shanahan made it clear that Campbell had played his last snap for the 49ers.

“You guys heard from me last night, you guys heard from our players,” Shanahan said. “His actions from the game, it’s not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still expect to be a part of our team.”

Campbell started 12 of the first 13 games and played 90% of the snaps before Thursday, when linebacker Dre Greenlaw made his season debut after suffering a torn Achilles in February.

Campbell had expressed his displeasure to the Chronicle in September after linebacker Dee Winters briefly replaced him in a loss to the Rams in Week 3, suggesting a timeshare at the position would be an issue if it continued.

“I’m not going to make a big deal about it right now,” Campbell said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Campbell has previously had a messy divorce from an employer. Last December, he said on social media that he wasn’t “playing through injuries anymore cause when s— goes wrong they always use it against you.” After he was released in March, Campbell criticized the Packers’ coaching staff for how they deployed him.

Campbell told the Chronicle in July that he had no regrets about how he left the Packers.

“I don’t regret anything I do or say,” Campbell said. “I don’t have any ill will for anybody. I just felt like some things could have gone a little bit differently. That’s the business part of it. I respect it either way. That’s just part of being a man and part of being a professional. You just have to take things as they come.”

[hlthe2b]

14. Ahh, EGO-- to his detriment, it seems.

Bye bye, big contract!

[Lonestarblue]

2. The link is locked. Why did Campbell refuse to play?

[walkingman]

3. I'm wondering why he refused to play?

[True Dough]

4. Surprised they didn't cut him

Hard to imagine he can regain his teammates' respect at this point.

[Auggie]

6. Cutting him would have cost more money, according to the link

Campbell's suspension means he will not be compensated for the final three weeks and raises the possibility the team could seek to recoup some of his $3.35 million signing bonus.

[True Dough]

12. Overlooked that.

Thanks!

[exboyfil]

8. He will never play for the 49ers again

I assume as a suspended player he won't even be let into the facility.

[Auggie]

13. Yes. According to the link, his locker has been emptied.

[usonian]

9. Archived

https://archive.ph/T8Zla

[Xavier Breath]

10. I heard he tried to take the field but the marching band refused to yield.

[Sneederbunk]

11. A new way of taking a knee?