Ann Killion wrote a column about Jim Harbaugh that has been followed by an incredible amount of irresponsible speculation, mostly centering on the “players” she referenced in this paragraph:
And from what I’ve been told, the tension isn’t just upstairs in the building. One source with inside knowledge of the team says that Harbaugh’s act has worn thin in the locker room, particularly among some key “face of the 49ers” type players. While the team is winning, that’s not a problem. But a few losses could expose a widening rift.
Pro Football Talk took this as an opportunity to list six high-profile 49ers: Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore, Justin Smith, Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis and Michael Crabtree. Some guy from NFL.com mentioned five of those names, leaving out Crabtree.
Since “face of the ___” is an incredibly vague term (one that should vanish but is probably here to stay, thanks to MLB’s interminable Twitter promotion), several fans have wondered aloud whether the “inside knowledge” came from someone on the team who plays far less than the players PFT and NFL.com mentioned.
LaMichael James sees the amateur detective work in his mentions, and he wants the world to know: he’s not the source.
@EASTBAYDFRESH I don’t have enough credibility to speak on that man nor do I care
— LaMichael James (@LaMichaelJames) March 2, 2014
@MastrOfTheCraft @karenguacamole @ninersnation me neither like lol I legit don’t care enough to do that nor have enough credibility
— LaMichael James (@LaMichaelJames) March 3, 2014
@JessicaIsabel__ you sound foolish right now I’d rather waste my time doing other stuff than talk to a reporter about a coach
— LaMichael James (@LaMichaelJames) March 3, 2014
If I say something about any1 my name will be attached to it I ain’t never sneaked diss and not gone start today
— LaMichael James (@LaMichaelJames) March 3, 2014
That only leaves one possible explanation. The player who’s letting people know he’s tired of “Harbaugh’s act” has to be Andy Lee. If we’re trying to determine potential “faces of the 49ers,” who better than the guy who’s been on the team longer than anyone else? Also worth noting — Lee isn’t on Twitter, which probably means he’s trying to avoid THE TRUTH. But we know better. Can’t fool True Detectives like us.
