Commanders coach Rivera calls Jimmy G trade report ‘bullcrap’

49ers

Commanders coach Rivera calls Jimmy G trade report ‘bullcrap’

Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera was not happy with a Sunday morning report concerning his team and Jimmy Garoppolo.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, citing sources, that the 49ers and Commanders had agreed on trade parameters in early March that would have sent Garoppolo to Washington for “multiple draft picks,” but it was derailed by the quarterback’s shoulder surgery shortly after.

Following his team’s 24-8 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field just hours after Schefter’s report on Sunday, Rivera said it wasn’t true.

“Bullcrap report, OK? Just so everybody understands that,” Rivera told reporters after the game. “I didn’t talk to anybody about that. I’m not sure where that all came from. I’m disappointed that came out like that, especially in today’s game, I really am, because I didn’t talk to anybody about Jimmy Garoppolo.

“The timing is what really upsets me.”

The reported deal came about at this year’s NFL scouting combine, per Schefter, which took place March 1 through March 7, and Garoppolo had surgery on March 8. 

Schefter wasn’t the first to report a mutual trade interest between the 49ers and Commanders, either, as ESPN’s Tim Keown and Nick Wagoner also reported on Sept. 19 that the 49ers thought a Garoppolo-to-Washington trade was likely prior to the quarterback’s surgery.

The Commanders ultimately sent two third-round picks and a fourth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for Carson Wentz, who finished Sunday’s game 25-of-43 passing with 211 yards and zero touchdowns.

Garoppolo ended up remaining with the 49ers after taking a pay cut to serve as Trey Lance’s backup — a decision that came after San Francisco was unable to trade the 30-year-old this offseason.

When Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, the 49ers’ inability to find a trade partner for Garoppolo ended up being a blessing.

RELATED: Dungy urges Lance to learn to avoid hits to survive in NFL

The veteran quarterback led San Francisco to a victory over the Seattle Seahawks after Lance was carted off the field in the game’s first quarter.

And in Washington, the Commanders certainly seem content with Wentz, though Rivera noted he “could have played better” after the team’s loss. 

Meanwhile, Garoppolo and the 49ers look for a win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football.

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