Last night, I linked to Grant’s article about quarterback meetings and I said quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst, much to his shame, refused to be interviewed for the piece. A few minutes ago, someone named “Peter,” who seems to know a lot about how media works in the NFL, wrote that Chryst had no obligation to speak with Grant. That is clearly wrong as the NFL media policy says an assistant coach must make himself available for reasonable media requests.

But that is not even the point. A coach who understands the most rudimentary ideas of good public relations would have made himself available. He would have understood the article would do no harm to the 49ers and would in fact help the team and its image — as the positive response to this article has proven beyond a doubt.

I wonder if the 49ers public relations department fell down on the job here by not encouraging Chryst to cooperate with Grant. It is one thing for a public relations group to know the rules and to know what a coach is not obliged to do — although Chryst was obliged. It is quite another thing to work hard to help the organization and its coaches make a good impression and show a kind and accommodating face to their fans through the media. It is a primary job of a PR department to enable journalists to write articles like this, not merely to say No.

If “Peter” knows anyone in the Niner public relations department I wish he would tell them this.

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