No one has answered my question from the previous post — why are the Niners secretive about Parys Haralson’s injury? OK, so I’ll make it easy on you.
Do you think it’s acceptable for the 49ers to be secretive about this issue? Of course, I do not. I’m a journalist and have come to expect a certain amount of honesty and disclosure. You are not a journalist. Please go ahead and explain why their stance in this case is acceptable to you. I promise not to argue with you.
htwaits
I can understand it if Haralson was going to be on the roster. It’s their DNA to reveal nothing, no matter how insignificant, to there opponents.
I can understand it while they were negotiating a contract with a replacement to Haralson.
I don’t understand it at the news conference today unless there is a chance that he may bring a law suit against the 49ers. Then the suits would be doing a lock down.
In any other scenario, it makes no sense to me. In fact is seems very strange.
September 3rd, 2012 6:46 pm
Stan
I sense the ante is getting upped..Harbaugh has been positively chippy,cheepy and choppy with the media…
September 3rd, 2012 6:49 pm
Stan
I just heard-and probably you too,he hurt his arm. What more exact then that they didn’t say..something about he just signed a 3 mill contract. The 49ers are looking for an out?
September 3rd, 2012 6:54 pm
Torrey
Maybe they were not sure if it was going to be a season ending injury or not. In reality, they did not have to make the announcement until they were required to do so by the league. I know it is difficult for the writers who cover the team, but Harbaugh has his ways, and he never strays off of his path. To me, I’d rather have a coach who is consistent in all aspects of the operation, even though it is not beneficial to the fans and the writers. Until he loses, he will get away with this. And even if he does begin to lose, he will most likely stay on his current path with his operation.
September 3rd, 2012 6:55 pm
Stan
I know you need an answer, but — ipso facto– you won’t understand the answer.
Costco has a Labor Day sale on prune juice, by the way.
September 3rd, 2012 7:09 pm
Brandon Conway
My suspicion is that when Harbaugh was a player he felt an extreme invasion of privacy when his injuries/health were discussed so openly. As a result he does not like to reveal more than the league mandates for competitive reasons as a means to protect the privacy of the player. In the case of Harelson, the Packers and subsequent opponents know he will not be playing against them. From a competitive standpoint it doesn’t really matter what the exact reason is. I’m sure if Harelson feels open enough to share the details he could do so on his own. In the end, it doesn’t bother me.
September 3rd, 2012 7:13 pm
Cindy
Not sure Lowell. As point of reference, I received a tweet about Aaron Hernandez of the Patriots today:
FantasyGuru.com @Fantasy_Guru
We know more about Bin-Laden’s last moments. RT @cooperkyle22: Any word on why Hernandez left practice early yesterday?
This made me think. Would you be asking these kinds of questions of Belichek if you were covering the Patriots? He and Harbaugh seem to have similar mentalities at times but Belichek always seems to get a free pass on stuff.
September 3rd, 2012 7:13 pm
CohnZohn
Cindy, I don’t know Belichick. I would like to think I’d ask the same questions.
September 3rd, 2012 7:14 pm
David
At the end of the day, what does it matter what the injury is? It it just because you want to know and Harbaugh won’t tell you or does the kind of injury make any difference to you? He is injured, out for the season, who but you cares what the injury is?
September 3rd, 2012 7:59 pm
Hank
Cohn would treat all the same. That is assured. What is wrong with Parys? At this point, who really cares? I hope he recovers fully, but as should always be the case, “Next man up!”. Let’s keep the foci on what matters, Lowell!
September 3rd, 2012 8:01 pm
Mark M
It’s odd and I expect the truth will come out in full in time. If not, you’ve definitely got something here to chew on.
September 3rd, 2012 8:27 pm
Brady
my best guess is that if they reveal it then the media can speculate. they can say “it’s doubtful he’ll be back next year” or “he may never be the same” and yada yada (not saying you would say this, Lowell). It’s within the 49ers rights to not reveal, and they exercised those rights because what bad can come of not revealing?
It may be very frustrating for you, but it is fair, if aggravating play.
September 3rd, 2012 8:42 pm
Rich, San Ramon
So if being tight-lipped is Harbaugh’s punch, then as a professional journalist I’d think that you would counterpunch by cultivating sources or doing a little gumshoe.
September 3rd, 2012 8:48 pm
mike
By placing Haralson on IR when they did, the Niners forfeited the opportunity to bring him back this season. Strange if he only has a left arm injury because unless it is torn ligaments or a compound fracture that requires pins and screws, it seems that Haralson could make it back after 8 weeks. The new IR rules state that a player has to sit out of practice for at least 6 weeks and then is eligible to come back to the game roster in week 8, I believe.
Also, if the league office has any questions about the legitimacy of the injury (see Demps of New England), they can require an independent doctor to examine the player to make sure the injury is real; not that any team would attempt to skirt the IR rules to hide a player whom they feel could be claimed if waived while they attempted to bring him back to their practice squad.
Anway, based on Haralson’s play last year, it is strange that they woiuld IR him and put him on the shelf for the entire season when another option is available.
September 3rd, 2012 8:53 pm
Brandon Conway
Mike – I don’t think it’s that strange that they wouldn’t use the new IR Return on Harelson. He’s not a starter. Chances are you may lose a starter early in the season and it would be better to bring them back.
September 3rd, 2012 9:37 pm
htwaits
The new IR rule can be used one time each season so it’s no mystery why the 49ers would conserve their option so that it would be available later.
September 3rd, 2012 11:03 pm
Mugsy
As a fan, once a player is on IR for the year, he’s going to contribute about as much to my team’s success as I will. It really doesn’t matter to me what the details of his injury are (it’s clearly some kind of arm or pectoral issue) — all that matters is the outcome which is that he’s not going to play this season. He therefore becomes irrelevant to the 49ers in 2012. I’m more concerned with the players who will suit up on Sunday. I have no interest in the nature of Haralson’s injury.
September 3rd, 2012 11:14 pm
Amir Talai
Because he is worried other teams would put a bounty on Haralson’s arm?
September 3rd, 2012 11:26 pm
PhD
Why not just call Harelson and ask him, or email or text him? I should think that beat writers should try to have on hand an address book that has contact info for all the players or at least a few key players that can supply the info that JH is apparently too overly paranoid to reveal.
September 3rd, 2012 11:56 pm
Dennis
I suspect they do it this way just to drive you crazy!
September 4th, 2012 7:50 am
mike
Brandon – What is strange and secretive, in the usual Jim Harbaugh way, is his comment after the Charger game that Haralson “is working through some things.” Sounds to me that more than just a left arm injury is an issue.
September 4th, 2012 8:33 am
CohnZohn
Mugsy, Fair enough. You have no interest in Haralson’s injury. What if the 49ers put Alex Smith or Vernon Davis or Frank Gore on IR to miss the full season. Would you have an interest in the nature of the injury then?
September 4th, 2012 9:30 am
PhD
The more I think about it. I’m into the Detective Gumshoe approach. Call his mom, his high school coach. Someone will know and spill the beans.
September 4th, 2012 9:40 am
Streetglide
It’s not his left arm. Someone stepped on his weiner and it’s flat as a pancake. I mean wouldn’t you hold your left arm if that happened to you?
September 4th, 2012 10:11 am