Given how bad the San Francisco 49ers’ 26-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars was, you may have turned the TV off the moment the Jaguars got a new set of downs before the two-minute warning. After all, the 49ers didn’t have timeouts, and the game was basically done.
If you did, you would have missed a moment where 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Jaguars head coach Liam Coen had to be separated:
If you followed the reports last week, you’d know this wasn’t something random.
In the lead-up to the game, Saleh commented on how the Jaguars steal signals. While Saleh said it was a “legal” way to steal signals, that sort of accusation isn’t going to sit well with the opposing team. This is a post spygate world afterall.
Later on Sunday evening it was reported that Coem told Saleh, “keep my name out of your mouth.”
So was all of this because Saleh mentioned signal stealing? There hasn’t been a confirmation as of this writing, but it’s safe to assume it has something to do with what Saleh said above. There doesn’t seem to be much feedback from others either.
“I didn’t see what happened, so I’m not sure,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said when asked. “I don’t think he [Coen] should be that sensitive about it.”
When 49ers linebacker Fred Warner came to the podium for the postgame, he had a similar response.
“Emotions of the game, I guess.“ 49ers Warner said.
The away team didn’t offer much either. In his postgame interview, Coen was questioned multiple times about the incident. Coen said it wasn’t a big deal, and he would remain “tight-lipped” on it.
We’ll likely receive more details about the incident as the week progresses. Unfortunately, while it brings reminders of a time called “Handshake-gate,” it probably won’t be nearly as much of a talking point after a week.
Those of you who don’t remember, in 2011, then head coaches Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz of the 49ers and the Detroit Lions, respectively, had a bit of a tussle following the end of a game.
Following the incident, Harbaugh said his handshake was off and gave a “slap” handshake of sorts. Schwartz felt disrespected, and then all kinds of theories that led to the moment were divulged. Either way, depending on who you asked, it was either awful, awesome, or both.
Today’s reenactment of that moment didn’t quite have the same fire; the entire team didn’t get in the middle of things to break them up like you saw years ago. Regardless, it’s the first thing that comes to mind when you see it.
Saleh may get another question or two when he takes the podium next time. It’s anyone’s guess if he’ll give anything besides “no comment.”
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