Kyle Posey is the Senior Producer at Niners Nation and has covered the 49ers since 2019. Kyle was an FCS wide receiver in college and has coached high school football for 8+ years. He's written for several sites and appeared on numerous podcasts. His extensive football history, paired with an accounting background, helps Kyle take an analytical and statistical approach to breaking down and covering the Niners.
The description of the article's photo says it all. "San Francisco 49ers' De'Vondre Campbell walks to the locker room in the second half of 12-6 loss to the Lon Angeles Rams."
After one of the best players on the team returned from a near year-long Achilles injury, and another player at the same position had left the game with a neck injury, it was Campbell -- who had started every game -- who refused to go in during the third quarter.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was visibly frustrated after each question about Campbell's future. According to multiple national reporters, the 49ers plan to suspend Campbell for the three remaining games of the season.
Per Spotrac, since Campbell's 3-game suspension can be filed as conduct detrimental to the team, it'll cost him roughly $785,000 in salary and per-game-active bonuses. That was an expensive stroll to the locker room.
The 49ers initially wanted Eric Kendricks, who initially agreed to a deal with San Francisco. But Kendricks explained why he didn't sign with the Niners this past offseason:
"I think I would've taken more of a reserved role (in San Francisco)," Kendricks said, "whereas I feel I have a lot left to give, and I wanted to be here and be a middle linebacker. I wanted to share my experience with the team, share my leadership abilities, and command that huddle."
That sounds like somebody who was told, "When Dre Greenlaw gets healthy, he's going to start." If Kendricks wasn't told that, he probably watched and asked around what Greenlaw means to the 49ers.
Campbell's lack of foresight cost him not only a hefty amount of money but also his career in the NFL. How could another team sign him?