Jim Harbaugh comments on Browns trade rumors, echos Jed York tweet

The San Francisco 49ers organization appears to be circling the wagons on these Jim Harbaugh-Browns trade rumors. Early Friday evening, Jed York tweeted to Pro Football Talk that their report was not true. Later in the evening, Jim Harbaugh commented as well. Cam Inman got the first comment, a denial from Coach Harbaugh:

"For the record, I echo Jed York's comment... ‘isn't true.' I know nothing about a trade with the Cleveland Browns and us involving me."

It sounds like he stuck with this line for any questions on the matter, as Matt Maiocco reported CSN's Dave Feldman got this via text, as did Ed Werder. Inman apparently followed up with Harbaugh via phone conversation, but did not get anything different. Maiocco followed up further Saturday morning, getting a quotation from Harbaugh, of "The report? Ridiculous. Ridiculous. No. Ridiculous."

And so for now, that's what we've got. Jed York said the PFT report was not true, and Jim Harbaugh went a little further to say he knows nothing of a potential trade with the Browns. We know Jim Harbaugh actually spoke with the Browns, but the inference was that it was related to 49ers assistants. It's possible the conversation went beyond just Jim Tomsula and Greg Roman, but who knows.

Personally I don't think the situation is as black and white as, the report's not true so that's the end of the story. There has to be some gray area but who knows how much we'll know about that gray area. Jim Harbaugh usually is a very literal man in his answers to questions, so his response on this could be focusing on the narrow aspects of the PFT report.

I just don't think you hear from numerous media sources that they've heard these rumblings, and assume there's absolutely nothing to it. I do think PFT was making a mountain out of a mole hill, but that would still mean there is something to all this. Until the two sides work out a contract extension, we'll just be left to wait and wonder.