Only a few players were in attendance for Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch’s introductory press conference. San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman was one of them. He spoke to the media after it concluded and spoke about the new regime as well as his achilles rehabilitation.
(Question inaudible)
Change is needed so for them to guarantee it is just something that they’re saying that’s going to happen. I’m excited about it. It’s starting from scratch, you know everyone coming in brand new and understanding that the only thing that matters is work. If everyone comes in committed to put the work in and get inline with the process, I think we‘ll be in the right direction.
How do you feel about the coaches making the decisions on the final 53 man roster?
Well, John’s played before so, to cut players and choose players who start and get the job, you have to have done it before. You have to have understood what it takes to be successful and play in the NFL. For them to have control of the 53, I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all. I think it’ll be the first time you get it from a player’s mind set and I don’t think it will be a negative for us.
Fourth coach in four years. What makes you think that the parade won’t continue?
Just hearing those guys talk. Just them understanding that there can’t be any egos here, guys have to be open to just realizing what we have, and if someone has insight on something, let’s listen to it and evaluate it and see if it’s the right choice. All those things are going to come into play and like I said, we have one goal in mind and that’s to get back to the winning ways and not have to hire a new one.
Both of them got six year deals which is kind of unprecedented. Is it beneficial to have some continuity.
Yeah. I think it takes the weight off of their shoulders because we have let go of a few coaches in the last few years and this shows that the organization and Jed is committed to giving guys a shot, to show what they can bring to the table. Six years maybe a reach but it shows that Jed is committed to two guys that are proven. One, John has played in this league and is a Hall of Famer and Kyle, I can say for myself, me standing on the sideline and watching the Falcons just move up and down the field with my intellect, he had me off my beat so I’m glad to have him on our side.
How are you with you health?
You know I’m working every single day doing everything that the trainers are asking me to do. There’s no time table set when I’ll be cleared to do every single thing but the sky is looking bright for me. I feel great. The key is just improving every single day, giving me confidence, knowing I will be back.
How does this rehab compare to you last?
It doesn’t. It’s much more easier to deal with. Not spending those long hours trying to warm up trying to get my workout in. It’s definitely more easier to deal with than my knee and like I said I can definitely see a positive light at the end of the tunnel.
Is it easier emotionally to deal with because you’ve been there before?
Yeah. You know I’m a grinder. Anything that knocks me down, I’m going to get back up. It’s just who is going to stick beside me and remember what I’ve done and keep praying for me that I get back to where I was.
Did you watch the Super Bowl and Kyle’s offense?
Yeah, I watched it and I thought they played well. I thought he did a great job in the first half and just a hat goes off to Bill [Belichick] and Tom [Brady]. You saw Bill on the sideline writing down everything in the first half. They knew that he was going to come the second half and have corrections and things like that. So Kyle, he's going to go over those plays for the rest of his life, but I still think about the Super Bowl that we played in. But I think he did a great job. I think he’s one of the best offensive coordinators and now head coaches that the league has to offer.