Five weeks before the NFL Draft is not the ideal time to take the trigger out of your general manager's hand. But that is exactly what the San Francisco 49ers are reportedly.
The head of the team's personal and the final word on the gets drafted on April 22 is being relieved of his duties for a personal matter, according to a report.
Neither the team nor Scot McCloughan himself have commented directly on the story that was broken late Wednesday night by Matt Maiococo of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. McCloughan, who joined the team in 2005 as vice president of player personnel, only public statement was a vague text message to AOL Fanhouse.
"I'm fine and moving forward," he wrote.
Little is known about why McCloughan is leaving the team. Maiocco reported that the McCloughan met behind closed doors Wednesday with the team's top management, including Executive Vice President Jed York.
Thursday an unidentified player told the longtime 49ers beat writer that all players were told was "things were moved out of McCloughan's office."
The move opens up a power off season for a team with national pressure to step up and take over the division next season. The team has banked a lot of its off season strategy to improve the team on the upcoming draft. Other than signing a career backup at quarterback, the team has done little in free agency.
Head Coach Mike Singletary has reportedly taken an active role in scouting and meeting with college players ahead of the draft and the team's board has already been set.
