49ers' Harbaugh and Baalke deny rift

Jim Harbaugh has been in the news probably more than he would like this offseason. Rumors surfaced suggesting the San Francisco 49ers were in talks with the Cleveland Browns about trading their head coach, with one of the reasons being a rift between him and general manager Trent Baalke. 

49ers CEO Jed York denied the trade discussions, and now Harbaugh and Baalke are trying to squash the rift rumors. 

Both spoke to Greg A. Bedard of The MMQB and denied there are any issues between them. 

“So much has been written and said that—unfortunately—it’s been written and been said by people that have never sat down with me, or personally sat down with Jim, or ever been in the building to see how the dynamics of this building work,” Baalke said this week. “Our relationship is good. And it’s been good."

When Bedard pushed further in separate discussions, each had a similar response. 

“Just the way you posed the question, you seemed to indicate that it’s a confrontational perception about our relationship,” Harbaugh said. “It is teamwork and that’s what it has been, and that’s what it continues to be and that’s what it has to be moving forward. That’s our belief. We’ve done a good job executing that and making it about what’s best for the team and the San Francisco 49ers. We’re lockstep in that understanding.”

Baalke echoed his head coach's statements. 

“Even the way you worded it, it’s like we’re two rams butting heads every day. We rarely butt heads. We work together 365 days a year. We’re together more than we’re with our wives and families. The dynamic that’s being discussed isn’t the dynamic that’s taking place. It’s a highly competitive industry with Type A people involved. But to say it’s a constant battle in this organization for power is totally false and misrepresented, because it’s not that way.”

Baalke and Harbaugh certainly hope their names are just as prevalent in the headlines next spring, only for a different reason. Like winning the Super Bowl.