Beasley, at odds with assistant coach, is demoted
John Crumpacker, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Deteriorating play and a deteriorating relationship with running backs coach Bishop Harris led to Fred Beasley's demotion from being the 49ers' starting fullback Wednesday after seven-plus seasons as one of the club's most popular players.
Coach Mike Nolan announced journeyman Chris Hetherington will start Sunday at Jacksonville and presumably for the remainder of the season.
"He's just played better," Nolan said of Hetherington, a 10-year veteran. "He's been performing better. I talked to Fred this morning. He knows he wasn't playing at the same level. The first three games he played all right, but outside of that, his performance dropped off.''
Beasley started seven of the first nine games but had been sharing time with Hetherington. He sustained a neck "stinger" against Chicago and was inactive for the next three games. He was ready to practice last week as the 49ers prepared for Seattle but did not practice, or play in the game.
"I didn't touch the field," Beasley said. "If Bishop has anything to do with it, I don't expect to see the field (again this season) ... I expected it, especially from a guy like Bishop.''
Beasley's relationship with Bishop, a 12-year veteran NFL coach in his first season with the 49ers, was already strained.
It has now eroded to the point where there is no relationship, essentially.
A team spokesman was asked to get a response from Harris to Beasley's comments, since the coach generally does not speak to reporters. Harris declined comment.
While on the Jets' staff last season, Harris had to be restrained by a player from going after head coach Herman Edwards on the sideline during a wild-card playoff game against San Diego. Edwards reportedly wanted to get LaMont Jordan more carries. Harris left the Jets after the season and was quickly hired by Nolan to coach San Francisco's running backs.
At practice a week ago Wednesday, Beasley said he told Harris he was ready to go.
"When I came back last week there was nothing said," Beasley said. "He told me to go run around the field.'' Asked if he considered that disrespectful, Beasley said, "Very.'' Beasley said he expects to return to the team in 2006 but indicated he could not co-exist with Harris.
"The way we are now, I doubt it," Beasley said. "The relationship between me and Bishop had a lot to do with my play. I don't think my play is the reason we're doing so poorly this year.''
In today's NFL, fullbacks act more as midget guards, serving primarily as blockers. If the 49ers were a good team and the fullback got the ball more, the Beasley-Harris contretemps might be more than the tempest-in-a-teapot it is.
Over a three-year period from 1988-90, fullback Tom Rathman averaged 94 carries and 40 receptions a season for the 49ers, and the club won two Super Bowls during that time.
Between them, Hetherington and Beasley have one carry this season (by Hetherington) and a whopping six receptions.
One man waxes, the other wanes.
"I hope to be here next year," said Hetherington, picked up by the 49ers after two years with the Raiders. . "I enjoy this organization. I enjoy the coaching staff. I want to win like the next guy. I want to play as long as I can. This is a good spot. It's a fullback-friendly offense.''
In his seven previous seasons with the 49ers, Beasley has been a solid and dependable player. He earned his first Pro Bowl berth after the 2003 season.
"I set goals for myself," Beasley said. "I made the Pro Bowl. My next goal was to retire here and get my picture on the wall as a 10-year guy. It's very hard to work in this environment with Bishop.''
