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As the San Francisco 49ers prepare to face off against the Miami Dolphins in arguably their most highly anticipated game left on the schedule, Raheem Mostert, the team’s former lead rusher, add some fuel to the fire in a major way.
Speaking with Tyler Dunne of Go Long, Mostert declared that the Dolphins have “much better talent” than the 49ers before firing a shot at quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo: “We have a quarterback [Tua Tagovailoa] who can actually sling it.”
Mostert walked back his controversial statement after receiving backlash, including a big clap-back by former teammate Deebo Samuel.
“I can see how [my comments] can get misconstrued, to take snippets out of what one person said and alter it in a way that just seems like it’s relevant in that I’m on a different team,” Mostert told KNBR’s Greg Papa and F.P. Santangelo, according to Jerry McDonald of Mercury News. “That’s not what I meant.”
Mostert Further Clarifies His Comments on Garoppolo
Asked to clarify his comments on Garoppolo specifically, Mostert praised the talent 49ers general manager John Lynch has put around his quarterback.
“In regards to ‘We have more talent here,” I was speaking in terms of, we have more talent here, at this moment, than what has been here in the past,” Mostert said. “C’mon, I was with the Niners for several years. I know what their talent is — there’s unbelievable talent on both sides of the ball and on special teams. I wasn’t trying to take shots on anyone.”
If Mostert’s comments were, in fact, misconstrued, then it’s entirely possible that “we have more talent here” could have meant “than in seasons past” versus “than the 49ers,” but how did the former 49ers running back explain the comment about having a quarterback who can sling it?
“When I was being asked those questions, I was looking at it as what Tua has done and what Tua has dealt with in the past,” Mostert said. “A lot of people are doubting him and his ability, not the fact that Jimmy G can’t sling the rock or anything like that. I would never, ever in a million years talk down on a player specifically, a guy like Jimmy, just because we’ve grown together when I was there. His family is like my family. I’ve been to his brother’s wedding. His sister-in-law and my wife are the best of friends.”
Jeff Wilson Also Took a Shot at the San Francisco 49ers
Running back Jeff Wilson, another Niner turned Dolphin, also took a shot at his former team in an interview with Dunne of Go Long, as passed along by David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone.
“They had to make a business decision, and I had to make a business decision,” Wilson said. “Yeah, there’s love and relationships around here. But at the end of the day, it comes down to business. … No hard feelings. It could’ve gone the other way. A year or two ago, I probably wouldn’t have said anything. I just kept my mouth shut and took it. Just like they spoke out about that, I can do the same.
“Even a blind man could see what we’re doing. They’re still a great team. I’m not taking anything away from the 49ers. They’re one of the best teams in the league.”
While returning to Levi’s Stadium won’t be a new experience for Wilson, as he’s played on the field dozens of times, Week 13 will mark the first time the North Texas product runs out of the locker room from the visitor’s tunnel.
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