49ers' Tomlinson calls out ‘crazy' Jimmy G detractors

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SANTA CLARA -- 49ers offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson has had enough of Jimmy Garoppolo's detractors. 

First, it was Kyle Juszczyk admitting he was the quarterback's “bodyguard” during the offseason after critics continued to doubt Garoppolo. Now the 49ers' left guard has jumped into the mix, explaining that the criticism is ridiculous. 

“How dare you doubt my dude like that?” Tomlinson said Monday. “Are you crazy? Come on, man. You see him out there doing his thing. You can’t do that. That’s my dog out there.” 

Tomlinson said all of that with a smile on his face, but there is some truth behind his statements. Rumors that the 49ers were interested in acquiring Tom Brady reached a fever pitch during the offseason before the long-time Patriot signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Questions were raised, wondering if the 49ers truly were vested in Garoppolo even with a five-year, $137.5 million deal in place. 

General manager John Lynch confirmed that there is no truth to the speculation that Garoppolo isn't in the team's future. He added that not restructuring the quarterback’s contract, like the club did with Dee Ford, is not any sort of indicator. 

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Garoppolo only has started 27 games since his arrival in Santa Clara in 2017. In 2019, his first true season as a starter, he threw for nearly 4,000 yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and, of course, led his team to Super Bowl LIV. 

The 49ers no longer are under the radar as they once were. The quarterback will be tested in 2020, as every other team will want to knock Garoppolo and his offense off of their pedestal. But the QB always will have a supporter in Tomlinson.

“I don’t even comment on that,” Tomlinson said. “Jimmy is a leader to all of us out there. It’s just all nonsense honestly.” 

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