Debating report of ‘friction' between 49ers' Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch

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A week ago, there was a national report of friction at the highest points on the football side for the 49ers.

Matt Miller, who covers the NFL for Bleacher Report, citing sources in the 49ers’ scouting and coaching staffs, reported word of a “potential breakup of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.”

Miller joined NBC Sports Bay Area 49ers Insider Matt Maiocco on the latest edition of The 49ers Insider Podcast to discuss the report.

Both Shanahan and Lynch told Maiocco last week there are no issues with their working relationship.

“Maybe they wouldn’t come out and classify it as friction,” Miller said on the podcast. “Maybe they would say, ‘We’re both really competitive and we want to win here.’ But I do think at some point in time, if they don’t win in 2019, that there are going to be questions asked about, ‘Does this group work together?’

“The way I’ve been told . . . if a decision had to be made between the head coach and the general manager, the head coach would win this time around. It wouldn’t be like a Trent Baalke situation, where Jim Harbaugh goes away and does his own thing.

"Kyle Shanahan was the guy they wanted, and John Lynch was the guy they got with him. If it does come to a head, it’s not going to be a deal where they’re both fired.”

[RELATED: Did John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan overestimate roster?]

Maiocco has not observed or heard of any deep issues -- other than the expected disagreements and debates over personnel -- that could pull Shanahan and Lynch apart in the near future.

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