SANTA CLARA -- 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that he'll appeal his $25,000 NFL fine for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he drew during the third quarter of the team's Week 13 matchup with the Seahawks in Seattle.
Shanahan’s outburst occurred after Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw the shoe that 49ers linebacker Fred Warner had lost on the field during the previous play. The Seahawks went into hurry-up offense and snapped the ball before the 49ers could field a substitution, so they were called offside.
Shanahan explained there currently is no protocol in place for what officials should do if a player's equipment is lost on the field. Even without a rule, Shanahan believes what happened didn't make sense.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
“What I would like?” Shanahan said, “Is for common sense to prevail and allow a guy to get his shoe that was thrown, and stop it. Or give us time to sub. There’s not a rule for it. That’s what they said.
"I’m not sure if I can say what they said. I’m not trying to lose any more money. But I’d like something to be done about it, and I think they will next time.”
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll spoke to local media via conference call just before Shanahan did, and he was a bit cheeky when asked about the situation.
“I thought it showed great conscientious thought by Russell,” Carroll quipped, “to try to make sure the playing field was as safe and secure as possible for all players.”
San Francisco 49ers
After a laugh, Carroll admitted he agreed with Shanahan, stating officials need to be ready for unusual situations. If the tables were turned, he'd also have had words with the officiating crew.
“No excuses,” Carroll said. “The officials have to be ready for everything. When the wrong equipment is on the field, they’ve got to adapt. I’m with Kyle on that one. With shoes or with towels or whatever. Wristbands, those officials have got to respond.”
[RELATED: Ex-Seahawks teammate irked by Sherman's comments]
Carroll, who's had a long career as both a college and an NFL coach, said he doesn't recall ever seeing that type of situation unfold.
“Things happen, you know, and I can’t remember that happening,” Carroll said. “I’ve been in there a long time. I haven’t seen a shoe get in the way like that, and particularly a player pick it up and throw it. I haven’t seen that happen.”
At least the rival coaches can agree on one thing.