Santa Clara -Tackle Joe Staley seems far more concerned about correcting his pass-protection technique than about getting traded before the Oct. 31 deadline.
For at least the third straight season, Staley is once again the subject of trade rumors, and some are coming from Philadelphia, where the 49ers will play this Sunday. The Eagles lost their Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters to torn medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in their Monday night win.
“I just don’t pay attention to it because I’m not really in control of all that stuff,” Staley said Thursday. He won’t even venture upstairs to ask coach Kyle Shanahan or general manager John Lynch if he’s being shopped.
“No, because they know I want to be here,” Staley said. “I have to do a better job on the field. What I’m concerned with is coming off a game where we didn’t do a good job in pass protection and we have a hell of challenge this week against the Eagles. My job is to do better in that respect.”
The offensive line yielded five sacks against the blitz-crazed Cowboys. Dallas’ DeMarcus Lawrence motored around Staley just before the half and plowed into quarterback C.J. Beathard at the Cowboys’ 5-yardline. Beathard fumbled and Lawrence recovered. The 49ers never recovered, losing 40-10.
Staley said he took a bad second step and put too much weight on his hands in his slip up against Lawrence. Staley, ever the professional, called the mistake, inexcusable.
On Monday, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said it would take a lot to move Staley. The five-time Pro Bowl player is in his 11th season and turned 33 in August. He also takes a day off from practice each week most likely to rest a chronically sore knee.
Nevertheless, Staley is playing well, despite his missed block against Lawrence. Staley is making $8.250 million this year, and then his contract lowers to $4.8 million over the final two years of his deal.