Lynch-Shanahan ‘friction’ report does suggest new issue for 49ers

A report of friction between 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch might have been overblown, but the report does appear to point to a definitive problem the franchise’s power duo hasn’t had during their two-year tenure: leaks.

Since their arrival in 2017, Shanahan and Lynch have overseen an operation that’s kept issues in-house, a notable contrast from past regimes. However, the Bleacher Report article, in which the Shanahan-Lynch dynamic was the third item in a post-draft notebook, cited anonymous “sources in the team’s scouting and coaching staff.”

Last week, Lynch addressed the topic when asked about the Raiders’ decision to send their scouts home before the draft because they feared their plans being shared.

“I can only speak for us,” Lynch said. “I’m happy to have the (scouts) around here. We rely on these guys a lot. I think you always have to be mindful of keeping information in-house. But I really am a big believer you better have great faith in the people that are working for you and their ability to keep things in-house. If they can’t, that’s a problem.”

As far as the reported friction in their relationship, Shanahan termed it “complete bulls---” in a text to NBC Sports Bay Area on Tuesday.

Shanahan picked Lynch to be his GM in 2017 and they signed matching six-year contracts. They have undoubtedly had disagreements during their partnership. Shanahan is opinionated and blunt and he sought to hire Lynch, a Hall-of-Fame finalist former safety, partly because he wouldn’t hesitate to provide a different view.

Shanahan and Lynch have continued to hang out...