LaMichael James might welcome a fresh start, but the San Francisco 49ers have no plans to acquiesce to the running back's perceived desires.
James skipped the team's voluntary workouts this week and has been the subject of trade rumors.
General manager Trent Baalke said Friday, via the San Francisco Chronicle, that the 49ers have zero intentions of trading the shifty runner. Baalke added that his understanding was James is working out in Texas due to the recent birth of his child, according to The Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows.
James found time on the field as a kick returner last season, but remains stuck at the back end of the running back rotation in San Francisco.
With Marcus Lattimore on pace to battle for a role, James has another fight on his hands on the depth chart behind starter Frank Gore and veteran Kendall Hunter.
Baalke, however, has no current designs on giving up on the former Oregon standout.
Aldon Smith/Colin Kaepernick notes from Baalke:
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» The general manager said the decision to pick up Smith's fifth-year option is "still being discussed." NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported last week that it was appearing unlikely the Niners would pick up the option. The team has until May 3 to make a decision.
*» *Baalke said the organization was "disappointed" with Smith's off-field concerns but still wants the linebacker in San Francisco long-term.
"We're a family. You don't just open a door and toss people out of it," Baalke said of Smith's situation, per The Bee.
*» *The Niners recently tabled contract talks with Kaepernick, and the sides continue to be at an impasse, especially in light of the quarterback's incident in Miami earlier this month.
The GM said that there was no timetable to come to an agreement, but opined that the intricacy of such a deal -- and not the police investigation in Florida -- was the main issue.
"Nothing's changed," Baalke said. "But at the same token, negotiations of these kinds, they're long. They can be drawn out. They can very tedious. Like always, it takes a lot of work to get these types of deals done."
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