PROGRAMMING ALERT: Jim Harbaugh will be speaking to the media at 2:15. You can watch the live stream here.
SANTA CLARA -- Coach Jim Harbaugh reacted strongly Friday to New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride's statement that 49ers All-Pro defensive lineman Justin Smith "gets away with murder."Harbaugh's statement, released while the team was on the practice field Friday, adds a little more intrigue to Sunday's rematch of the NFC championship game between the 49ers and Giants."Kevin Gilbride's outrageous, irrational statement regarding Justin Smith's play is, first, an absurd analogy," Harbaugh said in the statement."Second, it is an incendiary comment targeting one of the truly exemplary players in this league. It's obvious that the Giants coaching staff's sole purpose is to use their high visibility to both criticize and influence officiating."On Thursday while speaking with the New York media, Gilbride questioned whether Smith used legal tactics."Smith is a beast on the inside," Gilbride told the New York media. "He's strong. He does as good a job of grabbing a hold of offensive linemen and allowing those twists to take place. He never gets called for it, so he gets away with murder."John Parry, a 13-year NFL veteran, is scheduled to be the referee for Sunday's game at Candlestick Park.
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.