NFL reporter Dianna Russini is standing by her reporting about George Kittle's contract dispute with the San Francisco 49ers, despite the All-Pro tight end publicly refuting what she's said. Kittle and the Niners are currently negotiating a new deal for the 31-year-old as he's entering the final year of his contract.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle pushed back against a rumor about his current contract demands. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported Wednesday that Kittle "wants to become the NFL’s highest-paid tight end.

The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their offseason program without one of their most important leaders on the field: George Kittle. Known for his dominance in both blocking and receiving, Kittle’s absence from Phase 1 of OTAs sparked immediate speculation.