49ers GM John Lynch responds to big-name Trey Lance critics

In a Week 1 loss in Chicago to the Bears, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance struggled in monsoon-like conditions. Afterward, he received heavy criticism from former Rams coach Mike Martz, who said he "never liked" Lance as a player, and former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, who said veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo will start for the Niners soon. 

San Francisco GM John Lynch, however, downplays the criticism.

"I don't choose to [fire back at those guys]," Lynch said, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "Sometimes, you'd think that a guy like Mike Martz, who's done this at this level, would choose to handle things differently. But I'm really not focused [on that], just as Trey shouldn't be.

"I can't be focused on all the noise out there, so I'll focus right in here, in this building, on how I help this team, in every way, to put the best possible team out there every week. That's my job, and so that's what I'll continue to do, and not get caught up in all of that."

For what it's worth, 49ers legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice still backs keeping Lance atop the depth chart. 

Lynch, who was enshrined in Canton last year, added he's serving as a mentor for Lance. 

"I talk with Trey a lot, just around the building and such," Lynch said. "But he's got a number of people in his corner, I think. I didn't play that position at this level. I played for a long time. My only advice is don't listen to the noise. Listen to your coaches. Listen to your teammates. Listen to the people that matter." 

That's fine, but calls for Garoppolo to start the Week 3 game at the Denver Broncos on Sept. 25 will get louder if Lance again fails to impress in Sunday's home opener versus the 1-0 Seattle Seahawks.