In a sign of the times, it was difficult to hear former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. as he spoke with reporters on the sideline at Levi’s Stadium before today’s meeting with New England.
The reason: DeBartolo’s words were occasionally drowned out by the roar from the throng of Patriots fans as quarterback Tom Brady and his teammates took the field for warm-ups.
DeBartolo, of course, has seen seasons like this before. With a loss today, the 49ers (1-8) will be on their first nine-game losing streak since 1978, when DeBartolo was in his second season as the owner.