49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw is always good for a memorable quote.
After a Tuesday practice, Greenlaw decided to have some fun with Australian media reporters after being asked about being in another country.
"It's just interesting being in another country," Greenlaw told reporters. "Like, I mean, how far are we from Antarctica? That's what I got to ask. We’re like right on top of it, huh? Does it snow? It snows pretty bad there, huh? Not that bad? So is Antarctica a lie? It’s cold in Antarctica? Y’all been there before? Never been there? So how do you know if it’s cold or not?"
Dre Greenlaw wonders about Niners substation
Back in August, Greenlaw had a similar exchange with reporters on the Niners substation and the rash of injuries. Never one to back down from a soundbite, he sounded off with some thoughts.
"Yeah, I was. I was like, 'Man what the hell going on over here?'" Greenlaw joked. "I mean, I don't really know, like I grew up playing football on concrete. So I mean, I don't look into that. I don't even look into the field situation, like as long as we got a field to play on, I don't care if it's grass or turf. So, I'm not really the one that kind of like, you know — but I was interested. I was like, (expleitve), you got to look into it now. Maybe it's something there, but you never know."
Despite multiple experts debunking the theory, including an independent investigation conducted by the Niners, fans continue to have fun with the idea that neighboring substation plants are deteriorating the health of professional football players.
Football fans and trolls, alike, have been egging on this theory that an electromagnetic substation surrounding the 49ers home and practice field at Levi's Stadium is contributing to the boatload of injuries the team has faced.
Niners investigate substation
49ers general manager John Lynch followed up with an independent investigation on the substation claims which were ultimately dismissed, concluding that electromagnetic field levels were exponentially lower than the unsafe range.
"It was basically a nothing burger," Lynch said, per multiple reports. "We're safe, we're in a safe place of work. The levels are 400-times less than an unsafe zone."
The 49ers will play the Los Angeles Rams to open the season at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. Like Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, the game site in Australia is surrounded by substations. A short, three-minute walk from Melbourne Cricket Ground Stadium is the Jolimont Yard substation. Richmond Station is another substation that is a short distance to the stadium, just being a 10- to 15-minute walk away.
It seems like the substation joke won't be dying down anytime soon. It's guaranteed that this won't be the last time you hear a reference made to the debunked theory.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 49ers' Dre Greenlaw follows substation gem with Antarctica question in Australia
