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He Was the NFL’s Dead Last Pick. Is He Now the MVP?...Quarterback Brock Purdy has 11-3 San Francisco soaring atop the NFC—but he would cast a vote for someone else
Wall Street Journal ^ | Dec. 18, 2023 5:30 am ET | By Jason Gay

Posted on 12/18/2023 1:06:16 PM PST by Red Badger

The clearest sign that Brock Purdy is a big-time NFL quarterback?

We’ve stopped freaking out that Brock Purdy is an NFL quarterback, period.

Because he’s not supposed to be one—at least not according to the edified minds who assemble professional North American football teams, who repeatedly passed over Purdy until San Francisco took him, dead last, 262nd overall, the final pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

It’s a selection so desultory it comes with a tongue-in-cheek nickname that isn’t really tongue-in-cheek: Mr. Irrelevant.

Last year Purdy’s story was: Wow, Mr. Irrelevant is actually starting games as a rookie for the Niners.

Then it was: Mr. Irrelevant is pretty good!

Now it’s: Is Mr. Irrelevant actually going to win league MVP?

Purdy faces sturdy MVP competition, including Baltimore’s dazzling Lamar Jackson, who was stellar as the Ravens beat Jacksonville Sunday night. There’s Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa in Miami, and possibly Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. There’s Dallas’s Dak Prescott, should he rebound from Sunday’s long, losing afternoon against the Buffalo Bills.

There’s also running back Christian McCaffrey, an all-around playmaker on Purdy’s Niners team—though non-quarterbacks tend to be disadvantaged in MVP votes (Adrian Peterson was the last non-QB to win, in 2012).

It’s Purdy who has the inside track after a stellar performance Sunday in which he threw for four touchdowns and 242 yards in a 45-29 defeat of Arizona. Despite taking a heavy hit in the second quarter which caused him to miss a handful of plays, Purdy recovered to steer San Francisco to its sixth straight win and an early clinch of the NFC West division.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans; Society; Sports
KEYWORDS: 49ers; brockpurdy; football; nfl; purdy; purdylips; sanfrancisco49ers
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To: Red Badger

MVP or not. It just shows you how hard it is to predict talent at the highest levels.

Look at how poor the QB play is in the league this year. And look at how inept the various backups have shown themselves to be when the numerous starters were injured this year.

It truly is amazing considering the amount of money that’s spent scouting and analyzing what these guys can/can’t do.


21 posted on 12/18/2023 1:51:18 PM PST by TangledUpInBlue
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To: Rummyfan; airborne

Trey Lance was consistently injured from the get-go and could not get into any groove. He was also a risky pick, playing just one full season at NDSU before entering the draft, versus Purdy who was a 5th year senior.

Garrapalo was also injured but basically has crap between his ears.

Purdy would not have the same success with the Jets, Bears, Panthers or a host of other teams that need a QB as he’s had in SF.


22 posted on 12/18/2023 2:08:03 PM PST by God luvs America (63.5 million pay no income tax and vote for DemoKrats...)
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To: God luvs America

*Brock Purdy is not the same NFL QB were it not for Kyle Shannahan, who is a brilliant QB coach developer.*
There’s gotta be something there to begin with and Purdy has it.

And Goroppolo?

2nd year-Russell Wilson won a Super Bowl. Thank Marshawn Lynch + a top defense. Throw in a QB on his rookie contract. Purdy will get there and he’ll do better when he makes the big bucks. He’s humble-Wilson wasn’t.


23 posted on 12/18/2023 2:08:53 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: dfwgator

Brady was selected three rounds later


24 posted on 12/18/2023 2:09:06 PM PST by God luvs America (63.5 million pay no income tax and vote for DemoKrats...)
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To: God luvs America

“Purdy would not have the same success with the Jets, Bears, Panthers or a host of other teams that need a QB as he’s had in SF.”

Neither would Joe Montana or Steve Young.

Purdy is the right QB in the right system with the right players around him.

a PERFECT FIT for the most dominant team in the NFL right now.

Don’t bet against them.


25 posted on 12/18/2023 2:13:00 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: God luvs America

I would tend to differ, WVU was playing Iowa State and their quarterback got hurt. They brought in Burdy, I thought this is great, he of course won the game. I can’t recall our record when he started, but it was always a struggle in Ames against him. He is merely continuing the success he had there, he is also a farm kid. Great story.


26 posted on 12/18/2023 2:13:26 PM PST by phormer phrog phlyer
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To: God luvs America

“Purdy would not have the same success with the Jets, Bears, Panthers or a host of other teams that need a QB as he’s had in SF.”

Neither would Joe Montana or Steve Young.

Purdy is the right QB in the right system with the right players around him.

a PERFECT FIT for the most dominant team in the NFL right now.

Don’t bet against them.


27 posted on 12/18/2023 2:13:30 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Red Badger

But they are expert at picking the college teams for the “national championship”>


28 posted on 12/18/2023 2:36:40 PM PST by DesertRhino (Dogs are called man's best friend. Moslems hate dogs. Add it up.)
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To: God luvs America
Purdy would not have the same success with the Jets, Bears, Panthers or a host of other teams that need a QB as he’s had in SF.

Oh I don't disagree with that. Those are all bad teams with many problems beyond the QB position. Purdy is the beneficiary of fantastic supporting talent in McCaffrey, Samuel, and Kittle to name three.

29 posted on 12/18/2023 2:41:26 PM PST by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized of man)
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To: TangledUpInBlue

And look at Joe Flacco coming off his sofa!


30 posted on 12/18/2023 2:42:44 PM PST by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized of man)
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To: Rummyfan

Those are also teams that have never been able to develop a QB. Ditto for Cleveland.

No coincidence Andy Reid, Kyle Shannahan, Bill Belichick, the Philly Eagles almost always have great success at the QB position while the Jets, Panthers, Bears, etc are almost always scrambling, regardless of the surrounding talent.


31 posted on 12/18/2023 3:02:28 PM PST by God luvs America (63.5 million pay no income tax and vote for DemoKrats...)
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To: Red Badger

His rating stats are pretty good (surprised), right behind Tua in second place.


32 posted on 12/18/2023 3:10:59 PM PST by BushCountry (A properly cast vote (1 day voting) can save you $2.00 a gallon.)
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To: God luvs America
Teams didn’t “miss” on Purdy, he was fortunate enough to be drafted into the perfect situation.

The perfect situation didn't really help Jimmy Garopollo, Nick Mullens, CJ Beathard, or Trey Lance (though Lance never really got a shot due to injury). I think it's a combination of great talent around him and the fact that teams undervalued Purdy by a lot - he's good at this.
33 posted on 12/18/2023 3:27:19 PM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: hinckley buzzard
Tom Brady was pick #199. Guess he wasn’t expected to be much of a QB either.

I don't know what number he was picked, but New Yorkers booed when the Giants chose Phil Simms.

34 posted on 12/18/2023 3:39:10 PM PST by libertylover (Our biggest problem, by far, is that almost all of big media is AGENDA-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
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To: libertylover

It’s called the IT factor. Some have it and will succeed in any system. Doesn’t mean they’ll win championships year after year.

Imagine Romo failing to handle a snap on a field goal attempt-nothing to do with passing. That’s part of the it factor.


35 posted on 12/18/2023 4:42:42 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: Mariner

The kid is a star QB. Maybe generational star.

CJ Stroud is looking like that guy for the Texans.


36 posted on 12/18/2023 5:07:00 PM PST by ro_dreaming (Who knew "Idiocracy", "1984", "Enemy of the State", and "Person of Interest" would be non-fiction?)
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To: God luvs America
Brock Purdy is not the same NFL QB were it not for Kyle Shannahan, who is a brilliant QB coach developer.

If it was all system, why wasn't Garapolo more successful? Purdy may not have Aaron Rodgers' arm, but he has good, fast decision making at a young age, and he makes plays without making many mistakes. A lot of that is on him.

I say that as a Rams fan.
37 posted on 12/18/2023 5:52:44 PM PST by Dr. Sivana ("If you can’t say something nice . . . say the Rosary." [Red Badger])
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To: Dr. Sivana

Bingo!


38 posted on 12/18/2023 6:25:13 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: Dr. Sivana

Garapolo didn’t have injuries???

BTW- please define “system” then point out where i mentioned “system”- i’ll wait....


39 posted on 12/18/2023 6:29:14 PM PST by God luvs America (63.5 million pay no income tax and vote for DemoKrats...)
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To: God luvs America
BTW- please define “system” then point out where i mentioned “system”- i’ll wait....

You didn't use the word "system", but many who want to pooh-pooh Purdy's achievements make a very similar argument and do use the word system.

Yes, Purdy is lucky to have landed in the right place. If Ryan Leaf landed there, I do not believe he would have been as successfully despite superior natural athleticism. The temperament, natural leadership, mental agility, decision making, and instinct cannot be placed there by the head coach. That belongs to Purdy.

I personally believe that Patrick Mahomes would not have turned into what he became if he didn't have a superior head coach. Andy Reid did not try to remold Mahomes' unorthodox style and made it work. That takes nothing away from Mahomes' own accomplishments.
40 posted on 12/18/2023 6:51:07 PM PST by Dr. Sivana ("If you can’t say something nice . . . say the Rosary." [Red Badger])
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