What do these 2024 NFL Playoff teams have in common?
Lions, Vikings, Packers, Eagles, Commanders, Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos, Ravens, Steelers and Bills.
Tough one, huh? OK—does throwing in the Bengals, Dolphins and Cowboys help?
Buzzzz. Time’s up.
Believe it or not, none of these teams appear on the 49ers’ schedule this season. None.
Tom Osborne couldn’t have scripted a softer slate.
In 1989, coming off yet another 10-2 season, Osborne scheduled his powerhouse Nebraska squad to open against Northern Illinois, Utah, Minnesota and Oregon State. They won those games 173-54.
That went down as the softest month in American football history—until the 49ers got scheduled to play the Panthers, Browns and Titans over Weeks 12–15 this season, sandwiching the toughest opponent of the stretch—bye—in Week 14.
The most feared lightweight the 49ers will face all season is either the Rams (twice), Buccaneers or Texans.
Two years ago, the 1972 Dolphins Alumni Club would have been nervous. That Nebraska-like 49ers squad could’ve gone 17-0 against this buffet of cupcakes.
But this season, the team’s most common bettable win total sits at 10.5. And to add insult to injury, the under is a slight favorite.
Why the overwhelming lack of public confidence? One reason:
Brock Purdy.
First off, let’s get something straight: There’s nothing wrong with Brock Purdy. Very average NFL starting quarterback.
That doesn’t sound great … until you start citing the 14 you’d consider above average. Then all of a sudden, being just average is certainly no disgrace.
Heck, it gets you $265 million.
Purdy reads defenses well, stands patiently in the pocket, delivers a very catchable and accurate ball—and even runs a little.
But he does one thing particularly well: He listens to everything Kyle Shanahan says and absorbs.
The latter, while critical, is not a God-given talent. It’s something you learn in kindergarten.
And then, depending on how many times you hear, “You’re the greatest; don’t let anybody tell you otherwise,” you forget it sometime before high school.
Purdy has talent. You can’t play quarterback at a major university—OK, with the exception of Army—without it.
And he’s a good listener. You can’t play for Shanahan—OK, with the exception of Trey Lance—without it.
Put the two together and you get …
Well, that’s the point. You get about five guys from every NFL draft.
Purdy was the ninth quarterback selected in 2022—the last of 262 picks. He’s far outperformed all eight selected before him.
None of whom has had Shanahan in his ear for three years.
Could Desmond Ridder have been as good as Purdy? How about Bailey Zappe? They ran offenses that were designed by Norm Van Brocklin and Chuck Fairbanks.
Malik Willis and Sam Howell have had some success on bad teams. Give them Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams—and maybe they’d have been comparable with Purdy?
Heck, Chase Garbers wasn’t even drafted in 2022. Yet had the Rams taken Purdy at 261, is it possible Garbers might have been next on Shanahan’s list—and today would be doing commercials for that other Chase, where he’d be depositing his million-dollar checks?
Given Shanahan’s amazing record with quarterbacks, you’d have to believe the answer to at least one of those questions would’ve been: Yes. Maybe all four.
And the 49ers would be about $265 million better off—minus the $15 million they’d have to pay Daniel Jones to be every bit as good a quarterback for them this season. Heck, probably better.
Yes, Daniel Jones.
People forget that Shanahan:
Helped coach Brian Griese to a 69.3% season in 2004 and Chris Simms to a winning record the next year while he was with Tampa Bay.
Got 4,267 passing yards out of Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels with the Texans in 2008—then 4,770 out of Schaub alone the following season.
Invented the NFL version of Robert Griffin III in 2012, took Matt Ryan within one minute of a Super Bowl MVP trophy in 2016, and … well, has anyone heard from Jimmy Garoppolo since Shanahan had him ahead in the 2019 Super Bowl and 2021 NFC Championship Game?
For crying out loud, Johnny Manziel completed more than half his Shanahan-scripted passes for the Browns in 2014. If that doesn’t tell you Mike’s son could’ve made Shedeur Sanders the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year this season, then fine—go ahead and pay Brock Purdy a quarter-billion.
And wave goodbye to Samuel, Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward, Talanoa Hufanga, Javon Hargrave, Aaron Banks, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Leonard Floyd, Maliek Collins, Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell. All cap casualties.
Purdy’s contract is so bloated, the 49ers couldn’t even afford to keep their long snapper.
Let’s be honest: Kyle Shanahan doesn’t need a $265 million quarterback. He needs, you know, a 65-cent quarterback—like the one he drafted with the last pick in 2022.
The 49ers would be a lot better off—way better off—with Sanders, Greenlaw, Ward and Banks.
The champagne is on ice in Miami.
This news was originally published on this post .
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