Saints’ Emmanuel Sanders says 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo will gain experience, prove critics wrong

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders recently spoke with Colin Cowherd on The Herd. In addition to discussing that pass that flew beyond his grasp in the Super Bowl, he also discussed the criticisms against his former quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers.

Sanders explained why he believes that Jimmy Garoppolo will eventually prove his critics wrong. The receiver notes that the 49ers quarterback doesn't have as much experience as others. This past season was Garoppolo's first full one as a starter, and he helped the team reach the Super Bowl.

"If you do look at the film, and you look at the game, he's won games," Sanders told Cowherd. "Before he got to San Francisco, I don't know their record, but I know once he got there, they won like [five] in a row.

"People could say whatever they want about the guy, but he's a winner. You go and check out his win percentage, his win percentage is high, and that's no mistake. That has a lot to do with him, his leadership, and his work ethic."

Sanders was impressed with Garoppolo's ability to look past in-game mistakes, put them behind him, and keep going.

Sanders added: "You take a guy like that, who hasn't had that much NFL experience in terms of playing in games, and you give him a couple of years of keep working on his game, and loving the game how he loves it, I feel like a lot of people might take back the words that they are saying about him because as of right now, he's a proven winner."

Garoppolo completed 69.1 percent of his pass attempts for 3,978 yards with 27 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a passer rating of 102.0 in 2019. He led the 49ers to a 13-3 record, a division championship, home-field advantage in the playoffs, and then the Super Bowl.

You can listen to the entire interview with Sanders below.