Eagles reporter defends calling 49ers the “most overrated contenders” in a long time

One reporter believes the San Francisco 49ers are the "most overrated 'contender'" the NFL has seen in a long time. Eliot Shorr-Parks, an Eagles reporter for 94 WIP sports radio in Philadelphia, made that comment via social media on Tuesday, understandably drawing backlash from The Faithful.

The 49ers own one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. While there are questions at quarterback, the most important position in the sport, the team won 12 consecutive games last season before their clash in the NFC Championship Game against the Eagles. They did so going through four different quarterbacks, a testament to the impressive roster built by head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.

Brock Purdy, the rookie who started the season as QB3, helped keep the 49ers' win streak alive. That ended when he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow against the Eagles, and his backup left the game due to a concussion. With only two quarterbacks eligible to play, San Francisco could no longer throw the football, ending their Super Bowl hopes.

Obviously, the 49ers believe the outcome would have been different had Purdy not been injured. Even some within the Eagles locker room believe that.

"I do think, obviously, if the quarterback doesn't go down, it is a different game," Eagles offensive lineman Lance Johnson said in May. "I feel like they obviously weren't able to utilize the team that they were the majority of the second half. And so, yeah, I believe it would have been a lot more competitive game. ... [I]t was a weird predicament to be in. I obviously know they were frustrated to have it go down to that."

The 49ers have a similarly impressive roster returning in 2023. Yet, Shorr-Parks makes a point to call the team "overrated" when many would disagree.

The comment comes after 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, tired of fielding questions about that January matchup against the Eagles, abruptly ended an interview on "The Zach Gelb Show" after being asked about the contest yet again. It probably wasn't the best look for the receiver, who repeatedly stated in February that he believes the outcome would have been very different if not for the injury to Purdy.

RELATED 49ers' Deebo Samuel ends interview after being asked yet another Eagles question

Samuel was asked if he still believed his 49ers would have won by double digits if circumstances had been different, responding, "I mean, I do, but I mean, that sh-t is like, we're not gonna keep talking about it. I mean, I said what I said."

Gelb probably should have let the old topic end there. The host kept pressing, and Samuel ended the conversation.

Back to Shorr-Parks, the reporter joined the Bay Area's 95.7 The Game on Wednesday, defending his remarks about the 49ers after the hosts called Eagles fans "scumbags."

"They're just overrated," Shorr-Parks said of the Niners. "And I think it's pretty simple. ... The 49ers don't have a quarterback, and that's all that matters in the NFL. You can talk to me about how good their roster is and their defensive line—they do have a good defense—and how they have some weapons on offense. They do have weapons. If you don't have a quarterback, it does not matter.

"So when I look at the other contenders going into the season, like in the AFC, obviously tons of loaded quarterbacks there. You look at the Eagles, they have Jalen Hurts, almost won MVP last year. The 49ers have a good roster, but if you don't have a quarterback, it doesn't matter. So when I project who's a real contender this year, I cannot take a team led with no quarterback as a serious contender."

It was pointed out to Shorr-Parks that there aren't a lot of quarterbacks in the NFC, other than maybe Hurts, that are keeping defensive coordinators up at night. So eliminating the 49ers from contention based on the quarterback situation seems premature.

"But Brock Purdy is probably, what, the seventh, sixth best quarterback in the NFC?" Shorr-Park countered. "And so that's really what it comes down to. You say, 'What other quarterbacks worry you?' Dak Prescott, way better quarterback than Brock Purdy."

While Prescott's Dallas Cowboys lost to Purdy's 49ers in the playoffs, Shorr-Park notes that Purdy's performance in the game was nothing to brag about.

"Each team is as good as their quarterback," he continued. "You can sit here and say great offensive line, defensive line. Look at the Super Bowl, which the Eagles lost. Going into that game, it was, 'Well, the Eagles have a better roster. ... However many starters are better than the Chiefs roster.' Why did they lose? Because the Chiefs had Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.

"So ultimately, the team is as good as its quarterback, and if you look at the other teams that are contenders in the NFL, they all have way better quarterbacks than Brock Purdy, if Brock Purdy is even ready. If you have to go to that, it's Trey Lance or Sam Darnold. You guys have one of the worst quarterback situations I have seen [in a] contending team in a really long time."

While Shorr-Park admits that he has watched far less of Jimmy Garoppolo than 49ers fans, he makes it clear that he considers Purdy a downgrade from the veteran quarterback.

"Brock Purdy, I think, is significantly worse at this point in his career than Jimmy G was at his best," Shorr-Park said.

The Eagles are really focused on the 49ers this offseason. That much is clear. They can't stop talking about the Bay Area team and can't wait for the December 3 rematch. It's certainly become a rivalry in their eyes, much more so than it is for 49ers fans.

"I think of any team of any four sports," Shorr-Park shared, "I think, right now, if you ask any fan walking down the street if they could beat any team, whether baseball, basketball, no one cares about hockey anymore here, but any of those teams, they would all say the 49ers because of how the players have complained all offseason. I think it's the biggest game we'll have in Philly in a really long [time]."

Shorr-Parks goes on to defend the Philadelphia fanbase against the "scumbags" label. You can listen to the entire conversation with the reporter below.