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Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk recently attracted criticism for bizarrely questioning San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Brock Purdy's worthiness of the "franchise quarterback" label
because his name resembled "Turdy."
"I think people have a hard time looking at that name and saying that's a franchise quarterback," Florio noted.
The Pro Football Talk writer joined 95.7 The Game on Wednesday morning and explained the comments, noting that they were part of a broader conversation about why some are reluctant to embrace the 49ers' second-year player as a franchise quarterback.
RELATED Florio offers high praise for Kyle Shanahan, responds to being labeled a 'hater'
"I had given various other reasons, including, for example, last player taken in the draft, QB3, who got thrust into service, suffered the elbow injury in the NFC Championship game," Florio shared on "The Morning Roast" show. "So it dusts off this chronic concern that 49ers quarterbacks are cursed. So we went through all those reasons, and I threw that one on there at the end.
"And look, when I first saw his name, I did think that's not really a quarterback name. But when you play well, all of a sudden, what doesn't look like a quarterback name becomes a quarterback name."
However, the "Turdy" comment garnered the most attention because of its ridiculousness, which podcast co-host Peter King immediately pointed out as "one of the silliest things I've ever heard."
While Florio admits that he was just having fun with King on the podcast, Purdy has earned the writer's respect. Florio offered high praise for the young quarterback on Wednesday.
"Based upon what they've (the 49ers) done so far this year, he's (Purdy) checking those boxes," Florio said. "And if there's a team of destiny in the NFC, it feels like the 49ers. And if there's a team of destiny in the AFC, it feels like the Dolphins.
"Now, if it comes down to those two teams as the one seed[s], Tua [Tagovailoa] is probably the MVP. But there's still a chance that Brock Purdy is going to get some serious consideration if he presides over this team, has good numbers, and the 49ers end up the one seed in the NFC. And right now, I would say they're the most likely team in the NFC to be the one seed."
There has been some criticism surrounding Purdy's accuracy on deep throws, something that his predecessor, Jimmy Garoppolo, had to deal with, too. However, Florio believes the Niners will go far this season if that can be overcome. That would be significant for head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, who have struggled to identify a franchise quarterback.
"If they could just stabilize the quarterback position and have that quarterback step up and make a big throw in a big spot, it's a Super Bowl championship for the San Francisco 49ers, and it could come as soon as this year," Florio added.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Florio below.
NFL Network's Bucky Brooks believes Ricky Pearsall will open up opportunities for head coach Kyle Shanahan. He suggests that drafting the rookie was a response to the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl 58 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. During the "NFL Fantasy Football Show," Brooks stated that the rookie wide receiver will address some issues the 49ers offense faced against man coverage.
"I think it's a direct reaction to the Super Bowl," Brooks declared.
Confidently entering the game, the 49ers believed they had a solid game plan for the Chiefs, who had previously defeated them in the Super Bowl only four years
Fans had the opportunity to cheer for Brock Purdy tonight as the San Francisco 49ers quarterback threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park, preceding the Giants' game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
QB1 has arrived 🫡 pic.twitter.com/FDDdVS30p4— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 15,
Rumors circulated before and during the 2024 NFL Draft about the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers losing one of their top two wide receivers—Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. Such a scenario could have significantly impacted the team's success in the upcoming season and posed a potential blow for quarterback Brock Purdy, who has thrived alongside the dynamic duo on the field.
However, none of these speculations came to fruition. Both Aiyuk and Samuel remain on the roster, at least for another season, though their future beyond that remains uncertain.
Aiyuk is seeking a contract extension that would position him among the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. At the same time, Samuel already commands a significant salary following a deal rework in 2022.
The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to elevate quarterback Brock Purdy to their highest-paid player status starting next year. Negotiations for a contract extension with the young signal-caller, entering his third NFL season, are on the horizon.
Purdy's on-field performance has far exceeded his current salary. Last season, he set a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards and led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance while earning a base salary of $870,000. Even for the upcoming season, his salary will only bump up to $985,000. That may sound like a lot to the ordinary person, but it is only a fraction of the team's salary cap.
However, Purdy's next contract is expected to catapult him into the ranks of the NFL's highest-paid players. That title
