SANTA CLARA, Calif. – San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman is stepping up to defend his young quarterback, Brock Purdy, against recent criticism. Sherman passionately refuted remarks made by Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd about Purdy’s performance in the 49ers’ playoff win over the Green Bay Packers. In an interview on the “All Facts No Brakes” podcast, Sherman challenged Cowherd’s lack of statistical evidence to back up his critique.
Sherman pointed out that if Purdy had thrown interceptions like Packers quarterback Jordan Love did, Cowherd would double down on his criticism. While Purdy didn’t have his best game, the adverse weather conditions played a role. Despite this, Purdy led a game-winning drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. On the other hand, Love’s chance to do the same was cut short when he threw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by the 49ers’ Dre Greenlaw.
Cowherd labeled Purdy the least talented quarterback among the eight remaining in the playoffs. Sherman finds this criticism unfair, considering Purdy’s age and limited experience in the league. He believes Purdy is being judged as if he were a 10-year veteran, failing to credit him for his accomplishments.
Keyshawn Johnson, the former NFL wide receiver, suggests that Purdy’s low draft status is one reason why critics doubt him. Purdy was the last pick in the 2022 draft and started as a backup for the 49ers. However, when injuries sidelined Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, Purdy stepped up admirably. Despite his performance on the field, doubts about Purdy’s abilities persist, as some critics label him as a mere “game-manager” or a “system” quarterback.
Sherman finds it hard to comprehend the basis for evaluating Purdy beyond his play. He believes that San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan would rank Purdy highly among the available quarterbacks, apart from Patrick Mahomes.
Purdy’s critics have been a constant presence, but there is one way to silence them completely – winning. The 49ers face the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game with the goal of reaching Super Bowl LVIII. Only by continuously delivering on the field can Purdy prove his doubters wrong.