HOF QB Kurt Warner defends 49ers' Brock Purdy against 'game manager' label

Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner sounds uninterested in hearing any chatter about San Francisco 49ers signal-caller Brock Purdy being only a "game manager" with Purdy the favorite to earn the Most Valuable Player Award. 

"He's doing what they ask him to do, and he's doing it as high a level as any quarterback that's being asked to do anything in their team in the NFL," Warner said about Purdy during a chat with Nick Wagoner of ESPN. "Period, end of story."

Long before former MVP Cam Newton controversially labeled Purdy a "game manager" rather than a "game-changer," the perception existed that the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft is largely a product of an offense that features stars such as running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, tight end George Kittle, and left tackle Trent Williams. A handful of noteworthy individuals believe McCaffrey deserves to win MVP over Purdy even though no non-quarterback has claimed the award since Adrian Peterson earned the honor for the 2012 season.

"Does he benefit from the system and the players? Of course," Warner added. "But what great quarterback doesn't? That's the thing. It just continues to dumbfound me. All great quarterbacks are surrounded by great players. You don't have Hall of Fame quarterbacks that didn't have great players around them."

According to ESPN stats, Purdy will guide the 11-3 49ers into Week 16 leading the NFL among with a 76.0 adjusted QBR, 119.0 passer rating, 29 touchdown passes and an average of 9.9 yards per pass attempt on the season. He's second with 3,795 passing yards and a 69.8% completion percentage. 

As of late Wednesday morning, oddschecker listed Purdy as the odds-on favorite to win MVP at around -200/-230. Purdy told Wagoner those inside the San Francisco locker room are pursuing a different trophy. 

"I think more than anything, it is a team award," Purdy said about MVP. "That's how I look at it. And if we were to be able to win it, great. If not, it's okay. We still have a goal in mind in terms of winning a championship."

The Niners host the 11-3 Baltimore Ravens on Christmas night.