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San Francisco 49ers QB 13 Purdy Mr Irrelevant Goes to the Superbowl
San Francisco's prayer Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace reminder; how the last picked Quarterback gets to be on footballs's biggest stage.
Super Bowl 58 at Allegiant Stadium , 2/11. One is choosing to be a GOAT(Greatest of All Time) Quarterback, one is an inspirational Cinderella storybook , a movie from an irrelevant human to soar to Superbowl. Hall of Famer Wide Receiver Jerry Rice said he is watching Brock Purdy to have “breakout game” for such an opportunity and story don’t come very often. Deion Sanders ex-cornerback said Purdy is “the best story in the NFL in two decades.” Why?
I didn’t know a Holiday article article I’d written would be related to Superbowl. My article dwelt on Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer who was bullied, rejected, and mocked but became a hero in the end. Brock Purdy is Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer of football.
Famous college football coach Nick Saban , whom every high school player wanted to be his coach told Purdy “you’re below average in height, your arm strength is whatever, your accuracy is average.”
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Purdy went to Iowa State to play as QB.
Quoted in the Atlantic written by Bruce Feldman,January 24, 2023.
“The 2022 NFL Talent Scout final grade was “NO INTEREST”, the report stated “did not test well, limited athlete that has a maxed out body. Very mature and experienced. Threw it ok.”
The weaknesses: “sawed off … not a very good athlete … limited arm, both in strength and throw , repertoire.”
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The talent scouts didn’t see Purdy as an elite quarterback because they were only evaluating the “external qualities “; they missed the intangible, invisible qualities such as intelligence, timing, fortitude, discipline, keen observation on players rotations, field vision eyes that can scan decisively who to give the ball, quick perception and accuracy on field positions, has rhythm and flow, has strong faith and believes in himself. The talent scouts missed his AGILITY, the ability to shift/see positions as the situation comes up.
After graduation from Iowa State, he was ready to be drafted.
Poor Brock Purdy, who was waiting, waiting , waiting, but nobody wanted to draft him. He still thought of playing football as a free agent, until the phone rang on the 7th draft # 262, John Lynch General Manager said the 49’ers would like to draft him. This was the first step as a 49er on his way to Super Bowl.
Purdy in his media interview said he holds no grudges that God always had a plan and purpose, if he was a First Draft pick, he might have landed on the wrong team. Of his 2022 group, QB Kenny Pickett was first round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that didn’t even make the playoffs. Purdy was a third stringer QB , a backup of a backup; he forcibly became a starter after Lance and Garappolo got injured. Kyle Shanahan said Purdy was ready to start without much training. He went on winning streak , took the team 2023 NFC Championship but got injured, had a UCL surgery, healed quickly, he then started on a winning streak again.
But the putdowns, the mockery, the labels begun. The pundits, critics, other football players started slamming him as “system QB”, “game manager” , “the worst QB left in the playoffs”, meaning he was only being carried by the star players in the Offensive Line. The critics said he never elevated other players in the games. Until he made a comeback in the division playoffs against the Green Bay Packers and conference championship vs the Detroit Lions. But still there are doubters.
In NFL history there was never a starter after the third round pick. Purdy as a 7th round pick was a first for a Superbowl starter QB.
It took Joe “Cool” Montana four years to go the Super Bowl, it Purdy only took 1.5 years to go to Super Bowl .
NFL biggest storyline is a feel good story how the 7th draft last pick #262 is now on the sports biggest stage, Superbowl 58 at Allegiant stadium, Las Vegas. He is pitted against legendary superstar Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes.
Purdy is only in his first year full year as a starter, 7th draft, $870K salary, Superbowl first appearance vs Mahomes is first round draft, 7 year veteran, 2 MVP’s, 4 Super Bowls , $450 million contract /53 million a year salary. Compared to Mahomes salary , Purdy is a “minimum wage bargain discount clearance sale “ QB. It’s like David vs Goliath. David was a shepherd with only a slingshot and five stones while Goliath was a giant with metal armoured suite and huge sword.
Purdy already defeated GOAT Tom Brady QB of Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022, week 14 as backup QB.
To most 13 is an unlucky or scary number, like Friday the 13th, but for me, it’s my favorite number because I interpreted 13 with a different meaning, The Mystery of the Trinity(one God, three Persons-Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Years ago, at St Veronica’s festival, I bet on number 13 on a spinning wheel three times it stopped on 13, I got a wine bottle, a cake, and a Fortune plant. My Favorite Quarterbacks are 16 Montana, followed by 12 Brady(he grew up in San Mateo), both are considered GOAT(Greatest of All Time).
Then QB 13 showed up in Brock Purdy. Finally, my favorite 13 is beingd used in the Niners. Super Bowl 58 belongs to QB 13 for 5 plus 8, 4 plus 9 equals 13. Coincidence or not?
Superbowls reminded of Mama who had always lighted a red candle for the 49’ers during playoffs and championship game. One Superbowl between Niners vs Bengals, Niners were behind the Bengals ,she said, “Where’s the red candle?” I searched for the red candle and lit it. All of sudden John Taylor caught Joe Montana’s ball and was running to the end zone.
I don’t remember the event dates, I’d been blessed to meet Montana, Dwight Clark with his Miss Universe girlfriend Shawn Weatherly . I took a photography class, and was lucky to be in group to take photos of Montana, but then you’d to leave after three to five minutes, I said “Mr. Montana, can you still keep posing for my camera for my photography class” Even after I’d left Montana now GOAT QB kept looking at my Minolta camera . In person , Montana was a sweetheart, very nice human. I also received an autographed door-sized poster.
I’d also a chance to meet Jerry Rice when Mayor Willie Brown proclaimed “Jerry Rice Day” at SF City Hall. I’d been a a 49ers fan, never missed to watch or listen to a game. I don’t know much about football. I purchased a huge book on Football years ago. If you’re working in Information Technology or Engineering you’re surrounded by males who challenged “Let’s see if she knows anything about football”. “Bring them on”, I said, who answered all the questions correctly.
Purdy isn’t ashamed to talk about his faith. After winning the NFC championship, he said “First, Glory be to God” , then answered reporter question. On Super Bowl media week, Purdy recited Psalm 23, “ The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want …. Even though I walk in the Valley of death, I fear no evil..” He said he prays before the game and during the game for the Spirit to guide him.
Matthew 19:30, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
The forty Niners were on the edge of elimination during the playoffs by Packers and Lions but Purdy led the team to comeback, representing the NFC in Super Bowl. His mother said he loves the Lord, and of course God had purpose to put Purdy on a big Super Bowl platform to spread the Good News gospel. Purdy, some fans say stands “For God.” Another player Christian Macaffrey also praises God.
On the NFC Championship day I lit my red candle in the altar, played St. Francis of Assisi “Make Me A Channel of Your Peace” song , prayed the rosary , said the Litany of the Saints , prayed St Claire (Santa Clara), prayed to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
The Detroit Lions led 24-7 in the first half . I said San Francisco, you better help the forty Niners, they are carrying your name, they’re down by 17 points. San Francesco de Assisi is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged souls , and a patron saint for animals and nature. Legend story, he tamed the ferocious wolf of Gubbio who terrorised the village people but San Francisco talked and tamed the wolf.
I prayed and chanted “San Francesco de Assisi assist the forty Niners, San Francesco de Assisi assist the forty Niners, San Francesco de Assisi assist the forty Niners, ….” . It seemed I heard “It’s time to tame the Lions…” Then In the second half, Purdy and his team was moving the ball, drive after drive, after drive.” Indeed there is power in prayers.
Who wins? It’s been 29 years since the 49ers won a Super Bowl. Joe Montana and Steve Young won 5 Lombardi trophies. Will this year team bring a 6th hardware to the Bay Area and a parade?
I’d like Purdy to win and see people shaking and scratching their heads “What Happened?” Sportscasters ask what is X-factor in their team. The X-factor in the 49’ers is they have two Saints on their side (San Francisco and Santa Clara) . Currently, we have wars raging on, the San Francisco 49’ers reminds people watching Super Bowl— the prayer “Make Me A Channel of Your Peace.”
Listen to interpretations of St Francisco prayer of peace.
