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49ers legend Joe Montana comments on Brock Purdy 'game-manager' argument: 'He’s figured that offense out'

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49ers legend Joe Montana comments on Brock Purdy 'game-manager' argument: 'He’s figured that offense out'

As analysts and fans alike pick apart each team heading into Super Bowl LVIII, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been called a “game-manager,” a title no signal caller wants to hear. 

But Hall of Famer and 49ers legend Joe Montana has a different perspective to this argument against Purdy. 

“The thing I see [with Purdy] is something that I figured out early on in my career – what the offense is about,” Montana said on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show.” “It wasn’t about me. It was about getting the ball to the people who knew what to do with it because I’m the mailman – [the football] doesn’t belong to me – I want to get it to somebody who knows how to run, knows how to catch.”

Former NFL quarterback Joe Montana during the Aer Lingus College Football Classic match between Notre Dame and Navy Midshipmen at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

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Montana went on to explain how Jerry Rice, Brent Jones, John Taylor and Roger Craig were all guys he simply needed to get the ball to. It didn’t matter if it was two yards or 20 yards away – as long as the ball was in their hands, good things were going to happen. 

That’s the same thing Purdy is doing now with the loads of offensive talent around him in Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk. 

“If you look at the weapons Brock’s working with, he’s figured that offense out,” Montana continued. “He understands what his position is. He doesn’t try to make a big play. He knows when that chance will come and when he needs to do it, but in most cases, it’s OK to punt. ‘I got a pretty good defense, too,’ and that’s what we had, pretty much the same thing.

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“[Purdy] understands [his role], he’s calm in [the pocket]. He has a great presence and he’s not trying to knock you out with the football. He delivers a great, catchable ball.”

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It goes without saying players are a product of their own environment in the NFL. It takes more than just one player to be successful, and despite his Hall of Fame status, even Montana knows that. 

Brock Purdy looks on field

Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium on Jan. 28, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

And Montana believes San Fran saw something in Purdy even if he was Mr. Irrelevant. 

“Obviously, there was some reason that the 49ers selected him [with the] last pick in the [2022 NFL Draft], the things that they saw on tape.

“I don’t think it’ll matter who’s out there. Right now, [Purdy’s] fortunate because he’s got some pretty good studs out there who can give him the ball and go the distance, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Everybody’s had those in their lifetime. So I don’t even think about that twice. It’s a plus for him.”

Game managing isn’t something that usually plays well in the Super Bowl, especially against the Chiefs, as Mahomes can change a game by himself because of his ability to improvise on the spot. 

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Brock Purdy throws

Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass against the Baltimore Ravens at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023, in Santa Clara, California. (Loren Elliott/Getty Images)

If the 49ers are to win, their talented offensive weapons will need to be at their best, including the quarterback who needs to get them the ball. 

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Lindsey Vonn takes 13th in World Cup Super-G day after skiing out of downhill

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Lindsey Vonn takes 13th in World Cup Super-G day after skiing out of downhill

After two straight DNFs, Lindsey Vonn was looking to get back to the finish line and put her comeback to alpine skiing back on track. On Sunday, the American star, returning to the sport at age 40, finished 13th in the World Cup Super-G in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, her highest finish since barely missing a podium in Austria two weeks ago.

Vonn ran top-15 splits throughout and was top-7 in the opening and closing sectors to finish 1.40 seconds behind winner Lara Gut-Behrami of Switzerland, who earned her 46th career World Cup victory. Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie took second and Italy’s Federica Brignone finished third.

Two Americans finished above Vonn, as Keely Cashman posted a strong sixth-place run for her best finish ever in a World Cup race, and Lauren Macuga took 12th.

On Saturday, the U.S. team put three skiers in the top 11 in the World Cup downhill. But Vonn, the three-time Olympic medalist who hopes to qualify for the 2026 Games, had her second straight did-not-finish when she was kicked out of position around a turn and skied out with seven gates to go.

Breezy Johnson took fourth, just six-hundredths of a second away from her first podium since December 2021. She missed most of the last three years with injury and then a 14-month ban for violations of anti-doping whereabouts rules. Macuga — who won a Super-G race two weeks ago for her first World Cup victory — finished sixth and Jacqueline Wiles 11th.

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Brignone topped the field in 1:35.83, with Italian teammate Sofia Goggia just 0.01 behind in second. Switzerland’s Corinne Suter took third.

Vonn wasn’t the only U.S. skier to struggle on the Garmisch-Partenkirchen track as Isabella Wright and Tricia Mangan both suffered hard falls Saturday. Wright missed Sunday’s race after sustaining an injury. In total, 17 skiers did not finish across the two days.


Breezy Johnson celebrates her fourth-place run Saturday in the World Cup women’s downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (Kerstin Joensson / AFP via Getty Images)

Sunday’s Super-G was the last World Cup speed event before the world championships begin Feb. 4 in Saalbach, Austria.

Saturday marked Vonn’s first race since she crashed out during a Super-G run in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, last Sunday. Before the fall about two-thirds through the track, Vonn was keeping a pace that would’ve contended for a podium spot. A day earlier, she took 20th in the downhill on the Olympia delle Tofane slope that will host the 2026 Olympics.

The string of results in Italy and Germany were Vonn’s worst since returning to the World Cup circuit. She finished 14th in the Super-G in St. Moritz, Switzerland, on Dec. 21 in her first World Cup race in nearly six years, then took sixth in the downhill and fourth in the Super-G in St. Anton, Austria, earlier this month.

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After retiring in 2019 due to persistent injuries, Vonn got a knee replacement in 2024 that paved the way for her return to the sport. She announced her plans to return in November, rejoined the World Cup tour in December and immediately found success with results that put her among the top American finishers each week.

Tracking Lindsey Vonn’s World Cup return

Date Venue Discipline Pos. Time Behind lead

Dec. 21

St. Moritz

Super-G

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14th

1:16.36

1.18

Jan. 11

St. Anton

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Downhill

6th

1:16.66

0.58

Jan. 12

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St. Anton

Super-G

4th

1:18.75

1.24

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Jan. 18

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Downhill

20th

1:35.63

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1.68

Jan. 19

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Super-G

DNF

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N/A

N/A

Jan. 25

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Downhill

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DNF

N/A

N/A

Jan. 26

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

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Super-G

13th

1:15.31

1.40

If Vonn can get back to those strong performances, she could be in line to make the Olympic team next February. She told the Associated Press last week that the Milan-Cortina Games “would be a great way to end” this second chapter of her career.

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Vonn was a member of the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2018 U.S. Olympic teams, winning three medals — including gold in the downhill in Vancouver in 2010.

But in a knee-wrecking sport, the injuries piled up. She missed the 2014 Olympics with a knee injury and by the 2018-19 World Cup season, she was talking of retirement. A frustrating weekend in Cortina in January 2019 was her final World Cup race until last month. She retired a few weeks later, after the 2019 world championships.

When she retired, Vonn was the winningest women’s World Cup alpine skier in history with 82 race wins to go with four overall World Cup titles. Fellow American star Mikaela Shiffrin has since passed her and will resume her pursuit of a historic 100th World Cup win Thursday in Courchevel, France, after missing the past two months with an injury.

(Top photo of Lindsey Vonn smiling after Sunday’s Super-G race: Angelika Warmuth / picture alliance via Getty Images)

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Empire State Building catches flak again for lighting up in green to support Eagles

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Empire State Building catches flak again for lighting up in green to support Eagles

In the words of Yogi Berra, it’s déjà vu all over again. This time it may have cut New Yorkers a bit deeper.

The Empire State Building lit up in green to support the Philadelphia Eagles in their win over the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship on Sunday night. Saquon Barkley, who previously played for the NFC East rival New York Giants until the 2024 season, ran for two touchdowns.

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Eagles coach Nick Sirianni smiles after being dunked during the second half of the NFC Championship against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

The landmark’s X account showed the video of the building going up in green.

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“I’m sorry I have to do this,” the post read. “Shining in @Eagles colors in honor of their NFC Championship win.”

The account made clear it was going to light up in the colors of whoever won the AFC Championship as well, but it didn’t appear to matter so much. Fans criticized the building for being lit up in colors to support Philadelphia’s NFL team, seeing it as a betrayal to the city.

Jalen Hurts and Terry Bradshaw

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates with the trophy after beating the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

The Empire State Building showed support for the Eagles two years ago when the team defeated the San Francisco 49ers to make it to the Super Bowl LVII. The building also lit up red for the Chiefs as they won the AFC Championship that year.

For what it’s worth, New York’s football teams haven’t had much to be happy about in a very long time.

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The Giants, after letting Barkley go in free agency, finished the 2024 season 3-14. They have one playoff appearance in the last eight seasons.

The New York Jets finished the season 5-12. The Jets haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2010 season.

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The Bills are looking to take over as the pride of New York. But they need to get past the Chiefs first.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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High school basketball: Saturday's scores

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High school basketball: Saturday's scores

BOYS

CITY SECTION

East Valley 71, VAAS 58

Marshall 84, North Hollywood 73

Northridge Academy 75, Fulton 31

Sherman Oaks CES 86, Vaughn 29

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SOUTHERN SECTION

AGBU 66, Oakwood 45

Artesia 62, Loyola 57

Bosco Tech 78, Pasadena Poly 55

Brentwood 50, Campbell Hall 46

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Burbank 77, Muir 44

Carpinteria 71, Hueneme 54

Cate 65, Nordhoff 34

Chino 70, Bonita 66

Corona Centennial 76, St. Augustine 60

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Corona Santiago 75, Hoover 46

Culver City 78, Leuzinger 66

Dana Hills 43, Aliso Niguel 42

Desert Christian Academy 73, St. Margaret’s 68

Fairmont Prep 49, San Diego Lincoln 39

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Golden Valley 66, Royal 40

Grand Terrace 75, Ayala 53

Heritage Christian 67, West Anchorage 28

La Canada 66, Monrovia 37

Liberty Christian 42, Vista Meridian 34

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Linfield Christian 46, Tri-City Christian 40

Los Alamitos 68, Santa Ana Foothill 62

Mater Dei 71, Crean Lutheran 60

Mayfair 87, Long Beach Jordan 56

Mission Bay 50, Vista Murrieta 49

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Oak Hills 73, Yucaipa 49

Oaks Christian 77, Canyon Country Canyon 61

Palm Desert 61, Serrano 44

Palm Springs 53, Upland 38

Paraclete 67, Moorpark 66

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Pilibos 77, B Buckley 55

Providence 60, Midland 20

Rancho Buena Vista 76, Rancho Christian 72

Rolling Hills Prep 80, HMSA 39

San Clemente 58, Damien 50

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San Fernando Valley Academy 78, Beacon Hill 26

Saugus 61, YULA 43

South Pasadena 90. AGLA 56

St. Francis 72, Hillcrest Christian 31

Temescal Canyon 52, Temecula Prep 38

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Valley Christian 56, Coronado 49

Valley Torah 73, de Toledo 54

Vasquez 62, Faith Baptist 46

Verbum Dei 85, St. Genevieve 42

Village Christian 57, Orange Lutheran 54

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Windward 57, Crossroads 55

Wildwood 62, New Roads 44

INTERSECTIONAL

De La Salle 50, Mira Costa 42

Eastvale Roosevelt 70, Bishop Gorman (NV) 64

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El Rancho 59, East College Prep 29

Francis Parker 60, Arcadia 35

Gahr 62, Marquez 35

King/Drew 53, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 41

Loma Linda Academy 75, Puget Sound Adventist (WA) 28

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Rogue Valley Adventist (OR) 66, Mesa Grande Academy 53

San Diego 54, Rancho Verde 53

GIRLS

CITY SECTION

Cleveland 46, Franklin 43

Fremont 31, Lakeview Charter 22

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Northridge Academy 50, Sherman Oaks CES 39

Santee 64, Diego Rivera 40

Verdugo Hills d. Monroe, forfeit

SOUTHERN SECTION

Anza Hamilton 51, Bethel Christian 31

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Ayala 39, La Habra 32

Beckman 70, Tesoro 32

Bishop Alemany 67, Marymount 48

Bonita 71, Shalhevet 39

Brentwood 74, Rancho Cucamonga 43

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Burbank 57, Muir 39

Camarillo 68, St. Bonaventure 40

Canyon Springs 45, Yucca Valley 42

Corona Santiago 66, Pioneer 39

Crescenta Valley 68, Hoover 28

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Crossroads 49, Archer School for Girls 18

Culver City 56, Leuzinger 47

Downey 62, Ramona 27

El Toro 63, Mission Viejo 28

Etiwanda 78, Moreno Valley 54

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Flintridge Prep 53, Valencia 46

Hesperia 80, Silverado 38

JSerra 68, Westview 56

Liberty 34, Orange Vista 27

Long Beach Jordan 36, Troy 31

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Mark Keppel 72, Sonora 57

Mary Star of the Sea 32, St. Bernard 16

Mater Dei 82, Rancho Christian 43

Mission Hills 77, Lakewood St. Joseph 51

Northview 29, Walnut 25

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Riverside King 69, Rancho Buena Vista 51

Rolling Hills Prep 80, HMSA 6

Sage Hill 61, Corona Centennial 53

San Clemente 60, Trabuco Hills 45

San Dimas 66, Temescal Canyon 47

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Santa Margarita 64, San Jacinto 54

Shadow Hills 49, Glendora 29

Sierra Canyon 76, Harvard-Westlake 38

Simi Valley 63, Palmdale Aerospace Academy 32

St.Anthony 43, La Salle 36

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St. Monica Academy 42, San Gabriel Mission 19

Temple City 60, Mayfair 34

Trinity Classical Academy 61, Heritage Christian 54

United Christian Academy 42, Los Altos 36

Villa Park 54, El Dorado 32

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Westlake 59, Marlborough 57

INTERSECTIONAL

Agoura 36, North Hollywood 29

Chaminade 72, Palisades 53

Chatsworth 56, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 28

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Dominguez 46, Maywood CES 30

Durango (NV) 60, Lancaster 57

Holy Martyrs 37, Sun Valley Poly 20

Loma Linda Academy 60, Rogue Valley Adventist (OR) 38

Long Beach Poly 56, King/Drew 18

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Ontario Christian 88, La Jolla Country Day 35

Portland Adventist Academy 49, Mesa Grande Academy 25

San Diego Cathedral 40, Village Christian 34

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 60, San Fernando 23

South Pasadena 36, Granada Hills 33

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