Hall of Famer enters 'game manager' debate about 49ers' Brock Purdy

Retired quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Moon is the latest noteworthy member of the NFL community to discuss the "game manager" label attached to San Francisco 49ers signal-caller Brock Purdy as the young QB prepares to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII this Sunday. 

"First of all, every quarterback is a game manager," Moon explained during a conversation with Ryan Gaydos of Fox News Digital. "When you put a game plan in at the beginning of the week, and you go through every day all the different things you’re involved in that game plan — whether it’s the audibles, whether it’s the protections, whether it’s the different plays you put in — the quarterback is the one who is going to manage all that. So, every quarterback is a manager. But everybody has different things that they’re managing and involved in." 

Takes about whether or not Purdy belonged in Most Valuable Player conversations this past fall generated headlines long before former Carolina Panthers star quarterback and one-time NFL MVP Cam Newton somewhat controversially said that Purdy was more of a "game manager" than a "game-changer." 

Newton later insisted he wasn't bashing the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, and the free agent claimed this week that he is "a fan of Brock Purdy." 

Those who share the first opinion offered by Newton about this particular subject often suggest that Purdy is lucky to be part of an offense that features talents such as running back Christian McCaffrey.

On Wednesday, McCaffrey referred to Purdy as "one of the best players I've ever played with" and "the leader" of what could soon become the new Super Bowl champions. 

"What makes the special quarterback special is when you can take whatever is called in that huddle and that breaks down, somebody rushes through or you’re able to get outside the pocket, buy some more time, run, scramble, make some yards," Moon added during his comments. "Those are what separates 'managers' from the great players."

Purdy made handfuls of "special" plays in postseason comebacks against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, but those performances weren't enough to silence his doubters. 

He'll have nothing to prove to anybody if he gets his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy at Allegiant Stadium this Sunday.