As the NFL MVP debate heats up with multiple 49ers players in the conversation, who better to consider than the three-time winner of the league’s most prestigious award?
Tom Brady weighed in on the conversation on a recent episode of his “Let’s Go!” He was joined on the podcast by 49ers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, who is in the MVP conversation along with teammate and San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy.
“I remember the first time I really saw Christian was at the Rose Bowl. He caught an angled pass against Iowa and ran for a touchdown about 75 yards. I thought, “Well, they won’t get him!” …He was a dynamic player back then. He’s a dynamic player right now and I think everything he’s done this year is the same as what he’s done in the past. It was a different team, different opportunities and very dynamic in attack.
“So he’s definitely an MVP candidate in my mind, and I hear quarterback Brock Purdy has great things to say about him, too. … And you say that, ’cause you’re great. It’s the Super Bowl because he’s a team player.” That’s all that really matters. Do you have a feeling that an award like that would be pretty cool because running backs have an offseason?”
McCaffrey, and the entire 49ers team, have made it clear that they are not worried about winning any big or important awards. All San Francisco wants is to get back to the Super Bowl and take home the Lombardi Trophy in February.
However, the fact that McCaffrey is being recognized and considered for this award as he represents running backs in the league means that his reputation has declined over time despite the heavy workload. This is very meaningful in that it expresses disdain for being there.
“Well, I appreciate you saying that, dude. It means a lot,” McCaffrey told Brady. “I’m not going to get into the whole award thing, but to your point, I think it’s an honor just to be part of the conversation, especially because of the reason and the timing of it.” NFL and running back history; If you look at where we are now, I think so. At some point, every position other than Couples has gone through some kind of dip as far as looking at the market, and some of that is fighting against the franchise tag and fighting with different things that are going on around the league. is.
“But I don’t know if that’s why I feel good. I certainly feel good. Obviously, there’s still a lot of football left and that’s the focus of my mind. “Running backs are having a lot of success as well. … I look at guys who are having success around the league and that motivates me to compete with them. But at the same time, it’s great for the players as well.” “
Brady, a 23-year NFL veteran who retired after the 2022 season, won MVP awards in the 2007, 2010 and 2017 seasons. He finished fifth in MVP voting once, third twice, and second five times.
But even the GOAT himself said he never focused on the individual award, always having his eye on the prize of playing in the Super Bowl. He played in the Super Bowl 10 times, won seven championships and was named Super Bowl MVP five times.
“Yeah, I mean, I felt a lot like Christian,” Brady said. “It felt like the team award was all about winning the championship in the end. You could have a great year individually, but you could be a really good player on a bad team. Well, that’s not very fun.
“For me, it’s always been about celebrating the successes with other players and the best moment wasn’t receiving the trophy or the MVP trophy. It was the Super Bowl with all the people who played that role. was to receive the ring.”
McCaffrey and Purdy are making strong claims for the award this season, as the 49ers have an 11-3 record after winning the NFC West with a win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at State Farm Stadium. There is.
After the win, Purdy’s odds to win jumped to +200, with odds provided by our partner PointsBet, followed by Lamar Jackson (+450) and Dak Prescott (+750).
However, the 49ers’ second-year quarterback insisted that McCaffrey win the award after another strong performance in Arizona.
“I think Christian should be the MVP,” Purdy said after the game. “I really believe that. He does everything for us. He can run the ball well, he can catch the ball, he does everything. In my eyes, that is the MVP.”
Brady doesn’t think Trent Williams will win the MVP award, but he does want the 49ers’ star offensive tackle to receive some type of recognition for his “incredible” contributions on the offensive line.
“Well, if I had a vote, the MVP would be Brock and Trent would be second,” McCaffrey said.
Brady is eligible to vote for NFL MVP this year, his first season since retiring. He believes Mr. McCaffrey is a clear candidate for the award, but Mr. McCaffrey tried to change his mind.
“How about you? Yeah, let’s vote for Brock. That guy deserves it,” McCaffrey said. “I know, obviously you respect that. He’s been an unbelievable addition to this team and the negative things about people saying, ‘Oh, he’s just a system quarterback.’ I hate hearing people say that. Everyone is a system quarterback. That’s part of being a quarterback in my eyes. So, I’m not sure about the position. I try to stay in my lane and just try to get open and block and all that other stuff. But my point is, when playing within a system, that’s all you can ask for. And every once in a while, he’ll play something other than the O with the X, but that’s all he did all year. So he gets my vote. ”
“I think the reason football is the best game on earth is because you don’t have to be a talkative person. You don’t have to be a good speaker before the game. It doesn’t matter what you do or what you say. , all that matters is the silent tape. And when you turn on the tape the next day, you’ll know who loves you. When someone does something unselfish for you and doesn’t ask for anything in return, it’s It’s the greatest example of love. And it’s happening all the time all over the football field on these great teams.”
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