In Week 9 of the 2023 NFL season, the 49ers enjoy a bye week. During this time, players are free to do whatever they please. According to a New York Post article, QB Brock Purdy is spending his bye week in Iowa picking crops with his fiance.
You’d think that wouldn’t make much of a stir, right? You would be mistaken. Some 49ers supporters are upset about it.
Fan Reactions to the San Francisco 49ers
Many San Francisco 49ers fans weighed in on how Purdy handled his bye week. This is particularly true given that his girlfriend shared a video of him harvesting crops on her Instagram account. Not all of his supporters agreed with how he spends his free time.
When they viewed the video of Purdy harvesting crops, one fan commented that he was “getting ready for his future career.” Some supporters, such as the one stated above, appear to be disgruntled that he will not be spending his bye week eating, breathing, and sleeping football.
Brock Purdy Is an Easy Target
Given the timing of this bye week, Purdy is an obvious target for criticism. The San Francisco 49ers are 5-0 to open the 2023 NFL season. They have, however, lost their last three games and appear to be in free decline heading into this bye week.
This may cause some 49ers supporters to be anxious about the course of the season. This is especially true for quarterback Brock Purdy.
His play has deteriorated recently, to be sure. In his first five games of the season, he did not throw an interception. In his last three games, Purdy threw five interceptions.
Unfair Bye Week Target?
It would be unfair to single out Brock Purdy for how he used his bye week. There are many players in every sport who choose to spend their off-season entertaining themselves or spending time with their families.
Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys is a recent example. He elected to attend the ALCS between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers on a day off just a few weeks ago.
Purdy isn’t the only quarterback who has been singled out for how he handled his bye week this season. Zach Wilson was also chastised for his bye week selection. He returned to Utah with his girlfriend and family for a vacation.
So, how did that go for him? The next week, he led a game-tying drive against the New York Giants. That game was won in overtime by the New York Jets.
What exactly is the purpose of this article? Some fans are overly critical of how football players spend their free time. It shouldn’t matter what players do before their next game as long as they come up prepared to work.
