11 July 2023 , 21:19
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel gave an interviewer short shrift when asked about their defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Samuel had no interest in relivinh the tough defeat after the Niners lost three quarterbacks to injury, with their season ending in the most unfortunate circumstances. The wide receiver had previously stated that if Brock Purdy had not been injured, the Niners would have won the game.
And when asked to reflect on the the loss and their rivalry with the Eagles - who look to be Super Bowl contenders with the Niners once again - Samuel wanted no part on discussing them or the injury to their quarterbacks.
When speaking on CBS Sports Radio about that quote, Samuel said: "I don't know that's old. I mean, I said what I said." He did became short with the interviewer as he continue to ask about the Eagles, who presented him with the question of a rematch this year. He answered: "I don’t know. Just wait until Week 13, 12, whatever week it is, and we’ll show you." Samuel then got up and left the interview, reportedly around 10 minutes before he was scheduled to.
After losing starting calibre quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo to season-ending injuries earlier in the year, they turned to seventh-round rookie Purdy, who remarkably led the team to a 6-0 record and one game away from the Super Bowl. But after suffering a broken elbow, he too was forced out of the game.
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Samuel cut the interviewer off after just five minutes into a 15-minute segmentThat saw long-term veteran Josh Johnson enter the game at quarterback, who could not do enough to compete with Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles - who went on to the Super Bowl, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. Although an incredible season from the Niners, it was a bitterly disappointing end to a promising year - an all-too-familiar tale in recent years for the franchise.
In a weakened NFC conference, both the Eagles and Niners have strengthened their rosters for this upcoming season and will be strong favourites to meet in the Championship game once again. Purdy is still recovering from off-season surgery on his elbow sustained in the game, but is said to be on track to return for training camp and will likely be the starter ahead of Lance and new signing Sam Darnold.
Only three other teams are seen as legitimate threats to challenge the two teams in the NFC, in the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.