(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
On paper, the San Francisco 49ers are the team to beat in the NFC.
They’re fresh off a trip to the Super Bowl, and pending decisions with Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams, they will return mostly their core of star players in 2024.
However, as much of a behemoth as they are, former NFL player Manti Te’o doesn’t seem to feel that way.
Talking on the NFL Network, Te’o stated that he thinks this team is emotionally drained.
“I just see an emotionally drained team,” Te’o said.
Manti Te’o’s NFC West outlook for this season might surprise you pic.twitter.com/s4fFW91AXc
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 26, 2024
He believes that with all they’ve been through on and off the field over the past couple of years, that level of pressure and success just might not be sustainable.
Notably, he’s not the first person to say that.
The Niners have done an outstanding job of stacking up talent.
Only the Philadelphia Eagles have been equally or more aggressive in their pursuit of star power.
Still, that can only last for so long, as the league’s salary cap will eventually make sure that they have to let some players walk simply because they can’t pay them what they’re worth.
We’re already witnessing that kind of ripple effect with Aiyuk and Williams, and the same thing happened with Deebo Samuel a couple of seasons ago.
Brock Purdy’s impending contract extension will lead to some uncomfortable conversations and roster decisions.
And even if they continue to have a very talented roster, all the pressure and the constant scrutiny can wear a locker room down, even such a talented locker room like this one.
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