On Sunday, reporters couldn't help but notice a heated back-and-forth between two of the San Francisco 49ers' biggest stars. After some fierce competition on the practice field, Fred Warner chirped at Brock Purdy after breaking up one of the quarterback's passes.
Later, Purdy responded with a completion to wide receiver Deebo Samuel over the middle, with Warner in coverage. The quarterback chirped back at the star linebacker.
This type of exchange has been commonplace during previous practices, but Sunday's interaction seemed to take things to another level.
The two were later seen laughing about the back-and-forth, but Warner made it clear on Tuesday that he appreciates this side of his starting quarterback. The linebacker noted that Purdy's vocal presence on the field has grown over the years.
"It's definitely, I think, been a growth," Warner said. "I love Brock with all my heart. I love everything that he's about, the competitor that he is, the confidence that he exudes now to send it back to me, as long as I'm a far enough distance away and can't retaliate. No, I'm just kidding.
"But, yeah, man, that's great. At the end of the day, it's, for me, personally, I'm trying to create an environment that is as game-like as possible. And Brock's the same way.
"I think when him and I are going like that, and I'm chirping at him, I'm chirping at the offense all day and they're sick and tired of it, and they finally get me, and you've got the whole offense cheering because they got me or something like that, and we're on the 500th day of training camp, and that kind of energy is out there, it's like, man, you're doing something right."
Warner added that every team in the NFL is looking to maintain that type of energy as training camps wind down and the regular season quickly approaches.
"It's like, how can you breed an environment of competition to where everybody's getting better at the end of the day?" Warner added. "And so that's what it truly is all about."
Apparently, Purdy isn't the only one who has had words for the defense during practice. Warner was asked if Mac Jones is the same way.
"You know Mac Jones. He's got plenty to say," Warner stated. "He's not lacking in things to say. But at the end of the day, man, they're out there trying to play the position better than anybody. I think the talking and all that gets kind of lost in that. That part is not as important as actually executing and doing your job."
Mentioned in this article: Mac Jones, Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, Fred Warner
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