Latest news with #Purdy
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Couples renew vows at Contemporary Calgary celebration of 20 years of marriage equality
Twenty years to the day after same-sex marriage became legally recognized in Alberta, couples, allies and community members gathered together at Contemporary Calgary on Sunday for an event that organizers described as 'a chance to reflect on the past, rejoice in the present and look forward to an inclusive future for all.' Article content July 20 marks the historic date in 2005 when Alberta began recognizing same-sex marriages, following the nationwide enactment of the Civil Marriage Act. Article content Article content Article content Longtime couple and gay rights advocates Keith Purdy and Rick Kennedy organized the celebration through the Marriage Equity Fund. A simultaneous event was held at the Government House in Edmonton. Article content Article content Offering live entertainment and on-site vow renewals, the event served as both a celebration of love and a reminder of the ongoing fight for equality. Article content Purdy and Kennedy met 35 years ago and were among the first same-sex couples to wed in Alberta in 2005. Purdy said organizing the event was about ensuring their legacy of gay rights advocacy wasn't forgotten. Article content 'We wanted to make sure that our efforts are still understood, and that with the struggles that our community faces now, we have the ability to celebrate the wins that we've had along the way and the important things that we might have to do in the future,' said Purdy. Article content Article content Article content Carolyn Krahn, a friend of the couple and volunteer at the event, said the anniversary gave them a meaningful reason to reconnect with the community. Article content 'They decided, what better time to renew their vows than on the 20th anniversary of the same-sex marriage legislation? So, they called in all their friends and got us all in here in support of this great event,' she said. Article content The event also drew support from labour groups and businesses, including the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and the Texas Lounge. Article content 'Everyone loves a wedding, so we've got a lot of really good cheer and a lot of really great vibes here,' said Krahn. 'I think we always need a reminder of how hard people fought to get that legislation in the first place, especially when there's external pressures to basically look at repealing or invalidating those legislations and those rights.'
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What did 49ers QB Brock Purdy think about losing WR Deebo Samuel?
Deebo Samuel would sometimes get frustrated with his role in the San Francisco 49ers offense. Ultimately, after six seasons, Samuel wanted a fresh start, and the Niners needed the cap space, so they traded him to the Washington Commanders in March. Now, Samuel will catch passes and take handoffs from the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Jayden Daniels. But for the past three seasons, his quarterback was Brock Purdy. And despite Samuel's frustration at times in San Francisco, it was never with Purdy. Samuel liked playing with Purdy and the quarterback felt the same. In a recent appearance on the "Bussin With The Boys" podcast, Purdy opened up about Samuel's departure. "It sucks, dude," Purdy said of Samuel's departure, via Peter Panacy of Niner Noise. "He's my boy. I love Deebo." "Day one, he's always had my back and believed in me when I got in," Purdy continued. "I didn't really know how the guys were going to take it when I did get thrown in. Jimmy [Garoppolo] went down, I was the last quarterback, and Deebo was nothing but just great to me, dude, building me up, and just giving me confidence. In games, we fed off each other's energy and building each other up. It was awesome, and over the last couple of years, same thing. So, we created just a great relationship. He's my brother." Samuel's departure from San Francisco was handled well by both sides. Samuel and the 49ers said all the right things. However, some 49ers, including Purdy and tight end George Kittle, made their feelings on Samuel clear. Earlier this offseason, a video appeared on social media of Samuel at Washington's OTAs. The poster of the video implied that Samuel was either out of shape or not giving it all on the route. Kittle was having none of it. While Purdy will miss Samuel, part of the reason the Niners traded the former Pro Bowl wideout was to free up money to extend the fourth-year quarterback. In addition to trading Samuel, the 49ers also moved on from several other key performers this offseason.
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
49ers receiving surprising grade from ESPN in offseason recap
It wasn't an easy offseason for the San Francisco 49ers. After a five-year window where Super Bowl contention was the goal each offseason, the 49ers spent the 2025 offseason starting a retooling of its roster that saw a mass exodus of veteran talent. Fan favorites like Talanoa Hufanga, Charvarius Ward and Dre Greenlaw all left the building. So did three of the team's four starting defensive linemen from last season. On the other hand, the 49ers made 11 picks in the 2025 NFL draft and made strides toward rebuilding their defensive line. They also handed out contract extensions to quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner. That reset and recommitment to their core was enough to earn the 49ers a strong A- grade from ESPN's Seth Walder. Walder listed the addition of Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator as the move he liked the best, but Purdy's extension was their biggest move of the offseason. Via ESPN: But San Francisco's biggest move came when Purdy's long-awaited extension finally happened, as the 49ers gave their quarterback a deal worth $53 million per year, with $100 million fully guaranteed. There are mixed opinions about Purdy's exact level of responsibility for the 49ers' passing success, but he's a perfect fit for what they want to do. San Francisco reached elite levels of passing efficiency with Purdy in 2023, performing at a higher level than it managed with Jimmy Garoppolo. The deal was also cheaper than I expected. If it had been $60 million per year, it would have been in line with Trevor Lawrence's and Jordan Love's 2024 deals when adjusting for salary cap inflation, and I wouldn't have blinked. Perhaps the biggest key in the 49ers' grade is that there wasn't a move Walder disliked. He even credited the team with letting players like Greenlaw, Hufanga and Ward walk. It was clear the 49ers had a plan this offseason. General manager John Lynch has laid out that the team executed the offseason the way it wanted to. A good offseason grade in mid-July is fine. Now they need to win once the regular season begins. If they do that, the A- will be quickly justified. More 49ers: San Francisco 49ers announce 2025 training camp open practice schedule
USA Today
10-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL writer explains why 49ers QB Brock Purdy 'can dominate' in 2025
The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a disappointing season that saw them finish with a 6-11 record and in fourth place in the NFC West while quarterback Brock Purdy took a bit of a step back following a Pro Bowl 2023 season. In 15 games, Purdy completed a career-low 65.9% of his passes for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns and a career-high 12 interceptions. However, that didn't dissuade the 49ers from giving the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft a massive five-year, $265 million extension, making him the seventh-highest paid quarterback by average annual value. Over the offseason, San Francisco made Purdy's job a bit more difficult when they shipped Deebo Samuel, who caught 334 passes for 4,792 yards and 22 touchdowns in his six years with the 49ers, to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round pick. To help fill his spot, they signed Demarcus Robinson and drafted Jordan Watkins in the fourth round. It's reasonable to expect Purdy to take some time to adjust to things in 2025, including his new weapons. However, there's also a chance that he shows why he was deserving of that extension. On Wednesday, Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon explained why each quarterback in the NFL can dominate this year, and his reasoning regarding Purdy was sound. "The 25-year-old has the highest career passer rating in NFL history (min. 1,000 attempts), and he's still surrounded by plenty of talent," Gagnon wrote. "Better injury luck for the 49ers could be all it takes." The toughest part for Purdy could be the beginning of the year, as Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco's top wideout, is recovering from a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus he suffered midway through their 2024 campaign. If he misses the start of the season, Robinson and Jauan Jennings could be the 49ers' top two wide receivers early. That's not exactly an ideal situation. However, if a quarterback is going to make over $50 million per year, they should be able to elevate the group around them. We'll see how Purdy will handle that pressure this year. More 49ers: 49ers may have 2 big issues at key offensive position entering training camp
Newsweek
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
49ers Star Comes to Defense of Commander WR Amid Online Criticism
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. During the offseason, the Washington Commanders made a big splash by trading for wide receiver Deebo Samuel. This move was initially met with hype, as the Pro-Bowler is forming a high-level WR duo with Terry McLaurin and joining forces with quarterback Jayden Daniels. However, critics have tried to dampen things after certain footage surfaced online. In the midst of minicamp, a clip went viral online of Samuel running passing routes. Many called him out for the speed he was moving around at, with others calling him out for not being in shape. As this discourse continues, one of Samuel's former teammates spoke up and came to his defense. Earlier this week, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was a guest on the Bussin' With the Boys podcast. He covered an array of topics, including one of his top offensive weapons being traded in the offseason. Purdy even touched on what people have been saying about Samuel online, saying that such a narrative shouldn't be bought into. SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 8: Wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. #1 of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, at... SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 8: Wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. #1 of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, at Levi's Stadium on December 8, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. Deebo Samuel speaks on the De'Vondre Campbell incident on the latest episode of his Bleacher Report podcast, Cleats and Convos. MoreAlso read: 49ers QB Brock Purdy Devastated by Deebo Samuel Trade to Commanders "People, they see things online, because the media can come out and videotape anything. You could be in a walkthrough, going half-speed and all that, and they blow it out of proportion," Purdy said. "I know when the season comes rolling around, too, Deebo is going to have a chip on his shoulder this year for sure, and he's going to be just fine." Based on how Purdy talked about Samuel in his appearance, it's clear the two built a strong connection during their time together with the 49ers. Though the wideout's numbers slowly decreased over the years, his quarterback is still a strong supporter of his abilities on the field. Unfortunately for Purdy, he now has to continue his career without one of his strongest connections. Also read: Commanders Wideout Spotted With Viral Trainer Amid Online Criticism Samuel has had to deal with countless jokes and comments being made at his expense, but he'll soon have an opportunity to lay this discourse to rest. If he can put together a strong showing in his first training camp with the Commanders, it should quickly quiet his critics. Heading into his first year with Washington, Samuel has a chance to help get the young up-and-coming team over the hump. Depending on how things unfold regarding McLaurin and his contract holdout, he could also be a prominent component of the offense to open the 2025 campaign. Between a down year in 2024 and all the criticism about him online, Samuel has all the motivation he needs to hit the ground running with the Commanders. For more Washington Commanders and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
