Sez Me …
It’s about this Justin Herbert guy.
Just who is he? What is he? How good is he? Is he cursed, or did he step in it and inherit The Curse, or what’s known as Chargering?
I believe Jim Harbaugh — who captains the NFL Team That Used To Be Here and thus commands Herbert, his quarterback and executive field officer — is a terrific football coach. But although Jim’s different from any other man of his cloth, he’s similar to many.
Prone to hyperbole.
He says of Herbert: “I think he’s the best that ever was.”
Now, of course, Harbaugh’s admiration for Justin is as documented as the Constitution, which has questionable juice by some parties these days. No chance he was taking the job in L.A. if there wasn’t a QB he worshipped.
New offensive mastermind Mike McDaniel wasn’t coming without Justin, either.
Herbert is not the best there ever was, and there’s a good chance he won’t be. Because, as of yet, he’s never won anything. Including a playoff game.
But we can say few — if any — quarterbacks have been more prototypical. Herbert’s huge at 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds. Has the arm of your dreams. Can make any pass. Accurate as hell. Deceptively mobile (498 yards rushing in 2025). Hollywood matinee idol looks. Tough as they come. Plays hurt. Adapts to new offenses.
With McDaniel as his new guru, Herbert is being touted as an MVP candidate. Maybe he should have won it last year, when he coaxed 11 wins from a decimated team into the postseason with a broken left hand and maybe the worst offensive line in history.
He was sacked 55 times in 2025 and pressured continuously. As an example, he dropped back to pass 31 times vs. the Patriots and was pressured on 30 of them.
Herbert will be leading one of The League’s youngest offenses (the defense, as we speak, is the oldest).
Meanwhile, the Chargers went out to fix the O-line, going to great lengths through the draft and bringing in veteran free agent center Tyler Biadasz. Well, Tyler went down with a knee during Tuesday’s practice vs. the 49ers.
It appears serious, although Harbaugh has yet to announce the injury’s severity. Let’s just say Biadasz isn’t playing soon, if at all this season.
No matter what, it’s doubtful Herbert will be harassed to the extent he was in 2025. McDonald won’t allow him to hold the ball that long.
The O-line stunk during the team’s exhibition loss to the 49ers, especially blocking for the run. But I take virtually no stock in exhibition games. McDonald isn’t showing his hand. Herbert ran three plays, as did right tackle Joe Alt. Left tackle Rashawn Slater didn’t play.
This is Justin Herbert’s time. But it was Dan Fouts’ time. It was Philip Rivers’ time. Great quarterbacks who couldn’t win it all. Is there a curse?
I’m not a curse guy. Chargering, yes. But if Herbert doesn’t get this team deeper into January, Jim Harbaugh may be using his hyperbolic chops to hum a different tune. …
If you play fantasy football and go by exhibition game performances, you’re losing. If you’re not a coach or player and are influenced by exhibition play, you’re an amateur. …
Jaxson Dart has been concussed more than a bad boxer. Concussion spotters are sending him to the red tent when it doesn’t seem necessary. He’s complaining, but if he has a long career, I’ll need smelling salts. …
Keenan Allen to the Colts. I hope he catches 100 passes. Pro’s pro. A generational route-runner. …
The Falcons have talent, but there’s a problem where NFL teams can’t have one: Quarterback. Fortunately, Miami is paying most of Tua Tagovailoa’s incredible $54 million salary. …
I have a problem drafting a receiver seventh overall, especially one who has “injury-prone” on his resume. Saints rookie Jordyn Tyson has that. A terrific talent. But, remember, receivers do not win Super Bowls. …
Two months for a hammy is not good. …
These receivers are similar to thoroughbreds. Tightly wound. …
Commissioner Roger “The Internationalist” Goodell says there’s “no doubt” NFL teams one day will be headquartered overseas. So crazy. I assume the Bears will be the first, moving to Indiana. …
Greg Roman’s offense has a name. Martyball II. Also: Boring. …
I’m all for the players, but if you sign with an NFL team, you should not be allowed to go back and play college football. …
An injunction is always ready to be issued by a judge, somewhere. …
They’re comparing Cowboys rookie Caleb Downs to Ronnie Lott. Can we let him play first? …
I don’t believe fans should have any say in Heisman Trophy voting. Too many official voters already are fans enough. …
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil on the troubled golf tour’s return: “I wouldn’t bet against us.” Usually I do not bet. But I would. …
Another Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class, another Naismith Hall of Fame class without Steve Fisher. What an incredible slight. Not even a joke. Just stupid. …
RIP, Tommy John. From his bionic arm, a legend grew. Does he belong in the Hall of Fame? He had 288 wins. Probably. …
Do you know who had the second Tommy John surgery? San Diego High’s triple-threat Brent Strom, longtime MLB pitcher and coach. It very easily could have been the Brent Strom surgery. …
New Padres ownership has been made official by MLB’s honchos. Now we see if the firm of Feliciano and Jones can fill Peter Seidler’s enormous shoes. …
The Padres are expensive to own and expensive to watch. …
But their fan base is incredible. To think, I used to go to games in Mission Valley where foul balls would land in places so empty it would take five minutes for ticket-paying ballhawks to get to them. …
Shaq says the WNBA should lower the rim, that the only thing missing from the women’s game is the dunk. Spoken by a man who couldn’t shoot. The dunk stinks. It should be eliminated everywhere. …
The Buss family has sold its remaining 17.8% of the Lakers, ending an incredible era. Or has it? Jeanie is against it. So what? She matters. So who prospers from this mess? Yeah. Lawyers. …
The Buss Era was created by Jerry West, the greatest general manager in the history of any sport. …
Al Michaels says he’s never knowingly eaten a vegetable. Maybe not, but he’s known a few. …
Congratulations to KUSI’s Paul Rudi. “Prep Pigskin Report,” now a part of our football food group, is back. …
Horseracing cops have charged a gambling college professor with accessing inside information. What, did he get it from Mr. Ed? I bet he still hasn’t won anything. …
If no one is driving a car, I’m not becoming a passenger. …
The Raiders are adding $158 million (about half of it private money) to improve their six-year-old stadium. Us? The least we can do is enlarge Southwestern College’s DeVore Stadium. …
I am baffled to hear I saw “The Sting” 31 years before Robert Redford did. I could have told him it was worth the wait. A damn near perfect film. …
How can we expect to find inner peace when we can’t find outer peace?