_Sez Me …_
The Sunday Game will enter its 107th season Wednesday, and, lo and behold, hooray and hallelujah, Aaron Donald once again is a Ram.
So what looks like a cinch to be the best NFL team should be getting better. So much for the great defensive tackle, perhaps the best football player of this century — if he wasn’t, he was leaning at the tape — remaining cozy in retirement.
Donald retired March 15, 2024, so he has missed two seasons, and of course three training camps. What we can’t know, at 35, is how much the layoff will affect him.
He no doubt has kept in shape, or the Rams wouldn’t have signed him to a $20-million, one-year deal. But there are drastic differences in keeping in shape and football shape — especially for any player getting hit by enormous people every down.
My guess is he’ll be good enough to be better than most D tackles in The League. And there’s no doubt Aaron wouldn’t return to a club with no chance.
But as usual, the gun is going to go off and we’ll be jumping it.
On paper, the Rams are the best team. They were good in 2025 and went out in the offseason and helped themselves dramatically on defense. But they rely so much on the availability of quarterback Matthew Stafford, the reigning MVP, who will be 39 if he makes it to the Super Bowl.
Rookie QB/backup Ty Simspon has had a fine preseason, but exhibitions are empty cookie tins. If Stafford goes down, they’re not sweet, but done, no matter the Hall of Famers. They may be done, anyway.
The Rams are not going undefeated. They could lose the opener vs. the Niners in Australia. They leave L.A. the day before the game. Bad enough that the NFL has insanely scheduled a real game there.
And let’s not forget the Rams are not defending champions. Seattle, in the same division, is. And the Seahawks, sitting quietly, have done nothing for me to say they’re worse.
I expect at least a minor fall from the Patriots. The Broncos, with a superior defense and offensive line, will be there with the greatest home-field advantage in the sport. But I’m not sold on QB Bo Nix.
I am sold on Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, but we should know all about the NFL Team That Used To Be Here by mid-October.
Houston has a great roster, the best defense, but there are many question marks now after the name of QB C.J. Stroud, who didn’t used to have many. If he returns to normalcy, the Texans may be the team to beat.
The Chiefs lurk. They’re not as skilled as they were, but if Patrick Mahomes is fully recovered from knee surgery, they’re always a threat. Dallas is going to be better, but the Cowboys always screw up.
The Bills and the Ravens, under new management, will be there. But they’re always there and don’t win anything. The Bengals won’t be pushovers.
But everything — everything — will come down to injuries, as usual. The Super Bowl winner will be lucky. It will have depth.
The Rams are big favorites. Rightly so. But remember, the last time the Lombardi Trophy was made of paper, it was being designed. …
You know, the Baltimore Colts had Gino Marchetti, Art Donovan and Big Daddy Lipscomb on their D line. The 1960s Rams had Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen. There have been others. …
The Judases obviously are not enamored with punter JK Scott. They cut him and re-signed him. Coaches didn’t appreciate his non-tackle on a Niners punt return. Hey, he’s a punter, not Butkus — and it was an exhibition game. …
If they’re looking for one who’s a great tackler, maybe they won’t punt at all. …
I can’t say I’ve seen coaches get so publicly down on a player as they did with Scott after that game. …
Joe Hortiz is general manager of the J’s. But this is Jim Harbaugh’s team. No — as in NO — personnel decision is being made without the head coach’s OK. OK? …
The J’s, with a stuffed tight end room, nevertheless have signed Patrick Herbert, Justin’s brother, to the practice squad. Younger bro probably hopes he doesn’t have to throw to him. …
Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, from Kansas, has been named the Bucs’ QB2. Starting quarterback Baker Mayfield was taken first overall, and his backup not at all. What does that tell you? Most QBs can’t be properly evaluated anymore. …
A DUI? Keenan Allen? If anybody should know better, it’s Keenan Allen. …
The SEC is sticking to its muskets. It will not allow NFL players to come back and participate in its league. LSU is in the SEC, and has other ideas (although it has yet to put pros on its roster). Plus, it has Louisiana Judge Roy Bean on its side. …
But the SEC is suing LSU, anyway. Best of luck getting past Judge Roy’s Bruno The Watch Bear. …
RIP, Bill Suda. A helluva newspaperman and a good guy. I only wish I knew him better. …
Serena and The Joker are all-time tennis players. But don’t go out like Willie Mays and Sugar Ray Robinson. As my old bartender friend Joe Sellers used to say at last call: “The clock on the wall says that is all.” …
Lionel Messi is retiring (again) from Argentina’s national soccer team. Congratulations. He has finally broken Sinatra and Ali’s record (29) for retirements. …
It’s been some time since the Padres have played a more pathetic series than they did in Tampa. And the loss the day before was nearly as bad. Then came Cincinnati. An excruciating road trip. …
That dropped fly ball over the fence vs Tampa by Padres left fielder Samad Taylor was an absolute error, not a home run. In his glove. Game loser. …
UCLA has canned athletic director Martin Jarmond. Used to be the Bruins’ AD held real power in collegiate sports. …
Tony Romo has apologized and pleaded no contest to his DUI. CBS has suspended him indefinitely. But the network will have no problem showing players who have been caught driving under the influence. …
Tiger got a DUI. His driver’s license has been suspended for five years. So, six years from now, stay off the roads. …
Stan Kroenke is buying the Angels, so you’d think he now owns seven professional sports teams. But he just bought the Angels, so it remains at six. …
Stan is also deeply involved in Midway Rising, the ostrich of developments. Won’t fly. It will make bike lanes look like a great idea. …
The Clippers continue their long tradition — of not being able to do anything right. …
Wonder if that wrist slap the NBA gave Kawhi Leonard was on his shooting arm? …
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has made numerous changes — including cutting the number of voters from 5o to 27 — in its selection process. Not one change is good. They’ll get Robert Kraft in yet — in their new writing paychecks category. …
For the first time since the early 1980s, [I am not a part of incredibly frustrating fantasy football](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/01/18/union-tribune-legend-jerry-magee-and-his-colleagues-created-a-fantasy-league-of-their-own-43-years-ago/). Wipe that smile off my face.