Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws a 65-yard touchdown pass during the first half of their preseason finale against the Rams on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws a 65-yard touchdown pass during the first half of their preseason finale against the Rams on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)
Sez Me …
The NFL Team That Used To Be Here — you know, the Judases — opens its season Sunday vs. Arizona in Los Angeles. The game should be here. Where it used to be. Where it belongs.
In a football town.
Which L.A., with 12.8 million people around to disguise it as a great sports capital, is not. It’s a warm-weather destination for football fans from other places with cold-weather climes.
I hate — always will hate — the Judases moving out of San Diego after more than a half-century of residency. People will get on my case for still following them, but I grew up with the J’s, and to be honest, I don’t give one damn what they think.
Go ahead and rip me. Waste of time. I’ve been around longer than water.
There remain a whole lot of San Diegans who follow them, or this newspaper wouldn’t bother. The club didn’t move because of a lack of fan support — it certainly hasn’t received much of it in L.A. — but because the City Hallians/Ham & Eggers ran scared and botched the entire thing, which included allowing their own property, San Diego/Jack Murphy, Qualcomm/Whatever Stadium, to deteriorate.
It became more than a business decision. It became: “Where are we going to play?”
It’s a question Spanos family-haters hate to answer. But, seriously, where was the team going to play here in 2017?
The Mission Valley stadium never was officially condemned, but it should have been. It was an unplayable lie.
By then, San Diego State — or the Cal State system — owned the property. If the stadium were playable, why did Aztecs football move to Carson for a few years when they already had a rent-free building at their disposal?
Years before, I was told by somebody on top of it that the stadium was sinking, that the plumbing was shot.
One game day (long before 2017), I was in the press box chatting with stadium manager Bill Wilson when a section filled by Marine recruits emptied. Bill looked at me and said: “If all those guys go to the bathroom at once, we’re in serious trouble.”
People say, why didn’t the Judases fix it?
First, it wasn’t their place to fix. They were renters. It was city property, and the city let it go to seed. Second, the price tag would have been astronomical. Third, they wanted to build a new stadium in Mission Valley and pay for everything. All they asked for was 66 of the 166 acres of land, which the city originally denied and then offered to them far too late. Fourth, they would have no place to play around here during reconstruction.
Los Angeles has three full-blown football venues — the Coliseum, Rose Bowl and SoFi. And the Carson stadium will do in a pinch. While the Coliseum is being rigged for 2028 Olympic track and field, the Trojans will play in SoFi.
Where were the J’s going to play? Southwestern? Mesa? I’m no fan of L.A., but it has places. Historic places. I love the Coliseum and Rose Bowl.
The joke is that SDSU built Snapdragon saying it could be expanded to accommodate an NFL team. It barely can accommodate its current residents.
Our only stadium is far too small. Our arenas are too small. Our thinking is too small. What have our administrations done this century to make San Diego a better place?
I am no fan of the way the Spanoses lammed out of here, but this was the city’s fault. Put the blame on someone else, and you’ll be wrong.
That game should be played here today. But there would be no place to put it. …
Not saying the 49ers wouldn’t have clobbered the Rams anyway, but Sean McVay’s decision to take the team to Australia the day before the game was, well, stupid. …
The Rams did rest. During the game. …
Myles Garrett (one pressure, no tackles) had a Smokey Gaines Game in Australia. “One more than a dead man.” …
Garrett said he wasn’t 100%. No kidding. But the Niners did that. …
The Rams have too much talent to give up on. But Matthew Stafford stunk. Bad game, jet-lagged, or is age catching up? The older you get, the more affected you are by jet lag. Without him, ciao. …
Kyle Shanahan’s coaching was brilliant. But, again, he hasn’t won anything. …
NFL bosses have extended commissioner Roger Goodell’s contract four years, until 2031, when he’ll be 72. By then, The League will be composed of 34 teams, with franchises in London, Berlin, Macao (it may be in China, but it’s the gambling capital of the world), and of course Tierra Del Fuego. …
I don’t know how many bad interceptions the Patriots’ Drake Maye will throw in his career, but the one in the end zone near the finish with Seattle will take some doing to top. …
Fred Warner went to Mission Hills High School. He is a Hall of Fame linebacker. …
Steelers defender Cam Heyward, a member of the NFL players’ union board, says the franchise tag is stupid. Cam, your committee voted it in. So who’s stupid? …
Tua. Rhymes with fragile. …
The NFL and colleges could avoid a lot of nonsense if it just had the clock run in tenths of a second, as it does during crucial points in NBA and collegiate basketball games. My bud Rick Schloss has proposed it for years. It’s simple. Inexpensive. Up to date. …
Michigan shouldn’t have been given a second chance at a Hail Mary vs. Western Michigan. This isn’t a confessional with penance. …
Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham said he “was pretty sure” there was one second remaining to play? No chance. How could he know that? Bad try, Kyle…
The Big Ten won that game. Does anyone outside of Ann Arbor really believe that, if the situation were reversed, if the Western Michigan quarterback threw that Hail Mary, it would have been called that way? An embarrassment to football everywhere. …
Michigan can play D, though. …
Bill Belichick says everyone at North Carolina has to focus on “doing things properly.” Really. Then why is he still there? …
LSU and Lane Kiffin have chickened out. There will be no NFL players on the roster this year in Baton Rouge. …
It’s good to see punt returners have gone from learning nothing to absolutely nothing. The bane of my existence. …
I’m convinced that before college and NFL camps begin, some head coaches gather all the players and ask: “All right, men. Who’s the most mistake-prone person in this room?” The guy who raises his hand becomes the punt returner. …
Josh Jacobs pleads no contest. I’ll never understand how domestic violence is a misdemeanor. …
So the Packers drag out a press release showing all the good things Jacobs has done. I’m sure the victim cares. …
The Sixers and Flyers are building a new, privately funded arena in Philly. San Diego? We have Midway Rising, bike lanes and monster structures with no parking rising in neighborhoods. …
I don’t care about any jersey number players wear. And I doubt they care about mine.
FILE – Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman shakes hands with his players as they come off the field after scoring a touchdown against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game Sept. 27, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)
FILE – Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman shakes hands with his players as they come off the field after scoring a touchdown against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game Sept. 27, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)