_Sez Me …_
The NFL Team That Used To Be Here \_ you know, the Judases/L.A. Lodgers \_ has done nothing this NFL offseason.
Nothing except help itself.
The Judases’ talent pool has been quiet since the start of free agency. No splash. And they had like $90 million in cap space.
But, did they have to cannonball into that pool? No, they did not. It’s not over, and they’ve been smart. And not cheap-smart. And still not finished.
Down through their many years of being stupid, they have taken some breaks for intelligence, but not enough.
Now they’re back to one of their smart periods. They hired Jim Harbaugh last year, at great expense, and the man who’s had success wherever he’s been, led his new team to the playoffs his first year — a season after the J’s stunk.
In charge, he brought in GM Joe Hortiz, who had been assistant general manager in Baltimore.
What do we see there? The Ravens have a terrific organization and are always good. I see Jim building a team similar to his brother John’s in Baltimore, and, as we must note, given the type of players he’s bringing in, a jigger of Bill Belichick in the cocktail.
Many fans are upset they didn’t go to one of the flashy field-stretching receivers in free agency. I’m not.
The receiver thing has gone nuts. Cincinnati brought back Tee Higgins, a good player but No. 2 receiver, for around $22 million. The Bengals then went wild, giving Ja’Marr Chase $40 mill. So the Bengals are spending $125 million on QB Joe Burrow and those two.
I don’t know how many times I have to say it. Receivers don’t win Super Bowls.
What Harbaugh needed to first address was the middle of his offensive line to protect quarterback Justin Herbert. So he brought in massive guard Mekhi Beckton, who started on the best line in football last year (Eagles), and Raiders starting center Andre James. Barring injury, with tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt firmly in place, the line is going to be much better.
Which is what Harbaugh wants. He acquired tailback Najee Harris from Pittsburgh to run the ball. Jim likes the run. Physical wins. Good teams run the ball.
Meanwhile, he brought in solid corners, defensive tackles, special teams help, a linebacker, a safety, and just on Friday, Tyler Conklin, a veteran tight end who’s had an above average career running and blocking. And he also resigned a few important people.
I’m not going to name all these free agents, but I guarantee they can play the game. It’s what Belichick did in New England, winning six Super Bowls without a whole lot of flash, but with football players.
The best coaches teach. They coach players up. Why do you think Mike Tomlin never has a bad season, even when he apparently is outmanned?
Fast and athletic receiver Mike Williams left last year, and he’s back, to run with Ladd McConkey, who had a brilliant rookie season.
The draft approaches. There are receivers out there. Gobs of running backs. Free agency is far from over. There’s still plenty of cap space.
They’ve been smart, a word rarely associated with the Judases. You need players, but stupidity and overeagerness doesn’t win football games.
I like this. So far. …
San Diego State’s Miles Heide, left, and Taj DeGourville look on as University of North Carolina’s Ven-Allen Lubin dunks during a First Four game of the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 in Dayton, Ohio. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Just guessing: If **Aaron Rodgers** retires, he will be back to work by Thanksgiving. …
North Carolina athletic director **Bubba Cunningham**, who doubles as chair of the NCAA Tournament committee, reportedly will make an extra $100 grand because the Tar Heels men made the dance. Gee, you think? Naw. …
He says he “wasn’t in the room” when his school was discussed. Maybe not. But he was in it when they finished the bracket. …
Unfortunately for him, he didn’t get $100,000 for every mistake the Aztecs made vs. Carolina. Or he’d be **Jeff Bezos**. …
**Ted Leitner** has talked over some bad ball. It’s a shame that his final Aztecs call had them losing a play-in game by an impossible 27 points. Teddy changed the business here. …
The only thing that could have made it worse would have been if the Aztecs were playing BYU. But Carolina’s smugness made it close. …
SDSU’s best teams are veteran, and this one wasn’t close to being mature. It showed. …
UCSD came to play without intimidation. What a job **Eric Olen** has done there. …
Name another city that had four teams in the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments? L.A. had three. …
Overall, the committee usually does pretty good work with the seedings. Hard job. I understand the complaints, but I don’t know how you go about forming a panel without members who work — or did work — for universities. Who can the NCAA get? Sportswriters, many who have their own allegiances? Please. …
Great to be in the SEC. Finish 14th in the league and make the NCAAs. South Carolina’s guys, with two league wins, really have to be miffed. …
West Virginia Gov. **Patrick Morrisey** is on the brink of suing the NCAA for leaving WVU’s men out of the tournament. Said the NCAA: “OK, but realize you’re at the end of a long line. By the time this gets to court, West Virginia may be a county in Canada.” …
What does it matter if you’re not the No. 1 overall seed but still a No. 1? Get over it and play the game. …
UConn’s **Geno Auriemma**: “You play where they tell you.” …
Unless I’m mistaken — and I am not — top-seeded UCLA’s women beat South Carolina. Might have had something to do with it. Do you believe SDSU’s men would have made it if they hadn’t beaten Houston? …
Baylor (2021) is the only school west of Waco to win a men’s basketball title since Arizona in 1997? What does that mean? The West isn’t as good, silly. But, outside of California, it isn’t nearly as populated, and also has nowhere near the number of Division I schools playing basketball than the East, Midwest, North and South. …
RIP, **George Foreman**. A heavyweight champion when we knew who heavyweight champions were. …
Happy birthday, **Harry Vance “Chuck” Muncie**. A great player, complete with demons, but a good guy. …
When **Steve Ortmayer** came from Oakland to do a bad job general managing the NFL Team That Used To Be Here, he told me: “The Raiders (read: **Al Davis**) thought Chuck Muncie was the greatest football player who ever lived.” …
Another reason why protests don’t work. Do you really believe blowing up automobiles are hurting the federal government and a man worth $500 billion, or the poor owners who have to deal with the crimes? …
I guess it’s OK for the White House to say that France would be speaking German if not for the U.S. Easy to forget Americans would be speaking English if not for Lafayette and France. …
America’s game should not open its season in Japan or anywhere overseas. Maybe Greenland someday. …
Georgia football has another player with a DUI. Just enough for the school to change its nickname to Chiefs. …
Did you know: 84 minus your age plus 40 equals the year you were born.
Originally Published: March 22, 2025 at 3:45 PM PDT