San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Even Brees couldn’t have kept Chargers here
Sez Me …
Those who don’t care to read the entire book thumb to the last page and ask the dumbest questions.
Last week, there was a beauty rummaging through unsocial and semi-social media: “Could Drew Brees have saved the NFL in San Diego?”
The answer is an unequivocal “no.” As in no chance.
The quarterback may have helped save the Saints in New Orleans — and he certainly had a post-katrina hand and arm in it — but it wasn’t happening here. The circumstances were drastically different in the two cities.
If Drew still had been playing for the The NFL Team That Used To Be Here in 2017, it still wouldn’t be here. And, as tough and good as he was, it’s doubtful he would have lasted that long, anyway.
A few weeks ago I wrote I wouldn’t be surprised if the 42-year-old quarterback refused to retire. Since then, Drew has closed the door. Not a surprise. He took a look at the clock and saw it at 12.
Anyway, the Saints probably were leaving New Orleans. But the city wanted the team to stay, and Brees helped make it happen. The people who mattered in San Diego, the Ham & Eggers, didn’t care, allowing our nowrazed stadium to run down to the point of forcing its NFL team to leave for a city that has adopted it as it might a gigantic sewage problem.
Brees became more popular in San Diego when he did nice things in Louisiana. His replacement, Philip Rivers, was damn good, and popular. Drew won a title in New Orleans. Rivers couldn’t do it here.
But the notion that Brees could have become Drew The Builder in Mayberry-by-the-sea is ridiculous. He was perfect for the Saints’ Sean Payton offense. Hard to say he would have outdone what Rivers did, nor can anyone say he would have outlasted Philip, who started every game following Drew’s departure.
Ladainian Tomlinson was a secular god in San Diego, one of the great backs of all time, and his presence couldn’t get the city to give up 60 acres of Mission Valley land 15 years ago for a new stadium that wasn’t costing it a dime out of pocket.
Would winning a Super Bowl — or bowls, plural — have changed things? Doubtful. But the team never became unpopular — with fans.
I can’t see Brees, skilled as he was, winning even one ring. Rivers cannot be blamed for this team’s failures. If he wasn’t as good as Drew, he was pretty damn close, and at one point had the best roster in football.
The team left here for one reason. It couldn’t continue to play in that dump (it’s surprising they hung around as long as they did). Even the Aztecs had to leave and play in Carson.
Brees couldn’t have turned the invertebrates, who have chosen to concentrate on bike lanes and removing the automobile from our everyday lives, as they continue to drive to work.
In this century, the Ham & Eggers, shot in the foot by their friendly-fire pension fiasco, stacked botch upon botch, limping scared from the team to the acrimonious end.
The only thing the Spanos family ever outsmarted is City Hall.
But who hasn’t?
Had Drew Brees been quarterback/mayor, the team still would be paying a buck a year for rent in Inglewood. …
The Patriots seemingly have signed every free agent in The League — except for Tom Brady, the genius behind the genius. As with all teams desperate in early free agency, they aren’t winning anything. …
Traditionally, Super Bowls are won in February — and April. Not March . ...
Since 2011, the Jags have spent $1.4 billion in free agency and lost 75 percent of their games . ...
Know what the NFL salary cap means? Nothing. As Don Coryell would say: “Damn joke.” …
The NFL is doomed? Clubs will get $300 million a year from the new TV deal. The cap is $182.5 million. And yet fans will continue to side with ownership . ...
There are San Diego street workers who don’t tamper as much as NFL general managers trying to fill potholes in their rosters. …
Keeping Hunter Henry would have been ideal. But $25 million guaranteed for an injuryin-waiting? The Judases did much better addressing their feeble offensive line with firstteam All-pro center Corey Linsley, guard/tackle Matt Feiler and journeyman guard Oday Aboushi to protect Justin Herbert . ...
And, to replace Hunter, the J’s went hunting and captured reasonably priced free agent TE
Jared Cook (Pro Bowler in 2018-2019), who, although soon 34, remains a very effective receiver over the middle. …
Melvin Ingram will visit the Chiefs. Maybe he’ll visit Patrick Mahomes. He hasn’t visited him lately . ...
And the sexual assault lawsuits just keep on coming. Up to 12 could be filed against Deshaun Watson, who will carry more baggage than George Costanza took to L.A. It’s now easier for Houston to trade oil to
Team Kuwait than Watson to anywhere. Imagine that first press conference . ...
NFL Network covered Ja’marr Chase’s pro day at LSU, where unsocial distancing was practiced by drooling scouts, whose shaky hand-timed 40s are even bigger lies than the Combine’s. “My Mother the Car” is better TV. …
The Bears’ Super Bowl odds slipped from 40-1 to 50-1 after signing Andy Dalton. Andy’s better than what they had . ...
Shortly after being outbid for the Brooklyn Bridge and fine Florida swampland, the 49ers, cashmere pulled over their eyes, signed offensive tackle Trent Williams to a $138 million deal. …
Stink O’ The Week Sezment: emojis instead of team names. Absolutely asinine. Not to mention vague acronyms and abbreviations. …
James Harden is a great player, but how can he even be considered for MVP? He quit on the Rockets . ...
What frightens me is a driverless automobile (oxymoron?) deciding on its own to go for a joy ride. …
Perhaps no two teams are bigger pains in the asses to play in the Tournament than Syracuse and West Virginia. And the Aztecs could have drawn both . ...
SDSU might have had a chance vs. Syracuse if this prime time debacle had been moved to the Midway, where there would have been less wind than in Hinkle Fieldhouse. …
No excuses. They weren’t all clean-look 3s. But plenty enough of them were. …
Buddy Boeheim is SDSU’S new Kemba Walker? ...
Colgate couldn’t beat Arkansas but gloats over better dental checkups. And then Dr. Roberts performs Oral surgery on overrated Ohio State. …
One of the best things about the Tournament are the Barkley-jackson-lee commercials. …
Up three at the end of a college basketball game, you foul. Mama mia. …
Mark Emmert. The toy elephant in the room . ...
A TV reporter asked people in an Oklahoma restaurant to raise their hands if they’re getting the vaccine. Not one. As someone not an idiot once said: “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” …
Shots aren’t like the Royals. They work . ...
NOW the White House checks for marijuana? …
People laugh at the Biden slip? Think how beyond cruel Twitter would be with FDR .Ina wheelchair . ...
What my epitaph will not be: “Get in the Hole!”