Being one of the good guys pays well

Financial experts break down Jimmy Garoppolo’s $137.5 million contract thusly: $100 million for his ability to throw passes to receivers, and $37.5 million for his smile.

From the start, Garoppolo displayed a knack for getting along with his 49ers teammates, being one of the fellas. He’s a cool guy, a down dude, or whatever expression is currently hip. Is “hip” currently hip? You get the idea. Garoppolo can hang.

Does that matter? Coaches love to say, “We’re not running

a popularity contest here,” but for the quarterback, can a winning personality be a valuable tool?

Let’s ask Steve Young. I ran into him last week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, happily hacking around Spyglass Hill. When Young QB’d the 49ers, he got along with pretty much everyone.

It’s a 49ers tradition. Joe Montana was Joe Cool in the locker room, too, just one of the guys. Jeff Garcia was somewhat the same, although it was harder for him because one of the guys was divisive Terrell Owens.

What about it, Steve? Is it important to be cool?

“If you can figure out a way to make 138 million dollars and still feel like one of the guys, you’re an athlete,” Young said.

That’s another worry. Garoppolo was a good guy when he was the schlub newcomer, the backup QB. Will the new money and sudden fame change Jimmy G? Will it change his teammates’ attitudes toward him?

Could get tricky. The key for Garoppolo will be to make it look easy.

“You have to be a major in psychology,” Young said. “You have to deal with self-deprecation and still lead. There are a thousand filters. In the end, there are just so few that have that knack.

“Look, you don’t have to (be one of the guys). There are some quarterbacks that carry a big stick, but it makes the job harder . ... You’re getting more money than everybody, getting more notoriety, how do you bring people along to feel like, ‘Look, I’ll fight for you’?”

Bottom line on charm from the charming Young: “Certainly helps.”