The NFL’s Week 1 is a feast for the whimsical. Overreactions abound, just plausible enough to last a few days or more, until reality clears the decks of nonsense.
Here’s one, though, that might have staying power: Would you rather have Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers as your quarterback, or the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert?
Forget the career numbers; just go on what you’ve seen lately. The case for Purdy is remarkably convincing.
There isn’t a bigger Herbert fan in the world than my wife, Martha, stemming from our daughter’s undergraduate years at Oregon during Herbert’s time there. I’ve also been fully engaged, and seriously, what’s not to like? He’s an honest, good-looking athlete with a huge arm and a number of NFL performances that left scouts stunned in admiration.
He’s also 0-3 in the postseason since he broke in with the Chargers in 2020, and he seemed to have hit rock bottom last year when, after the wild-card loss to New England, he admitted, “I don’t know. I haven’t figured it out yet and it hasn’t happened.”
Every Sunday brings fervent anticipation over what Herbert might do, but the games have become increasingly disappointing. Even with Jim Harbaugh coaching and Mike McDaniel getting a lot of attention as the new offensive coordinator, the Chargers looked particularly dull and unprepared in last week’s loss to Arizona.
And now there’s a bit of urgency to beating the Raiders on Sunday, because the Chargers’ next seven opponents will be Buffalo, Seattle, Denver, Kansas City, the Rams, Houston and Baltimore.
Don’t be too hasty in dismissing Herbert’s superstar potential. This is a man who threw 38 touchdown passes in just his second season. But that’s well in the past – and when it comes to Purdy, it’s all about right now and beyond.
Chances are, if you’re a 49ers fan, you’ve come around on Purdy. Aside from his endearing personal qualities, he’s a razor-sharp passer, a leader and a quarterback who tends to make smart, winning decisions.
As we wish the best of good fortune to the great Greg Papa, hospitalized once again through a series of severe health complications, we recall his KNBR comment on Purdy late last season, calling him the best quarterback in the NFC – or at least on a par with the standouts, with only the Bears’ Caleb Williams possessing more talent.
It sounded rather bold at the time, but lately, you stop and think. The 49ers are in very good hands at this position.
The kid can fly
As we marvel as Jonah Cox’s baserunning speed, let’s take time to celebrate all of the Giants’ great base stealers since they moved to San Francisco.
Wait, hold on. There aren’t any. This franchise hasn’t been a stolen base factory over the whole 68 years.
Willie Mays could have joined the likes of Lou Brock and Maury Wills among the masters of theft, but that wasn’t his thing; he topped out at 31 steals in a season (and just 40 during the New York years). Barry Bonds checked in with 40 in 1996, but during his five-year prime of power hitting (2000-04), he stole just 46 bases total.
There were flashes of light, like a passing meteor. Billy North, playing out the string of his career, stole 58 for a terrible 1979 team, making him the single-season S.F. Giants leader. Brett Butler, in the last of his three seasons here, bagged 51 for the third-place Giants in 1990. Bobby Bonds stole 48 bases in 1970, Darren Lewis 46 in 1993.
It’s a short list, hardly the stuff of a baserunning “system” that marks a team. But Cox can change all that. As we hit the brakes like a motorist in deer country, it’s obvious that Cox hasn’t even clinched a starting job for next season. But he’s clearly elite on the bases, having stolen 58 in each of the past two minor-league seasons, leading the team with 13 going into Friday’s game despite playing only part time, and he’s just 24.
He’s also an expert bunter with a firm grasp on that magical no-man’s land on the right side of the infield. He’s done it twice now, firmly pushing a bunt that way, and if the defense is playing at normal depth, there’s no answer to a batter with speed. The pitcher is hopeless once the ball gets past the mound. The onrushing second baseman has no chance. The first baseman doesn’t know whether to shave or go east (one of my father’s favorite lines).
And it’s a hit. Every single time. Former Giant Matty Alou was a master at this, along with several other left-handed hitters with the advantage of leaping quickly out of the box. The fact that Cox is right-handed makes his gift even more appealing.
The long road back
Here’s a toast to Glen Kuiper and the Giants, who have brought back the longtime A’s announcer after an unfortunate choice of words – having to do with a visit to the Negro Leagues Museum – got him suspended in May 2023.
Friends, family and people throughout baseball were shocked at this development. However critically he was portrayed, that’s hardly the man they know. He served his time, forced out of game-related broadcasting until recently, when he was able to work some spring-training games and a few stints on the Giants’ regular-season schedule.
This past week, Kuiper joined Jon Miller for the call on the Giants’ three-game series in St. Louis. And it was a thrill.
“I don’t know if I can properly put it into words, how much it meant to me that the Giants have given me this new opportunity,” said Kuiper, who served as the A’s primary play-by-play announcer from 2006 until his suspension. “You go through a tough time and you hope that somebody has some faith in you – just as a person.”
Kuiper and Miller switched off in St. Louis, Kuiper handling play-by-play for innings 3,4 and 7. “I’ve always dreamed of doing Giants games,” he said. “The A’s years were great, and it allowed me to hone my skills, but I was always glancing across the bay, hoping someday I’d get that chance. There’s a special feeling to it, knowing that people like Russ Hodges, Lon Simmons, Hank Greenwald, my brother (Duane) and Mike Krukow set such a high standard. You feel this huge sense of responsibility.
“And working with Jon was just a treat. He expects good things from whoever he’s working with, and that makes you a better announcer. This is a mega-star, a Hall of Famer, but he’s such a good guy, the work becomes a whole lot of fun.”
As this was written, Kuiper was down for one more radio assignment, calling Saturday night’s game at Dodger Stadium with F.P. Santangelo. He doesn’t yet know the extent of his involvement in the future. “I’m just all about gratitude right now,” he said, “and hoping to have my career grow with the Giants.”
Bruce Jenkins writes the 3-Dot Lounge for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: jenksurf@gmail.com. Twitter: @Bruce_Jenkins1
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This article originally published at Would you take 49ers’ Brock Purdy over Chargers’ Justin Herbert? Here’s why you should.
