Column: Chargers don’t inspire confidence they can get Herbert a ring

Sez Me …

When it comes to a home, Justin Herbert probably should do what his boss does best. Rent.

I’ve reached the conclusion that, if Herbert plans on getting his ring finger sized while quarterbacking The NFL Team That Used To Be Here — you know, the Judases, L.A. Lodgers — one of three things must happen:

1. He will have to go to an organization in which a championship is possible once his rookie contract expires.

2. Fredo Spanos & Sons & Family must sell the team to someone not de-clued.

3. Get married.

No. 3 is guaranteed to work; the other two have a chance. Remaining in Fredo’s palatial Inglewood rental? Basically no chance.

Under the Spanos regime, which began in 1984 as the breath was coming out of Air Coryell, the Judases at times appeared to be good enough. But then, for various reasons, such as coaching, ridiculously bad drafts, injuries, poor performances by their better players, they haven’t been good enough.

Never have been good enough.

But it all has come back to the fish, more specifically, the head of the fish. It hasn’t smelled good, doesn’t smell good now, and doesn’t figure to be cologne in the future under the Fredo regime because there has been absolutely nothing over nearly 40 years to suggest a trip to the jewelry store is anon.

Bad luck? True. But mostly they’ve made their own bad luck, even earlier in this century, when they had the best NFL roster and screwed it up.

Herbert is the most athletically gifted quarterback in the history of a franchise that includes John Hadl, Dan Fouts, Stan Humphries, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers. And, since Justin won the Academic Heisman at Oregon, he has to be smart enough to look at his surroundings and understand the multiple problems he’s facing.

One is his home playground. Because SoFi Stadium has become a destination for fans of the opposition, Herbert finds himself constantly working out of a silent count. Winning isn’t easy in the NFL. Playing 17 road games makes it that much more difficult (the place is expected to be loaded with Steelers fans Sunday night).

And it’s doubtful it’s going to get any better. This is no way to lead a team to the Super Bowl.

There is no patience. Brandon Staley is the 12th head coach of the Fredo Era. The Steelers have had three since 1969. I like Staley, but mostly they just hire the wrong guy(s).

And there seems to be a franchise-wide refusal to toughen up, as has been evidenced by poor special teams play for the last decade. It’s been a while since the J’s have been less finesse and more physical.

Offenses are pounding this defense now, keeping Herbert off the field, while offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi has eschewed the run game. They have 195 rushing plays, third fewest in The League. The Vikings nearly had the ball a full quarter more than the Bolts did last Sunday.

And they aren’t allowing Herbert to unload the way he did as a rookie, when he was pressured more than he is now. They have to roll him out more and put some reckless abandon to this offense.

So much positive has to happen in this negative neighborhood for Herbert to lift the Lombardi Trophy. They couldn’t get Rivers a ring — or Philip couldn’t get them one, or whatever. It takes more than a QB.

One day, Herbert will get into his car and drive home after losing a game he should have won and turn off the radio playing the same old song: “Judases will Judas.”

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