Official 2026 Chargers News | Acquisitions | Transactions | Injuries

[Heatmiser]

Popper is ok. He asks stuff we would like to ask a lot of the time, which I appreciate. And I am ok with him not being a homer. My annoyance with him is that rather than ask a question a lot of the time he puts out his hypothesis as if he is writing an article during the press conference. Sometimes Harbaugh or whoever is up there will just stare blankly at him and ask if he has a question. He also seems to want to demonstrate how much he knows vs asking the question.

[Bolt4Knob]

He is done, went to war with the NFL

Yep - retired. Good writer Enjoyed his work

[sonorajim]

I would rather read an objective journalist write about a team, good and bad, more than a homer. If you want a fanboy, read Eric Smith, who is actually paid by the Chargers. Dont expect much analysis though

I don't listen to Poppers podcasts, and don't care what they are drinking either.

I also agree he presses the injury questions at press conferences BUT he is also the only journalist at those press conferences who doesn't lob softball questions and asks the hard questions us fans want answers to. Personally I want Popper pressing Harbaugh and asking about Bradley Bozeman when no one else does. This fan wants to know why Harbaugh stubbornly plays the worst fucking center in the NFL no matter how awful he plays week after week. Many other examples.

I subscribe to The Athletic and Popper is the best team beat writer on there, and pretty much anywhere I look. You could always ask Kevin Acee to come back lol

I don't need to love his personality or his podcasts, but his articles are detailed and very good. He is a decent writer and he praises the Chargers, Hortiz, Harbaugh when warranted. But he isn't afraid to address the issues on this team or give fealty to Jim Harbaugh like some fans here do. That is what a journalist is supposed to do.

Here is a good example. Popper was very clear on his position before this season that Hortiz and Harbaugh did not do enough to address the IOL. So you tell me...was he wrong?

He reflects your attitude. That makes him good from your perspective. For others, not so much.

[northerner]

I would rather read an objective journalist write about a team, good and bad, more than a homer. If you want a fanboy, read Eric Smith, who is actually paid by the Chargers. Dont expect much analysis though

I don't listen to Poppers podcasts, and don't care what they are drinking either.

I also agree he presses the injury questions at press conferences BUT he is also the only journalist at those press conferences who doesn't lob softball questions and asks the hard questions us fans want answers to. Personally I want Popper pressing Harbaugh and asking about Bradley Bozeman when no one else does. This fan wants to know why Harbaugh stubbornly plays the worst fucking center in the NFL no matter how awful he plays week after week. Many other examples.

I subscribe to The Athletic and Popper is the best team beat writer on there, and pretty much anywhere I look. You could always ask Kevin Acee to come back lol

I don't need to love his personality or his podcasts, but his articles are detailed and very good. He is a decent writer and he praises the Chargers, Hortiz, Harbaugh when warranted. But he isn't afraid to address the issues on this team or give fealty to Jim Harbaugh like some fans here do. That is what a journalist is supposed to do.

Here is a good example. Popper was very clear on his position before this season that Hortiz and Harbaugh did not do enough to address the IOL. So you tell me...was he wrong?

he was right on the o-line, but most people who follow the team said the same thing, so it did not add to our knowledge. some of his articles that have been posted here have been good, but i think he could be more productive if he had a better attitude. i doubt last night's tweet will be received well by Hortiz/Harbaugh - he could have chosen better words ("what does this mean for special teams" etc.). i don't mind him being critical of the team, but don't sound like some crabby guy from here. if trading Taylor really was a necessary move purely to fix the cap, then there is going to be some bit of "no pain/no gain" involved.

i would probably dislike him less if i did not hear his podcasts (or his injury questions), but again, he is a guy that is going to (sometimes) have more information that us, so i tune in to see what he's got.

i am not saying to not read his articles (he's all we've got), but it would be great if he grew up a bit.

[sonorajim]

Trotter
I called him Truth Serum

Early in the Spanii era of owning the team when Trotter was the beat writer - I thought he was too critical of the team. Granted, as I have learned, the beat reporter is supposed to be objective. I have learned that Trotter was just doing his job. And he ended up being very accurate about Dean for many many years.

I think Popper is good for the most part. Maybe he thought Taylor was the best gunner on the team -- but that doesn't mean there wasn't area for improvement

Did Taylor play vs Titans?

[wu-dai clan]

Any idea of Bozeman being the underperforming field general for an offensive line becoming cohesive ended with Alt's injury.

[richpjr]

I also agree he presses the injury questions at press conferences BUT he is also the only journalist at those press conferences who doesn't lob softball questions and asks the hard questions us fans want answers to. Personally I want Popper pressing Harbaugh and asking about Bradley Bozeman when no one else does. This fan wants to know why Harbaugh stubbornly plays the worst fucking center in the NFL no matter how awful he plays week after week. Many other examples.

And how many hard questions are ever answered? Harbaugh is simply not going to ever trash a player, a coach or anyone in the organization during a press conference. He is never going to give the slightest insight into any injury update. Popper asking those questions over and over again seems much more about "look at me" than accomplishing anything other than annoying people. He is thin skinned and regularly boots people out of streams or blocks them on social media if they question anything he says. Sadly, there are very few other options. I really liked a guy like Michael Gherkin when he covered the team where we got insight and no BS.

[Boltjolt]

I have tried a couple of times to watch his videos, and I just don't care what he or some randos are drinking, still find his football knowledge is less than many (most?) here and he is just find him petulant and annoying. I can't fathom paying to watch him.

Popper has a podcast or are you talking about his Youtube Hops with Pops? IDK of a podcast he chargers for

[wu-dai clan]

CanadianBoltFan

Popper brings a level of intelligent NFL discussion that few others give us.

Jordan Schultz is another good one.

A Popper subscription is an inexpensive, time efficient way to learn. New this year is his film study.

Studying visual evidence and following select NFL experts is my preference over pure analytics.

[Boltjolt]

I listen to everything Popper says. Podcasts. Film studies. Filters in place. And read him religiously. There is also Kris Rhim. Light doses of other team podcasts, writings. A little Alex Insdorf.

The Athletic Football Show. Football 301. Scoop City. These are all long form resources, that give the best, fullest perspectives.

Density of info.

NFL/Charger history and league wide trends, recent and going back 60 years influence my thoughts on the Chargers. The NFL has always been a copycat league and a league of new trends and reoccurring cycles.

I have the natural luxury of much available time to listen while driving around for ten hours a day as a delivery driver.

It also affects posting style and capability of extensively reading all posts.

There is always reading if that is your thing.

We all have an opportunity to be well informed. Consume more info. Type less.

Be anxious to learn from other posters. There is tremendous value in friendly exchanges of ideas over silly, abrasive debate. Nobody cares if you won, outside of your little clique. Think about it.

I only read Poppers tweets. Only listened to hid Youtube thingy a few times. None recently. I like that he askes Harbaugh the questions we would ask even if he gets met with no real answer lol.

[Boltjolt]

Jim Trotter.

I havent seen anything from him in a while. He still covers the Chargers? Writing for the UT?

[Critty]

Oweh has made some plays. 4 sacks in 4 games

Penning is a bit more than just a body. He started 17 games last year at RT. Started the past 6 games at LG.
Adding a starting OL now for the 2027 6th Rd pick. Are they going to find a starting OL in Rd 6? Probably not.

Also for Penning this is the best QB he will be blocking for in his NFL career and it isn't even close. Could he benefit from working in front of a much better QB? Maybe.