Jimmy Garoppolo

For a guy who is careful to never say anything close to polarizing off the field, Jimmy Garoppolo has become one of the most polarizing players on it.

Friday saw the 49ers return to Levi’s Stadium for as game-like a setting as there has been since their 37-20 trouncing of the Green Bay Packers on January 19.

Training camp, at least by name, is nearly over.

It was so popular to dunk on Dante Pettis last season that it became unpopular.

For the first time since the 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV, players practiced against each other with pads on.

Training camp is back, though saying it’s “back” sort of implies that this a return to how training camp used to be.

This time last year, Jimmy Garoppolo was still figuring out how to move in the pocket. With a prominent brace on his left knee, Garoppolo was far from the fluid quarterback he became, or rediscovered, by season’s end. 

I feel like Jimmy G needs a hug. Too bad we can’t hug in these pandemic times. Maybe an air hug?

It is the peak of the NFL offseason, a desert.

We’re still a ways away from the July 28 start date of 49ers training camp, but that didn’t stop some high profile players from meeting up in Nashville to get some work in.