Vaughn Martin had only been in Southern California a few months, but he somehow knew his geography, and he had a good grasp on what had transpired.
Assessing a play against the Baltimore Ravens in September 2009, wherein he was blown back like a leaf as Willis McGahee ran unfettered for a touchdown, Martin said a few days after it happened: "I was in Orange County by the time it was done."
It was funny then, and it's funny now.
The play also provides Martin, normally reluctant to talk about his personal growth as a player, an undeniable measuring stick.
"You know what, honestly," Martin said this week. "I know I've come a long way. I had a visual example of how far I've come, because I watched the old film of the last time we played Baltimore here in 2009, and it was me getting thrown through the back of the end zone."
Yep, still funny.
For more of this story, visit the San Diego Union-Tribune.