HA HA!
Posted on 02/12/2007 7:12:58 PM PST by Terpfen
SAN DIEGO -- Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer was fired Monday night in a shocking move by team president Dean Spanos, who cited a "dysfunctional situation" between the coach and general manager A.J. Smith.
The move was first reported by ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
Less than a month after San Diego's NFL-best 14-2 season was wrecked in a playoff loss to New England, Spanos cited the exodus of both coordinators and other assistants in firing Schottenheimer, who had a year left on his contact.
"This decision was so hard because Marty has been both a friend and valued coach of our team," Spanos said in a statement. "But my first obligation is always to do what is in the best interest of our fans and the entire Charger organization. I must take whatever steps are necessary to deliver a Super Bowl trophy to San Diego. Events of the last month have now convinced me that it is not possible for our organization to function at a championship level under the current structure. On the contrary, and in the plainest possible language, we have a dysfunctional situation here. Today I am resolving that situation once and for all."
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
NFL rules state that you can't block an assistant coach from departing to another team if that team is giving him a promotion.
But, yes, Spanos is stupid for retaining Schottenheimer, then allowing Smith to talk him into firing Schottenheimer.
Maybe Phillips will do a Bill Belicheck and resign from the Cowboys before he even moves his furniture to Dallas. This whole deal is right out of "The Simpsons" This looks to me like a real dumb ass move by Spanos and Smith.
Or Ron Rivera? The Bears' defensive coordinator is a California native, and is almost certain to get an interview under the Rooney Rule.
Ditto for 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary. He is widely respected in league circles, and many believe it's only a matter of time before he becomes a head coach.
Other possible candidates (in our view) include Chargers receivers coach James Lofton, former Chargers tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski, former Chargers linebackers coach Greg Manusky, Texans assistant head coach Mike Sherman, former Cardinals coach Dennis Green, and former Giants coach Jim Fassel.
Here's a curve ball -- former Chiefs, Rams, and Eagles coach Dick Vermeil. Sure, he's "retired." But we think the lure of taking a 14-2 team to the next level could be enough to coax him to come back.
I know about his pro-career. He was sucessful as both a D-coordinator and head coach of the Patriots and Jets.
"There is no reason why Carroll wouldn't accept an NFL head coaching job, if he were given total authority over personnel."
Yes there is, if he loves his job at USC. Which he does.
Didn't Rush attend a recent Super Bowl as a guest of Spanos? Maybe he'll have some scoop tomorrow on his show.
He may start out defending himself against Peter King's comments on sportsillustrated.com
Good for you, onyx! Go get 'em!
Marty's a great coach and has always seemed a stand-up guy.
I'm happy that my Seahawks ownership and Mike Holmgren seem to have a mutual admiration society going. It makes for a stable situation where everyone can concentrate on fielding a quality team, not feuding internally.
Interesting, I had not seen that article. Rush is pretty much right, I don't remember Neil O'Donnell being badmouthed coast to coast for his two interceptions against Dallas when Pittsburgh should have won that game. Of course O'Donnell isn't black, but.....this racial gotcha is a fairly recent phenomenon.
The fact is that Smith has assembled an awful lot of talent on one team. Marty is Marty and contributed to his own demise....one word, Martyball.
We lost Cameron (thank G-d) and Phillips (whatever), and now Marty. Simply put, I lay the blame for the Chargers loss to New England, squarely at the feet of the coaches.
The Chargers offensive game plan in the Pats game, was an embarassment, thank you Cam Cameron and buh bye! And the defense wasn't much better.
While the players need to execute, it is up to the coaches to instill the basics.
I, for one, am not sorry to see Marty, Cameron and Phillips leave. It is one thing to lose, but it is totally another to lose "ugly", through a combination of lack of discipline, lack of focus and pathetic play calling.
LOL -- this'll be an "I wish I could punch ypur lights out" phone call...lol.
LOL -- this'll be an "I wish I could punch your lights out" phone call...lol.
King's a typical humorless scribe. Rush was making a joke, and a point, both of which seem to have flown over King's head.
Scenario:
Management sits down to consider their asst coach options. The GM (Smith) says that his choice would be "X". Marty (coach) says "not on your Nellie! I won't work with that guy...I'm the coach, I make the choice."
Smith: "Sorry. That's not how it works...."
Marty: "No it isn't"
Smith: "yes it is"
Marty:"No it isn't"
Spanos:"Knock it off you two. Don't force me to choose."
Now, as an owner of a business, the Chargers", I am foreced to make a decision. I have a GM that has brought a ton of talent to san Diego. And I have a head coach who can't coach his way out of a wet paperbag in the playoffs....
No contest. Marty loses.
Besides, you will not be a "great" business if the 2 people responsible for the success of the franchise cannot get along. Ultimately, it is the success of the franchise (read business) that counts and both of these individuals should be dedicated to that single goal.
HA HA!
I hope it's Bill Parcells. Then San Diego would have to compensate Dallas.
I thought that he had one year because of extension. No matter, $3 million is a nice paid vacation.
My bet is that Marty sits back next season, waits for the G-Men to can Tom Coughlin, then rides to the rescue. You really have to wonder what the Chargers were thinking...
I wouldn't bet the farm on that. Nick Saban thought he was going to conquer the NFL after leaving LSU, only to cut bait and run back to college ball after two years. The fact he went to Alabama has every LSU fan pissed...
Pete Carroll has a great thing going at USC, and from all appearances, he's having fun. If I were him, I wouldn't even think about going back to the NFL.
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