NFL: Chargers Fire Schottenheimer

[Guynemer]

Sure, Marty gets fired after going 14-2.

Meanwhile, Matt ****ing Millen is still gainfully employed.

[-Jrabbit]

Yes, but all the Lions fans who put up with it all these years will be reincarnated as a higher lifeform -- as Bears fans.

[Guynemer]

I can only hope.

That's doesn't mean I'll have to give up the Red Wings for the Blackhawks, or the Pistons for the Bulls, or the Tigers for the White Sox/Cubs, etc etc.? Because that would make the whole scenario a toss-up.

[-Jrabbit]

Obviously not a problem. This is Millen-specific.

Millen, however, is flirting with coming back as a Blackhawks fan.

[Lord Avalon]

Brady Quinn, be afraid. Be VERY afraid.

[SlowwHand]

https://www.nfl.com

Of the following choices, who would make the best head coach for the San Diego Chargers in 2007?
48%
Marty Schottenheimer


18%
Mike Singletary


15%
Ron Rivera


12%
Norv Turner


8%
Rex Ryan

Total Votes: 152793

[-Jrabbit]

It's looking more and ore like Marty Schottenheimer was the deliberate architect of his own firing...

The San Diego Union-Tribune, admittedly using circumstantial evidence, believes Marty Schottenheimer engineered his own firing.

It makes sense. Marty couldn't resign because he wanted to be paid the final $4.5 million on his contract, but knew he wasn't coming back in 2008 and was rightly unhappy with the situation in San Diego. By asking to interview his brother for the defensive coordinator job, Schottenheimer may have forced owner Dean Spanos' hand.

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

Here's the Full Story

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'm not sure how that works. He wants to hire his bro as defensive coordinator and that is so utterly horrible? WTF? Why is that so bad?

And he knew he wasn't coming back in 2008 because the ownership didn't WANT him back! The one year extension they offered was a joke (a $1mil buyout, please).

[-Jrabbit]

Well, his bro is not highly regarded as a coach and there's the whole nepotism thing. Hey, it might be spin from the Spanos camp for all I know. But it does make sense to get yourself fired in order to still collect the $4.5MM.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I don't think Marty wanted to get fired. He didn't like the situation in SD, but I'm sure he liked the players... and realized that's his best chance at getting his elusive SuperBowl ring.

[-Jrabbit]

You can certainly make a good case that this story is exactly the kind of spin a team PR firm would produce. Which also jives with the totally specious reporting that it was somehow Schottenheimer's fault that the staff bolted.

Because if it wasn't Marty getting himself fired, waiting 3 weeks to fire him -- while all the good candidates (including two on your own staff) are hired by others -- stands to be remembered as one of the all-time stupid sports management decisions.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Now, I can see it as spin, yes... San Diego's management are such a bunch of morons, especially since they think no one can see through this!

[MRT144]

to drake:

as a fan it's better to have a team that doesnt go to the superbowl but is fun to watch rather than a stinker team that will never go to a superbowl.

its better to be a chargers fan than a lions fan.

what nfl team is out your way?

[Drake Tungsten]

what nfl team is out your way?

Nothing's close. Kansas City's the nearest and it's a three-hour drive away...

[SlowwHand]

Which brings us to El Paso, where people have no reason to go on living.