When the San Diego Chargers were 4-7, Norv Turner was prepared to refresh his resume and A.J. Smith had recently been rumored to head to the St. Louis Rams. The Chargers' owner Dean Spanos was expected to clean house after a disappointing season when the AFC West title was within easy reach, but a strong finish by Phil Rivers and company kept the pressure at bay. Now it might keep everything as is.
"As of a week ago, it again looked like Norv Turner would be out as San Diego Chargers head coach, after his charges looked misguided in a home loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 16," writes Tim Kavanagh. "But on Sunday, the team recovered to finish the season on a high note -- beating the Oakland Raiders and putting their AFC West rivals out of the playoff hunt -- and this has given team president Dean Spanos reason to pause and reflect on the massive decision he has to make.
"In fact, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune has reported that Spanos has yet to make the final decision on Turner and general manager A.J. Smith. It's unclear whether the fates of the two men are ultimately linked, but some believe that both could be gone this offseason, and a few high profile coaches -- Jeff Fisher and Bill Cowher -- have been linked to a potential opening. If nothing else, Turner did inspire his players to finish out strong."