San Diego Chargers News

Coryell denied entry to Hall of Fame
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February 7
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Don Coryell's family and his biggest supporter chose to look at Saturday as a beginning rather than an end. "I'm really thrilled that he got this far," said Dan Fouts, the Hall of Fame quarterback who has led the campaign for his former coach to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "I think it's a great first step." Coryell, who coached the Chargers from early in the 1978 season through 1986 and is credited with molding football's modern passing game, was denied passage to the Hall Saturday. A panel of 44 writers who cover the NFL didall-time receiving leader Jerry Rice, all-time rushing leader Emmitt Smith, Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little, Detroit cornerback Dick LeBeau, ..."
Tailgating gets boot in stadium plan
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February 6
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"For eight tailgating Chargers fans Jan. 17, the game before the game was at a poker table. Tailgating is more than a meat and greet to Rafael Alvarez. He founded the Chargers fan group Bolt Pride in 1992 and now collects thousands of dollars a year for community causes from the hundreds of people who swing by section P4 of the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot before each game. "It's the people. It's the food. It's the drinks," Alvarez said. "It's the music, the ambience, the environment. It brings together so many pleasures, unlike baseball, let's say. You have so few games that each one becomes something that's truly treasured." If the Chargers build a new stadium in downtown San Diego, the ..."
Coryell's big imprint ingrained in football
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February 5
San Diego Union-Tribune
 columnis NIck Canepa
"I don't know how many more of these I have left in me. This could be the last one, because there may not be another chance of this magnitude to promote Don Coryell for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If that seems harsh, unfair and unjust, so be it. The process is an extremely difficult one. Just let me say at the top that Don Coryell is, in my mind, the most important football coach since Paul Brown. Because he isn't going to go away. They can play this game for another 50,000 years and can innovate and change the rules as they please, but as long as football is played by 22 athletes on a field 300 feet long and 160 feet wide, Coryell's presence is going to be felt every ..."
For Tomlinson, all that's left is the goodbye
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February 5
San Diego Union-Tribune
 columnist Tim Sullivan
"LaDainian Tomlinson has taken his bows and taken his lumps. Now it is time for him to take his leave. What has been an open secret for many months was finally acknowledged yesterday by LT himself: that the Chargers will soon pull the plug on their electrifying running back and seek someone else who might be able to hold a candle to him. The die is cast. The announcement is a formality. The Chargers must get Tomlinson off their books by March 5 or pay him a $2 million roster bonus, and no one who's been paying attention is even pretending there's anything agonizing about that decision. Still, method matters. LaDainian Tomlinson is not some fringe free agent who filled a roster spot for a ..."
NFL players preparing for 2011 lockout
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February 5
Boston Globe
 
"As collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the NFL Players Association and the NFL owners continue to drag, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said he expects the owners to lock out the players before the 2011 season. Chad Ochocinco, representing OCNN, asked the first question of a press conference this afternoon in which the NFLPA laid out their message. He asked Smith how worried he is about a lockout next season. "On a scale of 1 to 10," Smith said, "it's a 14." Smith said he and NFLPA president Kevin Mawae have informed players to save 25 percent of their paychecks in order to prepare for a lockout. Mawae said negotiations for a CBA have been "frustrating" and moved ..."
Tomlinson expects Bolts to let him go
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February 5
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"LaDainian Tomlinson spent a couple of weeks following the abrupt conclusion of the Chargers season reflecting, in prayer and meditation. He has reached the stage of acceptance. After a month of proclaiming he did not know what his future would be, the certain Hall of Famer said Thursday he knows he has played his last game as a Charger. "I'm not coming back," Tomlinson said. "I don't believe I'll be back in San Diego. I've accepted it." Tomlinson, who has two years remaining on his contract, said neither he nor his agent has spoken with the Chargers since the season ended. He has simply read the writing on the wall. "I just felt like it was over," Tomlinson said. All that's left now is for ..."
LT vents on Bolts issues, outlook
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February 4
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"LaDainian Tomlinson is not going quietly. Almost certainly in his final month as a Charger, the always-forthcoming running back said in a radio interview this week that he felt disconnected and questioned the commitment of some teammates. "I don't know what it is," he said. "We're (at) the point where these guys that come into the league, it's not about the same values no more. It's not about football, the things that you're taught - faith, family, football. To them, it's not about that no more. It's the name … It's 'me.' And that's the thing that's so disappointing to me, because I can't deal with that no more. If that's going to be allowed I just can't deal with that type of stuff." ..."
L.T. says he's not giving hometown discount to stay in San Diego
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February 4
NFL.com
 
"San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson said in a radio interview Monday that he wasn't happy with his role this season. The franchise's all-time leading rusher also said that he wants to return to San Diego, but he will not take a pay cut to do so. "It's never been about the money," Tomlinson said on 1090-AM in San Diego. "I love the game of football. It's all about being happy. Being happy and enjoying playing. That's the most important part to me. Also being happy and chasing that Super Bowl." Changes in offensive philosophy, namely the reduction of running plays called by Chargers coach Norv Turner to emphasize the passing game, made this season frustrating for Tomlinson, ..."
Floyd would be good catch for Ravens
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February 2
Baltimore Sun
 columnist Mike Preston
"There are a number of options the Ravens might pursue to get a No. 1 receiver, but the best way to get a strong return on their investment is to sign the San Diego Chargers' Malcom Floyd. Certainly, there are more popular choices - San Diego's No. 1 receiver Vincent Jackson, the Denver Broncos' Brandon Marshall and the Dallas Cowboys' Miles Austin - but it's unlikely the Ravens will be able to sign any of those three for various reasons. Like Jackson, Marshall and Austin, Floyd is expected to become a restricted free agent if this becomes an uncapped season, which seems likely. San Diego will invest top dollars to retain Jackson, their best receiver in 2009. Dallas owner Jerry Jones won't ..."
Chargers WR Jackson shines in first Pro Bowl
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February 1
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Vincent Jackson so throughly relished his first Pro Bowl experience, he even enjoyed playing special teams. "Oh my gosh, that was so much fun," the Chargers receiver gushed. "That was the first tackle I've had since 2006." Jackson's work on kick coverage teams was certainly overshadowed by his game-high 122 yards on seven receptions in the AFC's 41-34 victory over the NFC last night at Sun Life Stadium in the first Pro Bowl played the week before the Super Bowl and first outside Hawaii in 30 years. Jackson was likely a dropped touchdown pass in the second quarter away from winning the game's MVP award, which instead went to Houston's Matt Schaub. The Texans quarterback started and then ..."
Pro Bowl missing twinkle of stars
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January 31
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Antonio Gates is a perennial Pro Bowler, having been selected to each of the past six all-star games. But now the Chargers tight end isn't sure the game that will take place here tonight can be called that. "Some of the guys missing make it not a true all-star game," Gates said. "You're taking a lot of guys out of the game that would normally come." Yes, the NFL is holding a supposed all-star game without the best players from the two best teams. Six New Orleans Saints and six Indianapolis Colts will be on the sideline at Sun Life Stadium, mandated to attend in order to collect their checks. But they won't be playing. Instead of Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, who were voted starters by ..."
Merriman wants to remain a Bolt
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January 29
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"He has been answering (deflecting) questions for months about what will happen to him after the 2009 season. Well, it's after the season, and Shawne Merriman has decided to be proactive - all along stressing that he is being lighthearted and would prefer to remain a Charger. "I feel like I'm in the worst possible situation," he said yesterday. "I don't know if my team wants me there. So I'm going to have fun with the situation." Merriman has long felt frustrated by the perception he is not going to be in San Diego long-term. His contract will expire with the league year next month, but because 2010 will almost certainly be an uncapped season, he will be a restricted free agent and under ..."
For Bolts and Jackson, a trust gap
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January 29
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Even as he has ascended to near the top of his profession, his inclusion in this week's Pro Bowl festivities here cementing his status as one of the NFL's best wide receivers, Vincent Jackson knows there is a perception problem and a gap in trust. To a certain extent, especially as it pertains to how his team feels about him, Jackson understands. "Is it fair? Yes," Jackson said as he stood in the players' hotel after a Pro Bowl practice this week. "It's part of the business." Jackson spoke specifically of the Chargers' decision to take a wait-and-see approach in regards to his long-term future with the team. Jackson is coming off consecutive career years, yet due to the specter of 2010 ..."
Jackson traffic stop results in 3 charges
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January 27
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Chargers Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson was charged yesterday with two misdemeanors stemming from his traffic stop near team headquarters 3½ hours before the Chargers' playoff game against the New York Jets on Jan. 17. Jackson, 27, faces up to six months in jail and/or a fine of $1,000 in connection with two counts involving driving with a suspended license. The San Diego City Attorney's Office also charged Jackson with driving with an expired registration, an infraction punishable by a fine. San Diego Police said an officer monitoring radar for speed violations heard loud music coming from Jackson's car on Murphy Canyon Road. It is against the law in California to "operate any sound ..."
Letting go of letting Brees go
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January 26
San Diego Union-Tribune
 columnist Tim Sullivan
"Drew Brees is the hurt that won't heal, the second guess that won't stop, the big arm that got away, Ryan Leaf in reverse. Just as the grief of Chargers fans was transitioning from anger to, well, more anger, just after one local pastor opened his Sunday sermon by lamenting the Bolts' playoff loss to "the stupid Jets," here was Brees sprinkling creole salt on San Diego's open wound. In leading the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl Sunday afternoon, the erstwhile Chargers quarterback has brought rapture to the bayou and fresh rancor to the seething fans of his former team. He has revived a debate that is sometimes dormant but never dies - the question of whether the Chargers ..."
Chargers staying put next season
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January 26
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Chargers home games will be at Qualcomm Stadium for at least one more season as the team tries to build support for a new venue in downtown San Diego. The announcement that the team won't trigger the termination clause in its lease this year came yesterday from Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani. But Fabiani, who has spearheaded the team's stadium search since 2002, said the team won't commit to staying in San Diego beyond the 2010 season. The team's announcement comes the same week that the Centre City Development Corp., San Diego's downtown redevelopment arm, considers launching a 15- to 18-month process to obtain the approvals to pump hundreds of millions of tax dollars into a ..."
LaDainian Tomlinson heading for sad end in San Diego
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January 24
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Four years ago, Jerome Bettis had a storybook ending to his career. The Pittsburgh Steelers running back won a Super Bowl in his final game in his hometown of Detroit and retired on top after the 2005 season. Unfortunately, storybook endings are often few and far between for great running backs. For example, Chicago's Walter Payton ended his career losing a playoff game. Barry Sanders walked away in his prime, apparently because he was so frustrated by the losing years in Detroit. The all-time leading rusher, longtime Dallas star Emmitt Smith, played his last game for Arizona. And now LaDainian Tomlinson's career in San Diego might have ended with him listening to the fans boo when he ..."
Chudzinski won't be joining the Bears
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January 24
Chicago Tribune
 
"Scratch another candidate off the list of potential Bears offensive coordinators. A source close to the situation said Rob Chudzinski, who interviewed with the team Thursday, will not be coming to Chicago. Chudzinski finished the season as the assistant head coach and tight ends coach of the Chargers. His contract is expiring, and it is believed the Chargers want him back. He also could be drawing interest from other teams."
Chargers' night out not cause of off day
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January 22
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"This has gotten out of hand, and so I am writing about it. I can hardly believe this has become the issue it has. There may well be some leadership and accountability voids on the Chargers. But those voids have to do with facing up to a few guys playing dumb and a few playing soft. That void may well also have to do with occasional off-the-field misconduct or irresponsibility. But this? This is a nonstory that has gotten feet because of the Internet, talk radio and fans who are angry about an inexplicable loss. Monday morning, with the Chargers' 17-14 loss to the New York Jets barely 12 hours old, I heard players had been out Friday night at a strip club until way late - as in, Saturday ..."
Merriman shocked by paternity suit
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January 22
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Shawne Merriman said he's excited about becoming a father for the first time. His close friend, Tiffany Horne, is pregnant. The two have known each other for almost six years and have a good relationship, he said. Which is why the Chargers linebacker said he was "shocked" to learn yesterday that a paternity case was filed against him in Horne's name this week in San Diego Superior Court. "She's a great friend of mine and has been for almost six years now," Merriman said. "There's no denying of any kind of paternity. For this to be even taking place is a shock." Horne couldn't be reached for comment. Merriman attributes the court filing to a communication breakdown between attorneys for him ..."
Facts make case for Turner
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January 21
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Since you asked, Norv Turner has won more playoff games than George Allen and Sid Gillman. Combined. He has a higher winning percentage with the San Diego Chargers than Bill Walsh had with the San Francisco 49ers or Chuck Noll had with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has won three division titles in three seasons, taken one depleted team as far as the AFC Championship Game, and succeeded in winning 13 games this past year without benefit of a bona fide running game or a reliable run defense. But don't let those facts get in the way of your fury. Don't ponder the bigger picture before you vent. By all means, take your cues in poise and perspective from those emotional exemplars, Vincent Jackson ..."
What to do with the Bolts?
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January 21
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"A.J. Smith won't admit it. That's not his way. Makes no difference to him what their status is, he says. Remember, the general manager decides who is going to be a Charger and for how long. He's got a plan and a contingency plan and a contingency plan for the contingency plan. But the fact is, the Chargers could benefit greatly in the short-term by having a 2010 NFL season with no salary cap. The team won't spend more money than usual, and it might actually be able to spend a little less. That's the beauty of their situation. The Chargers have five marquee players whose contracts are up and who are due to be unrestricted free agents. But because of the uncertainty of the Collective ..."
Disappointed Spanos: 'You can't look back'
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January 21
San Diego Union-Tribune
 columnist Nick Canepa
"Disappointed but looking about as relaxed as Dean Martin - perhaps he's hardened by past letdowns - the other Dean, Chargers boss Dean Spanos, sat at a conference table yesterday in the team's Murphy Canyon digs. Hardly a media maven, he doesn't agree to on-the-record chats very often, but given everything that's happened to his football team in recent days, he kindly acquiesced. Besides, by the time we finished talking, he remained a terribly wealthy man, one of 32 people in the world running an NFL franchise. Still, that didn't keep him (as always) from choosing his words carefully, although I've always figured if I had that much money, I'd say whatever the heck I pleased (generally do, ..."
Rivers won't go to Florida for Pro Bowl
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January 21
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"With a brief text message, Philip Rivers confirmed he had officially withdrawn from the Pro Bowl. "Unfortunately, I will not be able to play in the Pro Bowl," Rivers said. "I hope to have another opportunity in years to come." This was the Chargers quarterback's third opportunity passed up in the past four years. The first was after the 2006 season, when he was unable to play because of a foot injury. After last season, he withdrew to rest his knees. This time, it is the impending birth of a child."
Disappointed Spanos: 'You can't look back'
Comment
January 20
San Diego Union-Tribune
 columnist Nick Canepa
"Disappointed but looking about as relaxed as Dean Martin - perhaps he's hardened by past letdowns - the other Dean, Chargers boss Dean Spanos, sat at a conference table yesterday in the team's Murphy Canyon digs. Hardly a media maven, he doesn't agree to on-the-record chats very often, but given everything that's happened to his football team in recent days, he kindly acquiesced. Besides, by the time we finished talking, he remained a terribly wealthy man, one of 32 people in the world running an NFL franchise. Still, that didn't keep him (as always) from choosing his words carefully, although I've always figured if I had that much money, I'd say whatever the heck I pleased (generally do, ..."
Chargers vow to regroup
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January 19
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Assuming 2010 is an uncapped year. These players would all be unrestricted if a new CBA is reached, but that's considered extremely unlikelyAs the Chargers and their faithful take tepid steps away from the carnage of one of the worst losses in franchise history, there are some things to know and some things to wonder about. First, the head coach isn't going anywhere. Norv Turner signed a three-year contract extension yesterday. Second, the general manager isn't going anywhere. A.J. Smith's five-year extension hasn't even officially begun. Third, Nate Kaeding isn't going anywhere. The kicker's six-year body of work and a $12.65 million contract that runs through 2012 will keep him a Charger ..."
Spanos confident in Turner
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January 19
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Ratings represent the percentage of all households with televisions tuned into a program. Each rating point today is equivalent to 10,734 households. There had been no doubt for more than a month, ever since his team walked away from Cowboys Stadium victorious and virtually assured of another trip to the postseason. It was all but a done deal prior to the playoffs starting. The timing of the announcement was tainted a bit when the Chargers were defeated Sunday and exited the postseason in horrific fashion. But still, slightly more than 24 hours after a 17-14 loss to the New York Jets, Norv Turner's three-year contract extension was made official. The pact Turner signed when he was hired ..."
Uncharacteristic? Playoff history says otherwise
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January 19
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"The word for the day is "uncharacteristic." As in: lost poise, dumb penalties, crucial mistakes and consummate choke jobs are uncharacteristic of the San Diego Chargers. The word has been tossed around so freely since Sunday's 17-14 playoff loss to the New York Jets that it's a wonder Antonio Gates didn'tit, Nate Kaeding didn't slice it and Nick Hardwick didn't snap it into an adjoining ZIP code. The implied conceit was, "We're better than this." The appropriate response is: "Prove it." Contrary to popular myth, lightning can strike the same place twice. So, too, can panic. It would be easier to believe Sunday's loss was uncharacteristic of the Chargers had they not experienced repeated ..."
Hopes for stadium take hit
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January 19
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Aging Qualcomm Stadium has hosted Super Bowls and is big enough to qualify for World Cup play, but lacks state-of-the-art amenities. A day after the San Diego Chargers' playoff exit, the team and the city said the loss won't slow efforts to build a new stadium. But dejected fans leaving Qualcomm Stadium called the loss a speed bump on the drive to build a downtown stadium with hundreds of millions of public dollars. "I think if we had a win today, we'd have much more positive support from citizens and fans," said Jeff Bouchard, 41, a process engineer who lives in Bay Park. "For the Chargers to get a new stadium is going to be tough," said Jon Stewart, 25, a golf course cart barn supervisor ..."
Chargers' Jackson was cited by police before Sunday's game
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January 19
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Eluding questions of all sorts for the second straight day, Vincent Jackson ducked into a car waiting for him by the players' gate at Chargers Park. He got in on the passenger side. Yesterday was far less eventful than Sunday for Jackson, the Chargers receiver who was stopped by police near the team's Murphy Canyon headquarters for "loud music" en route to the playoff game against the New York Jets, whereupon he got a ride to Qualcomm Stadium with quarterbacks Philip Rivers and Billy Volek. "Billy and I always ride over to the game together," said Rivers. "Vincent joined the car pool, I guess." Rivers said he'd "rather not" discuss the circumstances that led to Jackson needing a lift to ..."
Norv Turner gets three-year extension
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January 19
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"There had been no doubt for more than a month, ever since his team walked away from Cowboys Stadium victorious and virtually assured of another trip to the postseason. It was all but a done deal prior to the playoffs starting. The timing of the announcement was tainted a bit when the Chargers were defeated Sunday and exited the postseason in horrific fashion. But still, slightly more than 24 hours after a 17-14 loss to the New York Jets, Norv Turner's three-year contract extension was made official. The pact Turner signed when he was hired in 2007 was to expire after the 2010 season. His new deal runs through 2013. "I'm extremely proud of the job Norv has done with this team," team ..."
Garfield's Luis Castillo feels the hurt of loss
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January 18
Bergen Record
 
"For the fourth straight year, San Diego made the AFC playoffs but fell short of the Super Bowl. And defensive end Luis Castillo felt the hurt all over again. "We'll have nine months," the Garfield native said, "for every individual to find a way to point to themselves and to find a way, one of these years, to get past one of these games." The Chargers had 10 penalties for 87 yards, but the Jets had only five for 37. "The dead-ball penalties really hurt you," Castillo said, "and really, there's no reason for them. There's also no explanation. ... It's not like we didn't prepare the way we needed to. Things just didn't go our way." The five-year veteran tried to be optimistic. "We believe we ..."
Chargers squander another playoff game
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January 18
Orange County Register
 
"In the end, Mark Sanchez swiped the game ball. Without asking, the NFL rookie quarterback just stole it, much like he and the New York Jets swiped the postseason from the supposed-Super Bowl 44 contender San Diego Chargers. In front of a mostly stunned 69,498 at Qualcomm Stadium, the Jets defeated the Chargers, 17-14, on Sunday in the AFC divisional playoffs. The Jets, who have won their past four games, travel to face Indianapolis for the AFC Championship. The AFC West champion Chargers, who saw their 11-game winning streak come to an untimely halt, finished another promising season having fallen short of the Vince Lombardi Trophy expectations. "I don't think it all came crashing down," ..."
Rivers needs to step up in clutch
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January 18
Longmont Times-Call
 
"It's tough to blame Philip Rivers for San Diego's loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. After all, it wasn't Rivers who missed three field goal attempts, as Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding did. It's not Rivers' fault that the Chargers - and future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson - can't run the ball.It's also not Rivers' fault that a fluky bounce resulted in a third-quarter interception. Still, Rivers is at a point in his career where he has to start winning these games. He wasn't terrible on Sunday, but he wasn't great, either. Since becoming the Chargers' starting quarterback in 2006, Rivers has led the Chargers to a 46-18 regular-season record and four consecutive AFC West titles.Yet, ..."
Bolts' bitter end: Miscues derail hopes of Chargers - and fans
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January 18
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"AFL championship: San Diego had a 12-2 record when it hosted Houston (10-3) in the title game at Balboa Stadium, but the Chargers turned the ball over six times in a sloppy game for both teams. There is no need to ask how this happened. We'd seen it before. But we were told we wouldn't see it again. Can we ever be expected to believe in the Chargers in the playoffs? "Everybody should ask that question," linebacker Stephen Cooper said. "It's happened over and over again. We have the talent. We have the team. Everyone knows that. But when it comes to the playoff games, you have to show up on that day and put it all together to win games. We didn't do that. "We didn't show up. Guys weren't ..."
Outplayed, now outcast
Comment
January 18
San Diego Union-Tribune
 columnist Nick Canepa
"Some of the Chargers' poor and ignorant play in yesterday's divisional playoff debacle against the New York Jets will be blamed on the bye week, on not having played a real, honest-to-goodness football game since Christmas Day in Tennessee, on the layer of rust provided by inactivity. And that would be a mountain of manure that belongs in Tibet. "No, that's what everyone is going to say, because it's the easy thing to write about," said quarterback Philip Rivers, who joined several of his teammates in the Bad Game Room. "But we just didn't play well enough to win. They outplayed us." And, please, don't say the Jets were overlooked. Anybody who overlooks a playoff team was a lookout at ..."
Kaeding is kicking himself
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January 18
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding walks toward the sideline after missing his third field goal against the Jets, in the fourth quarter. Wide left? Wide right? Short? Did the snaps look good? The holds? Did the kicks look true off the foot, true clearing the line of scrimmage? Did it veer? Did it wobble? "I really couldn't tell you," said Jacob Hester, a regular on Chargers special teams. "With Nate, sometimes I don't even look. He's that money." Meaning, the Chargers have grown so accustomed to place-kicker Nate Kaeding's uncanny, near-incomparable accuracy on field-goal attempts from virtually any distance this season, they're downright shocked by the sight of a referee crossing hands in ..."
QB's playoff legacy takes another hit
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January 18
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers fends off Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis during the fourth quarter of New York's upset victory at Qualcomm Stadium. Rivers completed 27-of-40 passes for 298 yards but also threw two interceptions. Philip Rivers probably should not shoulder too much blame for yesterday's 17-14 loss to the New York Jets. Just one of his interceptions could be considered his fault. He completed enough passes, was sharp enough to have had a much kinder outcome. But neither did he distance himself from what is so far a stagnant postseason legacy. The man who has the second-most victories (48) through 64 regular-season starts is 3-4 in the playoffs in his career. He has been ..."
Onside kick Turner-ing point for SD
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January 18
New York Post
 
"Leave it to Norv. Old Norv Turner was at it again yesterday, finding ways to screw up. A day filled with questionable calls by the Chargers coach -- from leaning on the running game to using timeouts -- was capped by his decision to try an onside kick with 2:20 left in the game. The Chargers had just scored a touchdown to make the score 17-14. Instead of booting it deep and putting the pressure on the Jets to make some plays, he had punter/kickoff man Mike Scifres kick it 10 yards, where Kerry Rhodes recovered the ball for the Jets."
You gotta be Kaeding! He chokes again
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January 18
New York Post
 
"It had to be good omen for the Jets. What else could it be? Whatever it was, you can rest assured that Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding never wants to be lining up for an important field goal against the Jets again. Kaeding, who had been almost perfect this season, yanked a 36-yard field goal wide left in the first quarter and he later pushed a 40-yarder wide right in the fourth quarter. He also missed a 57-yarder just before the end of the half. Five years ago, Kaeding missed a field goal in overtime in a 20-17 wild-card playoff loss to the Jets. "One of these rested on my shoulders before," Kaeding said. "I feel sorry for my teammates, my coaches and the support staff for letting them down. ..."
Rivers threw it away with INTs
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January 18
New York Post
 
"Philip Rivers will be replaying the throw in his mind for months. The Chargers quarterback threw a brutal interception at the worst time and his team is packing up their equipment today in part because of him. At the end of the third quarter he threw from his own 5-yard line into coverage. Jim Leonhard picked it off and set up the Jets go-ahead touchdown. "Yes, [Vincent Jackson] was coming in on a dig and I just threw it a little too soon and brought him in a little too far," Rivers said. "It was just not a smart play.""
Bolts' blues
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January 18
New York Post
 
"The Chargers were their own worst enemy yesterday, making several key mistakes in the Jets' 17-14 victory: Nate Kaeding, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, missed field goals from 36, 40 and 57 yards. The Chargers looked to have converted a first down midway through the third quarter when Rivers completed a pass to Jackson that went down to the Jets' 20. But a block-in-the-back penalty called on wide receiver Malcolm Floyd left San Diego with a first-and-12 at the Jets' 40 instead. The Chargers then went three-and-out."
Norv's crew melts again
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January 18
New York Post
 
"Same old Chargers. Another great year, another playoff failure. The Jets handed the Chargers their latest unbelievable postseason loss yesterday, this one 17-14. The Chargers have won the AFC West in five of the last six seasons, but they always stumble when January arrives. The questions about Norv Turner will be flying in southern California this morning like they did about his predecessor, Marty Schottenheimer.Good regular season coach, can't win the big one. "You like to be playing your best game in January in games like this," Turner said. "Certainly, we weren't for whatever reasons. It's disappointing." The Chargers made too many mistakes to win, committing 10 penalties for 87 yards, ..."
Chargers shocked by kicker Nate Kaeding's uncharacteristic three missed field goals vs. Jets
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January 18
New York Daily News
 
"Wide left? Wide right? Short? Did the snaps look good? The holds? Did the kicks look true off the foot, true clearing the line of scrimmage? Did it veer? Did it wobble? "I really couldn't tell you," said Jacob Hester, a regular on Chargers special teams. "With Nate, sometimes I don't even look. He's that money." Meaning, the Chargers have grown so accustomed to placekicker Nate Kaeding's uncanny, near-incomparable accuracy on field-goal attempts from virtually any distance this season, they're downright shocked by the sight of a referee crossing hands in front of him in the "not-good" signal. But c'mon. Twice in one game? Three times? In a playoff game? "I've had one of these rested on ..."
Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene lead New York Jets' potent rushing attack in win over Chargers
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January 18
New York Daily News
 
"Thomas Jones needed one yard to get the Jets into the AFC Championship Game. He got two. On fourth-and-1 at the San Diego 29 and with 1:09 remaining, the Jets decided to go for it, knowing that the one yard was all they needed to vanquish the Chargers, who were out of timeouts. They called their bread-and-butter play, their power rush to the right. And once Jones squeezed through a crack for the first down, the Jets could celebrate a stunning 17-14 victory. For the second straight week, rookie Shonn Greene ran for over 100 yards, while Jones picked up key yards when the Jets needed them. They'll try to make that formula work again next week in Indianapolis and run their way to the Super ..."
San Diego Chargers fans already want Norv Turner gone after loss to New York Jets
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January 18
New York Daily News
 
"A radio inside a press box elevator at Qualcomm Stadium was tuned to a local sports talk station only minutes after the Chargers had melted down against the Jets Sunday, and call-in fans were already asking for Norv Turner's head. But while Turner may end up being the face of the Chargers' failure to get past the divisional round of the AFC playoffs, his players did more to blow the game than he did. After winning the final 11 games to finish 13-3, the Chargers stumbled in every way imaginable during their shocking 17-14 loss to the Jets. And it may be tough to point the finger of blame at Turner, even though he has a history of bowing out early in the playoffs. "You'd like to be playing ..."
LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers can't run ball in loss to New York Jets
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January 18
New York Daily News
 
"A few days ago, Jets LB Bart Scott said he would welcome a heavy ground attack by the Chargers. He told a reporter to pass the word along to Norv Turner. Turner obliged, resulting in a local icon - LaDainian Tomlinson - getting booed in the Chargers' 17-14 divisional playoff loss to the Jets. The Chargers' coach kept force-feeding the ball to Tomlinson, who finished with only 24 yards on 12 carries. Tomlinson, 30, looking slower than ever, was booed on his final carry and hinted after the game he may retire."
With Momentum, Chargers Fall Hard
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January 18
New York Times
 
"The Chargers were rested and ready, they were playing the best football in the N.F.L., and they believed they had a coach who knew how to win in the playoffs. So much for those notions, which were as off the mark as kicker Nate Kaeding on Sunday as San Diego dropped out of the playoffs with a 17-14 loss to the upstart Jets. Instead of the Super Bowl dark horse they fancied themselves, the Chargers, who had won their final 11 games of the regular season, played like jittery novices. Kaeding, one of the N.F.L.'s most accurate kickers, missed three attempts - as many as he had all season. Philip Rivers, who had thrown nine interceptions in the regular season, threw two on consecutive passes, ..."
For Jets, Things Fall Right When They're Done Right
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January 18
New York Times
 
"The N.F.L. finally had the upset it was waiting for. And then some. The Jets - that is correct, the Jets - are going to the American Football Conference championship game. Their improbable 17-14 victory in an improbable season was all but secured when Shonn Greene, a rookie running back, broke away for a 53-yard touchdown run with 7 minutes 17 seconds left. Greene's run, the longest in Jets postseason history, gave his team a 17-7 lead, although a 10-point lead was barely enough. With a little more than three minutes remaining, the Chargers cut the lead to 17-14 on a touchdown by Philip Rivers. But alas, these are not the same old Jets. They seem destined."
LT's likely exit comes empty, sadly
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January 18
San Diego Union-Tribune
 columnist Tim Sullivan
"On his last carry of the last game of what will surely be his last season with the San Diego Chargers, LaDainian Tomlinson was stopped for a 1-yard gain and struck by the sound of unambiguous boos. The noise was reflexive rather than reflective, the spontaneous venting of stunned spectators, and it was probably directed more at the play call than at the player. But on a day of profound disappointment, with Qualcomm Stadium packed with bewildered and crestfallen fans, not even the finest running back the Chargers have employed was beyond backlash. Tomlinson acknowledged that he was aware of the boos following the New York Jets' 17-14 playoff ambush, and he attributed them to the crowd's ..."