Chargers to fire Coach Norv Turner

[Big Bid'Ness]

From:TheLAtimes.com

Chargers Coach Norv Turner and General Manager A.J. Smith will both be fired at the end of the season, according to a report.

December 6, 2012, 4:27 p.m.

The Chargers are planning to clean house at the end of the season, firing both Coach Norv Turner and General Manager A.J. Smith, according to a U-T San Diego report.

The report, which appeared Thursday afternoon on the newspaper’s website, quoted unnamed sources who said team owner Dean Spanos decided a month ago to fire Turner but has more recently decided Smith must go too.

The report says Spanos has decided to make the move at the end of the season because that’s his preferred time frame, rather than any faith he might have in the Chargers’ slim chances of making the playoffs.

Further, the report says Spanos has a Smith successor in mind in Jimmy Raye, the current director of player personnel, and Raye’s right-hand man will be Spanos’ son, John, the current director of college scouting. The team will owe Smith $4 million for the remaining two years of his deal and Turner $3 million for his one remaining season.

[Updated, 4:16 p.m.: Spanos later released a statement denying the report.

"There is only one person in this organization who will make those decisions and that’s me, and I haven’t shared my thoughts with anyone," the statement reads. "I will make my evaluations at the end of the season. Anything coming out now – from sources or otherwise – is pure speculation."]

The Chargers, who play at Pittsburgh on Sunday, are 4-8 and have lost four in a row. They have missed the playoffs the last two seasons.

 

[Big Bid'Ness]

From:rotoworld

Norved: Turner, GM Smith let go by Chargers

Chargers fired coach Norv Turner and GM A.J. Smith.

After avoiding the unemployment line by the skin of their teeth last offseason, Turner and Smith's impending dismissal was an open secret following the Chargers' (latest) midseason implosion. Collaborators since 2007, the Chargers reached the playoffs in each of Turner's first three seasons as coach, but were runners up in the AFC West the past three years as they skidded to a 24-24 record. Turner remains one of the league's most respected play-callers, but seems to lack the qualities to be a head coach. Smith, meanwhile, often appeared more interested in playing hardball than actually GMing the past few seasons. Both should find jobs for 2013 if they're interested. Turner as a coordinator, Smith as a front-office assistant.

 

[Elite]

Keep seeing everyone linking Turner to the Jets, not a bad idea I guess, but his QB fell apart these past few seasons, don't know if his offensive knowledge isn't as good as his reputation would lead you to believe