Fire Marty

Or that should read Fire Marty? Fans of the San Diego Chargers want blood and Marty seems to be the most appropriate choice. But would firing Schottenheimer be the best possible solution? Consider the alternatives. The Chargers would almost be forced to promote one of the two coordinators to the top spot, Wade Phillips and Cam Cameron. Phillips struggled in stops in Denver and Buffalo, so a tenure in San Diego would likely not be much of an improvement. Cameron was horrible at the University of Indiana. So if guys like Nick Saban and Butch Davis couldn't win in the NFL after having much success in college, what chance does a coach from a lousy lower-level college conference have? Probably none.

The next alternative would be to hire out of the organization. So you are looking at guys like Jim Mora (if he's not already snapped up by Miami) or (God-forbid) Mike Martz. Not really much of an upgrade there. And if you did hire outside of the organization, what happens to the current coaching staff? So you either dismantle a coaching staff that won 14 games, or hire a limp-wristed coach who would be willing to inherit a new staff, like he was Barry Switzer or something. That's what the Raiders do.

The Chargers are forced to stick with Schottenheimer for one more year, even if it ends in disappointment again. But Chargers fans are used to that.