Exactly 24 hours after the San Diego Chargers experienced one of the most crushing playoff losses in franchise history, team president Dean Spanos announced Monday night that he had signed head coach Norv Turner to a three-year contract extension.With that, the Chargers made it clear they believe in Turner and the direction he's taking the club.
"I'm extremely proud of the job Norv has done with this team," Spanos said in a statement. "In three seasons he's led the team to three division titles. I'm confident that if we strengthen our roster and continue to provide Norv the assets he needs, this team will have continued success."
Turner, who is under contract through the 2013 season, has guided the Chargers to AFC West titles since becoming head coach in 2007, and has the best winning percent of any coach in franchise history (35-19, .648).
But while San Diego (13-4) posted an 11-game regular-season winning streak in 2008 and is 13-0 in December under Turner's watch, frustrated Chargers fans are still steaming about Sunday's shocking 17-14 AFC divisional loss to the underdog fifth-seeded New York Jets (11-7) at Qualcomm Stadium.
Cries of "Stupor Chargers" have filled the air in San Diego after kicker Nate Kaeding missed all three field goal tries, quarterback Philip Rivers threw two interceptions, running back LaDainian Tomlinson struggled to gain 24 yards on 12 carries and the second-seeded Chargers committed 10 penalties -- several of them costly personal fouls -- for 87 yards.
But while the high-flying Chargers went completely flat in the postseason, players voiced confidence in Turner on Monday.
"Norv can't play the game for us," tight end Antonio Gates told XX 1090 Sports Radio. "They call plays and we go out and execute. Norv wasn't jumping offsides. Norv wasn't doing unsportsmanlike conduct. That was all self-control or self-inflicted wounds. I think that's why it hurts the most."
In the regular season, the Chargers committed the second-fewest turnovers (17) and had the third-fewest penalty yards (570) of any team in the NFL. San Diego's 78 regular-season penalties were the fewest by a Chargers' team since 1976, when the NFL had 14-game regular seasons.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Cool, another four years of Charger Playoff futility. Actually, I expect this team will not be making the playoffs much longer. Norv inherited Marty's team. He will not have the same success as Marty's team starts to dismantle.
What's the point of a 3 yr extentsion. Bad business to be on the hook for the next 4 years with a coach that still has a lot to prove. I will bet you anything you can think of that he will not b make it through the end of his contract. Any takers???
A Realist
Ahhhh! You have got to be kidding me! The most hated coach in Charger history. Fans suck to ownership.
It may not be Norv's job to execute, but it IS his job to motivate and he failed at that on Sunday.
And isn't it also his job to have his team FOCUS????? They were ill-prepared
imho and alot or most of that is part of "coaching".
I wasn't sorry for the outcome tho as I bet $100 to get $250...sorry for your loss Mom.......go Jets!!!!
norv turner "the genius"..ha ha ha....sick of hearing that...he's a LOSER
this rivers guy looked like a bum..the jets were motivated..the chargers had no spunk...poor coaching...xxx's and 0000's mean nothing if ya ain't got the heart to win....feel sorry for the diego fans...they are being hoodwinked....
rivers cant play under pressure and the kicker who he playing for next year. well who knows ,hey they got this far ,ya ya ya.
Way to reward someone who took a 14 & 2 team to an 8 & 8 team and then, 3 years later back to 13 & 3 - and he's rewarded for mediocrity??? Great decision on the onside kick with over 2 minutes to go!!! If Turner took a sub 500 team and made them winners it would speak volumes about his coaching expertise. To take a 14 & 2 team and go backwards validates a contract extension let alone a head coaching job? Amazing how you get rewarded for incompency these days!
Norv sucks, Rivers sucks, time to clean house. The partys over !!!!
We would be in the Super Bowl if we still had Drew Brees !!! what a big
mistake. Brees or Rivers ??? Do the math !!!!!!!!
You do realize that they had their future franchise QB in a backup role when they ditched Brees, that Brees was mostly mediocre with the Chargers, and that they would have been forced to get rid of one of them eventually anyway, right?
Norv may not be the guy who jumps off sides but he is responsible for the attitude of the team which is that of a bunch of jerks. Should have been more flags for unsportsman like conduct last Sunday.
its a sham people running w/the aw its the coaches fault. sham on you idiots, he Turner is one of the best. look at every team he's had, always rebuilding. well S.D. was one demensional all season. no ground game, so give the guy a break.
Jam Tell me Youre Norvs brother arnt ya.
It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out what the Chargers will do on first down. Let's see, maybe LT off tackle? Why don't the Chargers just automatically take the ball 2nd and 10? You can't run without blocking, especially against the # 1 defense. Now who makes those calls, Turner? Sure give him another contract extension. Go Saints!!!!
Norv Turner: Proven loser as a head coach. Just ask the Raider and the Redskin fans, and now San Diego. It takes more than X’s and O’s to be successful in the NFL at the head coaching position. I still believe that if the Chargers had kept Marty and Drew they would have already won a Super Bowl! The only reason Turner got the job was because of his friendship with the GM. With this extension they will return to being a mediocre team, at best!
For your information, Turner is the WINNINGEST coach the Redskins has had in the last ten years. He also coach them to the playoffs AND was one touchdown away from the Championship. The LOSER is Dan Snyder, the owner of the Redskins. Because he watched the 'skins on tv for alot of years he thught he knew football. He fired Norv and started his streak of seven coaches in 11 years. Great management style. San Diego will do alright in a couple years with a Super Bowl victory because of Turner and good management from their GM and especially their owner
Too many prima donnas here, beginning with Rivers. He is NO leader. He and Cutler are from the same mold.....
What are you people crying about? Your Chargers did great and so they didn't make it, it was a real close game. Unlike my COWBOYS'S, losing 34 to 3!
That;s just great. Another Chargers coach who can win in the regular season, but can't even win one playoff game. Norv Turner just isn't a football coach that can handle the pressure of the playoffs, and the national media. It should be obvious to Mr. Spanos by now, but apparently it's not. Marty first now Norv....which is better?
Losers lose.... nuff said...