Getty ImagesEarlier this week, Chargers president Dean Spanos found himself facing a barrage of questions regarding the decision to stick with coach Norv Turner after five seasons. It was fitting, then, for Turner to answer plenty of questions regarding his decision to not stick with defensive coordinator Greg Manusky after only one.
“When the season ends you go and evaluate the things that you feel are critical,” Turner said in remarks distributed by the team. “Moving forward, I just thought this was the best opportunity for our team to go do the things we’re capable of doing.”
And plenty of Chargers fans would say that reasoning should have pointed to a new head coach.
The fact that new defensive coordinator John Pagano reportedly was planning to join Jim Mora at UCLA apparently was a factor in the decision to dump Manusky and promote Pagano.
“I think anytime you’re in a process of making a decision, a lot of things go into it,” Turner said. “Certainly we considered everything that was involved.”
Turner referred on several occasions to “fit” — that Pagano is and Manusky wasn’t. Plenty of Chargers fans would say that Turner should have realized that a year ago, before hiring Manusky from the 49ers and passing over Pagano.
Still, Turner insisted that Manusky isn’t the scapegoat for an 8-8 season that resulted in no playoff appearance. “That’s always the question that’s asked when you make a change,” Turner said. “That’s always what’s insinuated. I don’t believe in that. I think, as I said, I’m not looking back. I’m looking forward and looking for the things we need to do to get better in the future.”
That’s a good idea. Because if the Chargers don’t do the things they need to do go get better in the future, Turner could be the next former Chargers employee about whom a press conference is being conducted.
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Norv Turner firing somebody else… HAHAHA!! If that’s not the pot calling the kettle black!
Funny: I don’t remember the Charger linebacker being anything other than sub-mediocre.
Turner: “It was him or me!”
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There’s a bus coming by here in 10 minutes ….be under it.
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Is there. No dermatologists in San Diego, Norv?
Manusky wasn’t available for comment due to being under a bus
“Pagano”: Great name for a defensive coordinator!
Here I thought you were a Giants fan. But you’re getting really fired up about the stuff with San Diego!
Glad this happened. Megatron ran all over our D like it was pop warner. He needed to go.
Yeah that’s cool, but back to you. Why weren’t you fired again, because of the relationship with the quarterback?
Ah well, the good folks in LA will be happy to have a team again………..they won’t care initially that Norv, AJ & Dean are the biggest clowns this side of South Beach.
Someone explain to me how AJ Smith keeps his job after a season where Drew Brees breaks the NFL passing yardage record, Darren Sproles breaks the NFL all-purpose yardage mark, and Michael Turner gains 1,300 yards with 11 TDs. All 3 players former Chargers he failed to lock up.
xpensivewinos says: “Ah well, the good folks in LA will be happy to have a team again………..they won’t care initially that Norv, AJ & Dean are the biggest clowns this side of South Beach.”
Clearly, you do not live here.
We do care, and we don’t> want the Chargers as “our” team.
We like them just fine in Sandy Eggo, thank you.
SO in the end the Chargers decided to keep everything about the same. What great news for the rest of the AFC West!
Just move baby!
Greg Manusky ate my homework.
“I think anytime you’re in a process of making a decision, a lot of things go into it,” Turner said. “Certainly we considered everything that was involved.”
Consider this: you suck as a head coach. Shifting blame, coach-speak out the ying-yang, we all see through you. One more year of mediocrity and you’re gone. GONE! LEAVE THE BUILDING, MAN.
Alex Spanos defends decision to dump Norv Turner.
Oh wait that didn’t happen! Never mind.
(sigh)
Quick, somebody reach under the bus and pull Manusky out!
Yet another dumb decision orchestrated by “The Lord of No Rings” and his trusty sidekick, Norv “Froddo” Turner.
Hey Chargers – Incongruity called and said to knock it off, you’re giving it a bad name.
Countdown to essential veteran players begins – oops, it already started.
Somewhere, Georgia Frontiere is thinking “I get no credit . . . these are my ideas . . . gender equality! Now!”
Someone explain how Norv & Smith kept their jobs.
Is it just because the owner didn’t want to be on the hook for the rest of their contracts? That has to be it because what is the argument to retain both of these guys.
I guess it’s now a little easier to understand how they have difficulty in filling up the seats in SD.
Fans can, and eventually due figure out when ownership is in it for the cash (see CIN & Brown), and the attendance drops soon after.
Between AJ (who picks the studs for the team) and Norv (whose job it is to get the most out of those studs), San Diego has just one player in the voting for All Pro… and they both kept their jobs!
No, wait… lots of players we let go are in the voting…same thing, right? No?
mikeeg says:
Is there. No dermatologists in San Diego, Norv?
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c’mon dude, you’re making it personal. not necessary.
you and the 23 people that up-voted that comment are complete morons.