By Josh Katzowitz
Now that the Chargers have been knocked out of the playoff picture officially after the Lions dominated them on Saturday, we can almost surely expect to see the front office fire coach Norv Turner.
That’s especially true after a report surfaced last week that said that in order for Turner and San Diego general manager A.J. Smith to save their jobs, the Chargers needed to win the final two games of the season.
That obviously didn’t happen, so now, the discussion has turned to who could replace Turner. And while our CBS colleague Bill Cowher continues to say he’s not interested in leaving the world of TV (even Dan Marino, in answering a question about the open Dolphins job, said he didn’t think Cowher’s mindset was in returning to coaching), the New York Post has reported that Cowher already interviewed in San Diego.
“I was told this week by an in-the-know source with intimate knowledge of the San Diego sports scene that Cowher already had ‘an interview’ with high-ranking people inside the Chargers organization who were gauging his interest and that he expressed his interest in the job should Norv Turner be fired,” wrote Mark Cannizzaro in the Post.
That report, though, is at odds with what the San Diego Union Tribune is writing. Reported Kevin Acee: “Two Chargers sources said unequivocally and vehemently on Saturday that the Chargers have not talked to Cowher.”
Making matters more complicated was the fact that former Titans coach Jeff Fisher, who figures to be a popular coaching choice this offseason (including, perhaps, with the Chargers), was in Detroit and talking with Turner before the game (Fisher’s son is a defensive assistant for the Lions).
Owner Dean Spanos told the Union-Trib that he’d wait until next week to make a decision on Turner.
Look, chances are Cowher won’t be the one to replace him, because it’s unlikely Cowher will return to the game this season (if ever).
Yet, even though Cowher recently told Sports Illustrated this, “People don't understand. I'm not coaching. I'm enjoying life more right now than I ever have,” his name won’t evaporate from coaching searches anytime soon. Even if he really is intent on not ever returning.
Now that the Chargers have been knocked out of the playoff picture officially after the Lions dominated them on Saturday, we can almost surely expect to see the front office fire coach Norv Turner.
That’s especially true after a report surfaced last week that said that in order for Turner and San Diego general manager A.J. Smith to save their jobs, the Chargers needed to win the final two games of the season.
That obviously didn’t happen, so now, the discussion has turned to who could replace Turner. And while our CBS colleague Bill Cowher continues to say he’s not interested in leaving the world of TV (even Dan Marino, in answering a question about the open Dolphins job, said he didn’t think Cowher’s mindset was in returning to coaching), the New York Post has reported that Cowher already interviewed in San Diego.
“I was told this week by an in-the-know source with intimate knowledge of the San Diego sports scene that Cowher already had ‘an interview’ with high-ranking people inside the Chargers organization who were gauging his interest and that he expressed his interest in the job should Norv Turner be fired,” wrote Mark Cannizzaro in the Post.
That report, though, is at odds with what the San Diego Union Tribune is writing. Reported Kevin Acee: “Two Chargers sources said unequivocally and vehemently on Saturday that the Chargers have not talked to Cowher.”
Making matters more complicated was the fact that former Titans coach Jeff Fisher, who figures to be a popular coaching choice this offseason (including, perhaps, with the Chargers), was in Detroit and talking with Turner before the game (Fisher’s son is a defensive assistant for the Lions).
Owner Dean Spanos told the Union-Trib that he’d wait until next week to make a decision on Turner.
Look, chances are Cowher won’t be the one to replace him, because it’s unlikely Cowher will return to the game this season (if ever).
Yet, even though Cowher recently told Sports Illustrated this, “People don't understand. I'm not coaching. I'm enjoying life more right now than I ever have,” his name won’t evaporate from coaching searches anytime soon. Even if he really is intent on not ever returning.
