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Relationship with Rivers may have saved Norv Turner
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 4, 2012, 9:29 AM EST


Leading up to San Diego’s final game of the season, quarterback Philip Rivers passionately spoke up for his coach Norv Turner.

After the game, Rivers defended Turner even more vocally to the media. And then he took the message directly to owner Dean Spanos.

Rivers and “several other Chargers” went directly to owner Dean Spanos to make the case to keep Turner, according to NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora. It’s not a stretch to say Rivers’ words and actions may have saved Turner’s gig.

“Philip has a great relationship with one of the best coaches he could possibly have,” Spanos said. “You can build your whole team around that relationship.”

We still don’t understand the decision, even after Spanos’ interview with Florio Tuesday. San Diego’s great play at the end of the season just proved how the team underachieved this season. Just like they did last year. If their six-game losing streak came later in the year, Turner would almost certainly be gone.

But all the losses should count equally, no matter when they happen. The team badly underachieved again.

Turner does work with Rivers very well. But Rivers is talented enough to work with a lot of good coaches. His loyalty is admirable, but it could cost him a chance to win big in 2012.

Rivers is talented enough and passionate enough to possibly have saved Turner’s job.

“If I knew [I saved Turner's job], I wouldn’t tell you,” Rivers told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “If I believe in something, I wouldn’t feel good if I didn’t [say it]. I didn’t do it to just defend the coach.”
 

Maveric

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Either that, or somebody's got some pictures Spanos doesn't want the world to see...
 
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Norv Turner is not a championship coach. It's absolutely ridiculous that the Chargers have not been a more dominant force with all that talent, and playing in such a weak division. How they don't contend for the #1 seed and play in multiple AFC Conference Championships/Super Bowls is inexcuseable. IMNSHO.
 

pdom

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Damn QBs take to Turner like fat kids to cake. Aikman swears by Norv and so does Rivers.
 

dbair1967

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Norv Turner is not a championship coach. It's absolutely ridiculous that the Chargers have not been a more dominant force with all that talent, and playing in such a weak division. How they don't contend for the #1 seed and play in multiple AFC Conference Championships/Super Bowls is inexcuseable. IMNSHO.

They did have alot of injuries this year though, their OL was decimated for alot of the season.

Also, I dont know that they have that much more talent than alot of teams. They have a few good players on defense, but no really dominant player. Rivers is a great QB and they have Jackson & Gates, but outside of that there's nobody else there that is an elite player.
 
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dbair1967

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Damn QBs take to Turner like fat kids to cake. Aikman swears by Norv and so does Rivers.

Norv has to wonder how different his coaching career would have been had he not jumped at the Redskins job right after the Super Bowl in 1993. Just a month or two later Jerry and Jimmy divorced, and Norv would have gotten that job easily over Switzer. I think Norv would have got a couple rings here easily. Instead he inherited a train wreck in Washington, then had to endure that idiot Snyder his last couple seasons.
 
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