One goal is enough for Bears; Schottenheimer gets reprieve, declines extension

By: JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | Wednesday, January 17, 2007 11:21 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO -- Marty Schottenheimer has added another mantra to his list: one contract at a time.

Schottenheimer is returning as the Chargers' coach -- minus an extension presented Wednesday by the club.

Team president Dean Spanos offered Schottenheimer $4.5 million in 2008, although the club had an option to cancel the deal with a $1 million buyout. Schottenheimer's current pact, which expires at the end of next season, is worth more than $3 million.

"There's been a lot of discussion about the possibility of this thing, but I signed a contract and I have every intention of fulfilling that contract,'' Schottenheimer said. "We talked about another option within the framework of another year, and I just wasn't comfortable with that part of the arrangement.''

Schottenheimer declined to agree to a pact that will likely be beneath market value in 2008. Atlanta recently hired first-time NFL head coach Bobby Petrino for $4.8 million per season for five years.

So Schottenheimer will take his chances with the Chargers' performance next season -- then reshuffle his hand.

"Right now, I wasn't comfortable accepting it,'' Schottenheimer said. "I appreciate that it was extended to me.''

Schottenheimer enters the 2007 season as a lame duck, with no assurance that he'll roam San Diego's sideline in '08. And Schottenheimer -- one of five coaches with 200 regular-season wins -- is fine with that.

"Some people would say that I'm at my best when the pressure is on,'' Schottenheimer said. "I don't necessarily share that, and I'm sure some of you don't, either.''

The 63-year-old Schottenheimer couldn't help but smile, knowing his postseason pratfalls are what gave the Chargers pause.

He's 5-13 in the playoffs. Four times his team was bounced after entering the postseason as the top seed, such as the Chargers were on Sunday. On nine occasions, Schottenheimer went one-and-done in the playoffs, including twice with the Chargers.

But Spanos decided that the stability of a team that set a franchise record with 14 regular-season wins trumped Schottenheimer's January experiences. In his five Chargers seasons, Schottenheimer is 47-33 in the regular season.

"There were a lot of things that were discussed between (general manager) A.J. Smith and myself,'' Spanos said. "I think the most important thing is he gives us the best chance to win next year. It keeps the continuity of the team together. There is a tremendous amount of support (for Schottenheimer) by the players. Those types of things were the kind of things that were important to me.

"I have a lot of confidence in him and the coaches down there -- 14-2 is not a bad record.''

Still, Schottenheimer's employment was in doubt some 48 hours after Sunday's disappointing playoff loss to the New England Patriots. Smith contemplated Schottenheimer's status, soliciting opinions from around the league and within his building.

"Monday was kind of a day to reflect and let your emotions die, settle down,'' Smith said. "Tuesday, for me, (I spent) all day, all night with Dean. Also I talked to some players. I want to get a pulse for the situation. I want to get a feel for the morale. I also talked to front-office personnel.

"I believe in a year-to-year situation, no matter what contracts are -- Year to year to year. And I'm pretty sure I'm evaluated on a year-to-year basis.''

One constant is the frosty relationship between Smith and Schottenheimer.

"I don't know what you mean by not getting along,'' Spanos said. "Are you saying they do not like each other? They get along in this organization for us to go 14-2. They each have the same goal in mind: to win a championship.

"One is a very good coach and one is a very good general manager. We work well enough professionally during the year -- we have had issues, there is no doubt about it -- but we work well enough during the year to function properly and field a team and go 14-2.''

Schottenheimer said his relationship with Smith is a "non-issue.''

"I'm a tough, ornery old cuss,'' Schottenheimer said. "Let me just say this: I hope all of you would appreciate the fact that I only care about one thing, and that's winning football games. All the rest of this stuff is extraneous; they are matters of the day, if you will.''

What mattered to Smith was keeping intact a team that has won two of the last three AFC West championships.

"I made a recommendation that may surprise all of you,'' Smith said, "that we continue next year with Marty Schottenheimer based on the fact we are so talented a football team and the information I got from everybody that we are so close.''

So don't slam the door on Schottenheimer yet, although some wanted the coach and his six straight playoff losses to exit.

His assistant coaches were also offered extensions, although offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was in Miami on Wednesday interviewing for the Dolphins' head coaching vacancy. Receivers coach James Lofton could be Oakland's next head coach.

For at least one more year, though, Schottenheimer's commitment to excellence is with the Chargers.

"I like San Diego,'' he said. "I love what went on in that stadium (Sunday) for the first 45 minutes or whatever it is. The community has embraced us; we've had some measure of success. But I think the most important thing, quite frankly for me, was that we've worked very, very hard over the past five years.

"The players and the coaches and the investments that have been made by all of us, we still have work that's undone.''

-- Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.