Too late wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:33 AM:Playing for pride, what a joke. They are a professional NFL team. This is the problem from the beginning. You don't just play for pride when things are bad, YOU PLAY FOR PRIDE EVERY GAME.

Joe wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:08 AM:Obviously, Norf is obviously a pathetic loser of a coach - obviously not a LEADER OF MEN going into battle. Obviously if the Chargers lose just one of their last 4 games Norf will obviously have coached his SIXTH LOSING SEASON!!! WAKE UP OJ SMITH and Dean Spanos! Obviously if Smith doesn't fire Norf this year then obviously Dean Spanos should obviously fire them both and bring in a tough minded coach like the Dolphins obviously have and start whipping these prima donnas (earings and kissing bicepts etc.) into shape or ship them out.

Obviously their best play of the season was obviously the fake punt. Maybe they could run that on 1st and 10. Obviously LT up the gut for -1 yards is not getting it done obviously.

I don't know what's worse, having to endure the Chunky Soup commercial before every Chargers interview or having to endure Norf use the word "obviously" 3 times in every sentence he utters.

OJ Smith is overestimated as a GM. He very likely cost the Chargers the playosffs when he hardballed Gates, the consumate gentleman and all world athlete, which forced Gates to hold out. Had Gates, who was then not injured and in his prime, been in that game against the Cowboys, most pundits believe Gates would have been worth the 3 points to win and get the Chargers in the playoffs.

Great job drafting Sammy "Toast" Davis, BUSTer Davis and hiring loser Norf. Has any SUCCESSFUL NFL team FIRED a 14-2 coach only to hire a coach with a 5 year LOSING record about to become a 6 year LOSING coach?

Had OJ Smith not been such an EGOmaniac and kept his 14-2 coach and allowed Marty to bring in his brother as offensive coordinator (who is doing a GREAT) job with the WINNING NY Jets, there is no doubt the Chargers would at least be in the "tournament" and "making some noise" which the are OBVIOUSLY NOT this year under OJ Smith's boy Norf.

The massive meltdown this season will go down as the biggest flop and waste of talent in NFL history as the Chargers were at the very top in Power Rankings and expected to compete for, if not be in and actually win, the Superbowl coming off the AFC Championship game which Norf rode the coat tails of the residual effect of Marty.

So much for the bill of goods "continuity" stuffed down our throats when OJ Smith hired Norf. Yeah, continuous LOSING like his other 5 losing seasons.

As Bill Cowher will not come to SD with OJ Smith (the bigger question is: WHO WILL???) as GM and Marty is his mentor and best friend (he still might not be willing to work for the dysfuntional Chargers), it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that the SMARTEST move it to hire Marty as GM and Cowher as head coach. That would require Dean Spanos swallowing his pride for the sake of the franchise but I ain't holding my breath on that one.

Obviously Norf needs to get fired then obviously we obviously won't have to endure him obviously saying the word "obviously" every other word. Obviously, if I never hear the word "obviously" again it will obviously be too soon obviously.

Firing Marty after going 14-2 and hiring Norf is a classic case of OJ Smith's massive EGO RUINING the franchise like a Greek tragedy.

If the Chargers can win ALL 4 of their final games then at least Norf will have "only" 5 LOSING seasons as a head coach instead of 6 - great record Norf.

BoltDan wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:24 AM:I don't think Wilhelm should be saying anything to the press the way he plays. He can play the run (when in position) but sucks as a cover LB. When he drops back he loses his guy everytime (#1 reason Tight Ends are catching the most passes against us). Another AJ moment by getting rid of the best LB (Donnie Edwards) and replacing him with trash. Where are all those bloggers from last year who were defending AJ and NOrv. Calling us Bolt fans names because we didn't think Norv was the man??? I wonder where they are.

Johny On The Spot wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:36 AM:I agree with Joe whole-heartedly.

Marty was a winning coach who demanded respect and performance from his players.

Norv was a loser before he was hired and has helped the Chargers to become the same.

The management of the Chargers team is clearly the ones responsible for this and should go along with Norv.

I am sure that 90 percent of the Charger fans agree. Whaddayall think?

Titans wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:55 AM:Glad the Chargers are out of it. They're a bunch of arrogant ... anyway. Who's pointing and laughing NOW, Philip Rivers?!! HAAA Jay Cutler got the best of you this year. Paybacks are hell. I hate the Chargers.

meangene wrote on Dec 2, 2008 9:27 AM:hey johnny on the spot.....you have always been losers....your team is doing what comes naturally....LOSING!!!...HURRY TO EBAY FOR CHARGER GEAR...BANDWAGON FANS ARE DUMPING THEIR CHARGER STUFF....see you on thursday nite...GO RAIDERS

Jaque wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:28 AM:Wow....look at Eli and the G-men. Another Superbowl win? Maybe he really was thinking right when he and his papa said he didn't want to play for San Diego.

Bob Diego wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:56 AM:AJ Smith has acted just like Bobby Beathard (RIP), Get rid of a great coach and hire someone else, because you don't agree with them about football! I wish Boss Ross was still coaching the Chargers. What a painful year this has been to watch the Chargers. Wasn't Cotrell one of the best defensive cordinators in the NFL last year? Just like watching the Padres I can not wait until the season is over. But I have to watch, because it's still my team. But it's more like a car crash. Better luck next year Chargers.

BoltBacker65 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:31 PM:Yup, the 2008 season is pretty much a foregone conclusion. And it hasn't been hard to see the gross and glaring mismanagement of this team from top to bottom. It has been painful to watch what once was to become what is and see no remedy at the present time. Just plain ugly!

I hope the Spanos family and Dean in particular can do the right thing and bring in effective, confident and motivated coaches to turn this franchise around, even if means giving AJ the boot as well. Go out and get teh ingredients this team needs to right this listing ship before it sinks.

Afterall, who really is the backbone of the team? Who puts up with the good and the bad year in and year out and without whom you'd be out of business? Yup, we the fans...you know us ignorant slobs who buy your gear and pay for your pricey tickets to be there for you?

Now, I was reading on-line that AJ is negotiating to buy Charlie Weis out of his contract. WTF? How is charlie Weiss going to work out for the Bolts? Yeah his bio states he has 4 SB rings 1 with Giants and 3 with the Pats as an OC. And norv has a SB ring when he part of the Cowboy coaching staff.

Now with Wiess, as head coach, isn't he directing Notre Dame in their collegiate nosedive, and has been for awhile now? And Norv was a successful OC with Dallas but is directing the Chargers nosedive... Both Norv and Weiss are geat OCs but aren't quite doing the job at head coach...Anyone see the parallels and simillarities? Interesting...Would it be Weiss as the new Norv in the new Norv sequel: The Replacement...Anyway I could be all wrong and Weiss steps up and does the job...not sure though.

Joe wrote on Dec 2, 2008 2:02 PM:Thanks Johnny on the Spot.

I guess Dean and OJ aren't smart enough to realize that before they can "make some noise" in the "tournament" they have to work hard enough (talk much less and work much harder and be much smarter and more physical) to acutally GET to the playoffs.

OJ Smith's EGO firing Marty is the main reason the Chargers are now Norf'd at a pathetic 4-8

CharlesO wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:03 PM:Why will half of Qualcomm Stadium be filled with Raider fans on Thursday night? Other NFL teams don't have their home stadium filled with fans of the visiting team.

I am old enough to remember that the San Diego Chargers failed to sell out the three American Football League Championship games that were played at Balboa Stadium.

Charger fans deserve their reputation and it's not a good one.