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Spanos said his decision to retain Turner
and Smith was strictly a football decision |
Chargers Chair & President Dean Spanos yesterday announced that coach Norv Turner and GM A.J. Smith will return next season, citing "stability" and his belief that both men give the team the "best chance to get back to the playoffs," according to Kevin Acee of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Spanos said, "I do think that staying the course with these individuals gives us the best chance to implement those changes and effectively get ourselves back where we need to be going forward." While it had become a "foregone conclusion in recent days, the ending to this chapter of the ongoing Smith-Turner saga was unthinkable a month ago." Fans have been "lobbying almost since Turner was hired five years ago for him to be fired, and the increasingly vocal group of his and Smith’s detractors were outraged" yesterday. Many interpreted the move as Spanos "ignoring the wishes of his constituency and lacking a serious commitment to winning." Some even see the retention of Turner and Smith as a "signal the team plans to leave San Diego." The Chargers have a window "beginning Feb. 1 in which they can opt out of their Qualcomm Stadium lease." They have yet to announce they will "not trigger the escape clause, something they had already done by this point last year." However, all indications are that the team will remain in San Diego "at least one more season and the announcement of such is likely within the next week." Spanos: "We want to be in San Diego. I remain consistent with that and we're working hard on this thing" (
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/4). Spanos said that his decision to retain Turner and Smith was "strictly a football decision." He "scoffed at the notion that it was a business decision, or that the combined $12 million remaining on contracts for Smith and Turner had anything to do with his choice." Spanos "downplayed the effect of the ongoing quest for a new stadium on his decision, saying he takes a broader view of the search for a new venue" (
NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 1/4).
PLAYING VILLAIN'S ROLE? In California, Jay Paris writes Spanos "had a shot at a bold decision, of showing the players -- and fans -- that being average was for others, that his drive to win that first Super Bowl is such that not advancing to the playoffs in consecutive years in the tepid AFC West would not be tolerated." Instead, it is a "shrug and a suggestion that those making critical Chargers calls won't change, but their results will." Going 17-16 in two years, including the '09 "playoff pratfall, combined with Turner and Smith being whistled back, could make the Chargers 0-1 in stadium initiatives." Seeking to "reach into citizens' wallets next fall while shedding fans this winter is no way to win at the ballot box" (
NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 1/4). In San Diego, Tim Sullivan writes Spanos "invited the ire of his customers Tuesday by sticking to guns that have lately been shooting blanks." In light of the "loud dissent and the potential backlash, Spanos' stubborn stance may have been as audacious a move as he's ever made." Spanos said, "Obviously, I'm very sensitive to what the fans have to say" (
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/4).
NOT SUCH A SURPRISING MOVE: ESPN’s John Clayton said of the team keeping Turner and Smith, “From the outside, it looks very surprising.” However, for those inside the organization, people can "understand that Dean Spanos never really wanted to make any change." Clayton: "There’s a comfort level he has with Norv Turner and A.J. Smith” ("NFL Live," ESPN, 1/3). In San Diego, Nick Canepa writes Spanos "made the angry villagers -- the vocal minority -- even angrier." He may feel it "in his wallet, at the gate, at the polls, and in perception." However, retaining Tuner and Smith was "bold, a solid, thought-out football decision." If anything, it "proved Spanos is very much his own man" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/4). ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said of Turner, “In this case, the harder thing to do is to not fire him, so I give owner Dean Spanos credit for that” (“Mike & Mike in the Morning,” ESPN Radio, 1/4). Fox analyst Troy Aikman wrote on his Twitter feed, "Props to Dean Spanos for making a tough call but the right call."
TWITTER NOT KIND TO MOVES: Yahoo Sports' Michael Silver wrote on his Twitter feed yesterday, "I have a lot of #Chargers fan-friends. Among the texts I've gotten in last few minutes: 'Horrible.' 'Losers.' 'So predictable.'" SI's Jim Trotter wrote, "Shows again that owner Dean Spanos is afraid of his own shadow. ... Also shows that Spanos is not serious about winning a championship." Fox Sports Radio's Ben Maller wrote, "All Chargers fans are waiting for Dean Spanos to say 'April Fools!'" The Seattle Times' Danny O'Neil wrote, "Norv Turner, more lives than Jason, and he doesn't even wear a hockey mask to come on back and kill the #Chargers." SI.com's Richard Deitsch wrote, "Inspired by the San Diego Chargers, Egypt just announced it will retain Hosni Mubarak in 2012." "The Late Show" Eric Stangel wrote, “After retaining Norv Turner, the #NFL in compliance with new concussion rules orders Dean Spanos to have head examined.”
