The Schott Hits the Fan

by Sum Mehrnama

14-2. The Number 1 seed in the entire NFL playoffs. Assurances of not being fired, just one month ago. Offer of a one-year contract extension. Add all of these up, and what do you get? To most, that would equal job security for at least one more year. But to A.J. Smith and the San Diego Chargers that adds up to "Fire Marty Schottenheimer."

Don't get me wrong. I have never been a huge fan of Martyball. However, the timing of this decision by the Chargers lacks any logic and fails to make sense anywhere other than in A.J. Smith's Fantasy Island (insert Shawne Merriman as the steroid-filled Tatu ... "Boss! Boss! De syringe! De syringe!"). The scouting combine opens in less than 10 days and pretty much all qualified in-house candidates have already left. Cam Cameron? Miami. Wade Phillips? Dallas. Rob Chudzinsky or Greg Manusky? Cleveland and San Fran.

A team that has just finished 14-2 and should have, arguably, at least made it to the AFC Championship game cannot afford to completely revamp its style of play in a now shortened off-season. Look at the Oakland Raiders from 4 years ago. Jon Gruden bolted on them, but they had an in-house guy who kept it together for a year and actually led the Raiders to the Super Bowl. Of course, nit-pickers will try to point out that Gruden took over a successful Bucs team and won that very same Super Bowl. However, Gruden had ample time to completely retool the Tampa Bay offense through free agency and to build a scheme that was his. Even if San Diego manages to hire a coach instantaneously, it will leave very little time before the draft and before the start of free agency to organize a plan of attack.

Unless, of course, the Chargers already have their man selected. Rumor has it that University of Southern California Head Coach Pete Carroll has pretty much agreed to the job, now that letters of intent for incoming freshman have already been received. But this is in direct violation of the Rooney Rule. If the Chargers have reached an agreement with Pete "Whitey" Carroll, any interviews conducted with minority candidates will purely be for show. The NFL must look into this, especially if a decision is made quickly.

The Chargers made a stupid decision. Not necessarily about firing Marty, but about waiting so long to do so. Any hire made in less than 3 days will point to violation of the Rooney Rule. But, at the same time, if a hire is made any later than that it seriously affects the team's scouting and plan of action. Ultimately, I think this boiled down to the ongoing A.J. Smith/Marty Schottenheimer catfight. Management saw all of the assistants leaving, which would make Marty the remaining member of the 14-2 coaching staff. Without the assistants, who undeniably played a big role in the big season but less of a role in the playoff choking, hope that Martyball would do well again faded ... fast.

I'm prepared to eat some of my words if the Chargers do well next season ... but that does not change the fact that they waited far too long to make such an important decision.