Chargers fire Schottenheimer due to 'dysfunctional situation'
SAN DIEGO -- A shocking playoff loss was the least of Marty Schottenheimer's worries.
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Schottenheimer, who has 200 regular-season wins and no Super Bowl appearances, was fired as San Diego Chargers coach on Monday, a month after being told his job was safe despite another January collapse. Team president Dean Spanos interceded in what he called a "dysfunctional situation" between the coach who led San Diego to an NFL-best 14-2 record and his general manager.
Spanos said the exodus from Schottenheimer's staff -- two coordinators became NFL head coaches and two assistants became coordinators -- contributed to a difficult situation that resulted in the coach being fired. Schottenheimer is due more than $3 million for the final year on his contract.
While confirming he had no working relationship with general manager A.J. Smith, Schottenheimer seemed puzzled that Spanos made the coach take the fall for his assistants leaving.
"That is absolutely unfair, in my view," Schottenheimer told the Associated Press in a telephone interview. "We had no control over two guys who became head coaches in this league. We gave two guys an opportunity to be coordinators in this league. We've added a couple of guys that people should be very pleased with. The future coach will be very pleased, as well."
The Smith-Schottenheimer feud has been well-publicized for a year now, although no one seems quite sure how it started. They're not saying.
"It was pretty apparent around here," said Schottenheimer, who was 47-33 in five seasons with the Chargers, including 35 wins and two AFC West titles in the last three seasons.
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| Marty will be owed the $3 million left on his contract. (US Presswire) |
Asked if Smith should share the blame, Schottenheimer said: "Uh, I'll leave that judgment to others."
Schottenheimer added: "There is and has been no relationship" with Smith.
Smith was promoted to GM in April 2003 after John Butler died of cancer.
It's believed that the Smith-Schottenheimer spat stems from personnel moves by the GM, including allowing Drew Brees to leave as a free agent a year ago after the quarterback hurt his shoulder in the 2005 season finale.
"I have no idea," Schottenheimer said. "I've made inquiries about it on a number of occasions and he said, 'I don't want to talk about it.' "
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