Note: This is an online addendum to the sports letters that ran in the Monday, January 15 edition of the Union-Tribune.
DAZZLE FIZZLED: This was one of the poorer games Cam Cameron has called. Do you think he was trying dazzle future employers with the passing scheme? It was obvious the Patriots could not stop LT, so why didn't he get the ball about twice as often as he did? The turnovers were horrendous, but the Chargers had many opportunities with a short field, especially in the first half, to put the game away but they couldn't do it. What a shame.
CURTIS KELLEY, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
SO MANY MISTAKES: Arguably one of the worst football games this year – on both sides. But you can't pin this loss on Schottenheimer. We've got receivers who can't catch, kickers who can't kick and defensive backs who think they're LT when they should just lay down with their interception. Wade Phillips, thanks so much for easing off at the end of the half when we'd held the Pats to three whole points. I saw so many mistakes I can't count them all, but they add up to one thing – the best team in the League won't be playing next week. Marty, if you like mistake-free football, your assistant coaches let you down, and you need some new pass catchers! You also need a tough return game!
MARK ROGERS, Encinitas
AN EASY CHAIR: I have been a fan since 1961 when I was just a kid. The performance by the Chargers was pathetic! The coaching staff, in particular the defensive coordinator, helped ensure another playoff blunder, which happens time and again. The failure to consistently blitz Tom Brady assisted in the New England win. Brady could have thrown the ball from an easy chair while sipping on a tall, cool one. After 45 years, I feel like giving up. However I will be there again next year to watch our team choke once again!
JEFF KOKOS, Sandia Park, N.M.
ON BEING THE BEST: Last year we were the best team not to make the playoffs. This year we were the best team not to win a playoff game. Maybe next year we can just be “the best team.”
R. GRAF, San Diego
THOSE CLIPPINGS: Poor clock management, DBs dropping sure interceptions, players making stupid penalties at the worst possible times. Looks as though they used their off time to read their own press clippings.
J. MASON, La Mesa
THREE WAYS BETTER: Thank you San Diego Chargers for a great season! Let's do better next year and here's how:
1. Dean Spanos get a backbone and sign Marty for three more years.
2. A.J. Smith forget your feud with Marty, sign Donnie Edwards to an extension and draft some defensive backs who actually play like they went to college and can think in pressure situations!
3. Marty hang in there and cut every defensive back who can't catch a football, make tackles and play their position.
JACK DALEY, San Diego
OUT OF TIME: Eric Parker makes more drops than Visine. And hey, Marty, you just said that you ran out of time at the end of the game. You ran out of your career here by not coaching Drayton Florence to handle his emotions, by not throwing a 10-yard out with 10 seconds to give Nate Kaeding a chance. Marty, you got the turnovers you needed, the running game worked and you coached us to a loss. Go play golf.
PHIL GAIR, Pacific Beach
UNINSPIRED: This was the year. The best and most complete Chargers team ever. But so many stupid mistakes, so many drops, so many uninspired performances... and Marty doesn't think he needs a headset for most of the game? One and out in the playoffs... unacceptable! Except for LT, plenty of shame to go around
TONY CARTMILL, Lakeside
LIKE POP WARNER: What a sloppy game by both teams. It was liking watching a Pop Warner contest. The only guy that came to play was LT. It was a game of what if. What if... we kicked the field goal in the first quarter, what if Philip Rivers didn't throw that horrible INT, what if Eric Parker didn't fumble that punt, or perhaps even catch a pass, what if Marlon McCree just batted that fourth down pass in the fourth quarter or let alone fall down, what if we didn't take unnecessary personal fouls, what if Marty didn't waste a crucial timeout on a joke challenge in the fourth, what if we still had Drew Brees?
NEAL PATAKY, Mission Valley
A FINE TEAM: It was not Marty, it was not the coordinators, it all boils down to the players. The crux comes down to execution on the field. I believe Marty should be retained, that Donnie Edwards deserves a raise and a contract. I would love to retain Michael Turner, but I realize he would like to be a starter and unless his contract is sweetened, I think we'll lose him. I think “Herr Schottenheimer” deserves another chance, as well as coordinators Cameron and Phillips. This is a damn fine team, the players realize what's at stake and, unfortunately, the Chargers' last minute heroics were not able to pull it off.
RUSS ORRELL, Mission Village
WITHIN REACH: Not even a stellar performance by the league MVP can save the day. The victory was well within reach, but the Chargers did a better job than the Patriots in finding ways to lose. Costly turnovers and ridiculous penalties never win football games. Once again, the city of San Diego is left empty-handed. Better luck next year.
ANTHONY BALAUGER, Chula Vista
TRAGIC: It's tragic that such a great season has ended in such an embarrassing way. Dropped passes, idiotic penalties, fumbles, poor use of timeouts and whatever else it took to lose the game. LT and Rivers did their part, but crushing errors by Eric Parker, Drayton Florence and Marlon McCree gave the game away. And it's too bad Shawne Merriman missed the game, we could have used a pass rush. It also would be nice if someone reminded Vincent Jackson that planting your second foot in the end zone might get your uniform dirty, but good receivers do it anyway. The players claim that they want to keep Marty Schottenheimer, but they sure have a lame way of showing it. A.J. Smith has all the reasons he needs to fire the coach. There are no winners in San Diego after this debacle.
DAVID MARSHALL, San Diego
BITTER DEFEAT: As a homegrown San Diegan (52 years) and Chargers fan since 1961, I can't remember a more bitter defeat than this... The Chargers haven't won a championship in 44 years, so this loss comes as no shock to me. To whom it may concern, go ahead and take your Chargers flags off of your cars and find another cause until next year. Meanwhile, we real fans will hang our heads for a bit and wait until next year. Good luck Marty.
JIM CLARK, El Cajon
PACK YOUR BAGS: Marty: What did you say to the guys during halftime? That's it was OK because we were ahead? You challenged a play on the fourth down and it cost us a time out, one we could have used to give Kaeding more yardage to kick the FG. Big mistake! And Shane Olivea, Florence and Parker, causing so many mistakes for us, what were you thinking? It hurts, it really does because we could have won this game so easily. Were was Keenan McCardell? Marty, pack your bags. I have had it with you!
ADRIANA MANGUS, Poway
IT TAKES A WINNER: How can you not trust your Pro Bowl kicker to make a 47 yarder in the first quarter and then expect him to make a 54 yarder when the game is on the line? Any coach can produce a winning season with the talent on this team, but it takes a winner to manage the game in the playoffs, which Schottenheimer is not.
STEVE FANTER, Escondido
TOO EASY: Anyone who can think straight enough to write a sensible Voice of The Fan editorial is a better man or woman than myself. It just seemed too easy all season. Did it not? I learned one thing today. More than just your Pro Bowl players need to perform during the playoffs. Marginal players and coaches make mistakes, you lose. It is that simple.
EARL HARSHBERGER JR., Spring Valley
LIKE MAIL: Playoff rookie Philip Rivers did what he had to do. As predictable as the mail, LT and Gates delivered. While people may point to McCree's failure to dive to the turf on his interception or Marty's opting to run a play on fourth and long over a field goal try, or laying the blame at Nate Kaeding's feet, the one and only reason the Chargers lost was Drayton Florence's inability to keep himself in check for a few seconds while he walked off the field. As Marty might say, “it's a man's game in the National Football LeagUe.” And part of being a “man” is controlling your emotions. Despite his inspired play at times, Drayton failed and, because of that, the Chargers and all of San Diego will have to wait till next year. I can only imagine the punishment LT is going to unleash on defenses next season with this loss to inspire him in the off season.
CHRIS LINDBERG, Scripps Ranch
BAD HURT: The naysayers will lead the criticism, but our county has once again been drawn together in a wonderful way by our football team. Our trio of coaches – Schottenheimer, Phillips, Cameron – deserve our appreciation and respect. Thank you for seventeen glorious Sundays, the ups and the downs. This long time fan has had something fun to think and talk about besides the stresses of job and world events. Why does it hurt so badly? It is because we love our team, and this is a good thing. Bring Schottenheimer back. He is a class act, a great coach, and is a credit to our community.
LUCINDA MILKS, Escondido
CLASSLESS DANCE: I agree with LT that the Patriots' post-game dancing at midfield was classless, and I loved his response to it. It was no less classless, however, than that ridiculous dance Shawne Merriman does after each of his sacks. Since Merriman was completely shut down in the biggest Chargers game in more than a decade, maybe he will just play the game next year and leave the dancing to someone else.
PAUL BURCHAM, San Diego
WASTED EFFORT: It's a shame to waste another brilliant effort by LT. The Chargers showed a total lack of discipline in the second half, leading to several bonehead penalties and poor decisions, all of which are a direct reflection on the head coach. Not to mention the decision to go for it on fourth and 11 from the Patriots 30-yard-line in the first half! It has been proven yet again that Marty Schottenheimer's 5-13 postseason record is not an accident. I wish Marty the best of luck in his next coaching job, I just pray that it's not in San Diego!
GARY FRANK, San Diego
A FUN RIDE: Drew Brees will be playing in a championship game this next weekend and Philip Rivers will not; so, maybe A.J. Smith is not that much of a “football genius.” And to Marty, no matter what happens in the days and weeks to come, we sincerely thank you for making us winners! It was a fun ride, but obviously not meant to be this year.
TOM HANNEGAN, San Diego
SING A NEW TUNE: As San Diego resident since 1956, a long-time Chargers fan and a newbie writer to the Union-Tribune, I have a new lyrics for our beloved team:
Thunderbolts and lightning/Light up the sky... oh my
Dropping the ball all day/Can't keep the team alive
San Diego stupid Chargers/San Diego Chargers... Choke
Good luck next year!
ANDY HARRAH, Cardiff
THE SILVER LINING: I have found silver lining in the darkness of the Chargers horrible loss.
First, the loss probably saved the City of San Diego, and therefore the taxpayers, $1 billion dollars. By bowing out of the playoffs early, Chargers ownership does not have the voters by the emotional throat. Talk of a quick ballot initiative should completely evaporate. Unlike the National League Champions Padres in 1998, the Chargers will not be able to wave the banner in our face with the promise of years of similar success in exchange for an overpriced playground for the billionaire owner. Personally, I think it would be better to root for the Las Vegas Chargers than to live in a bankrupt city.
Second, the loss almost certainly means Marty Schottenheimer's rein as head coach of the Chargers is finally over. It is well known that A.J. Smith has been looking for a reason to dump Marty. A second home playoff loss in two seasons should do the trick.
So, see Chargers fans? Even in the darkest hour of our local team's failure, some positives can be found.
STEVEN SMITH, El Cajon
FAR, FAR AWAY: Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far (far, far, far, far, far) away, there was a planet that played a game known as NFL Football. On that planet was a city called San Diego. In that city was a team called the Chargers. On that team was a player named LaDainian Tomlinson. LaDainian was the greatest player to have ever played the game. His team mates were the finest to be found. They were led by a man named Belichick. They won the big ones. Oh, well.
KATHY PAYNE, Julian
TRASH TALK: I don't believe we can hang this post season loss on Marty, Nate Kaeding, or Philip Rivers. Instead, I attribute it to those Chargers who boasted and trashtalked their way through the week. As the week wore on and all the promises of victory piled up, I had the uncomfortable feeling that they were over confident and minimizing the threat of a very good opponent. This feeling was borne out as the game wore on and all the local hype didn't translate into execution on the field. This was not Marty ball today, it was on the field execution that broke the euphoria. In this case, the “big smackdown” equals a long off season with a multitude of “what ifs.” Better luck next year...
KARIN BRENNAN, Carlsbad
OVER AND OVER: I won't begin the lengthy list of reasons why we clearly lost this game. They were quite easy to see... over and over again. Being a lifelong Bolts fan of thirty years this one hurts but the pain I witnessed in the face of LT hurts even more. He played like he has all season – with poise and dedication illustrating both the physical and mental prowess it takes to be a champion. If only so many of our other veteran players would have had their minds in the game like LT did. Great season, guys, but thanks for reminding me of how we lost all of those nailbiters from last season.
ROBBY TUTTLE, La Mesa
FOLEY'S FOLLY: The happiest guy in San Diego is Steve Foley! How would he feel if they won the Super Bowl and he doesn't get a ring. How prescient.
RON HAMILTON, Poway
BACK TO L.A.: Never has a team more richly deserved to lose a game they should have won! I trust that Schottenheimer is now history with the Chargers. Any coach that has instilled so little discipline in his players for such a crucial game deserves to go. Speaking of going, perhaps it is time for the Chargers to return to their roots in Los Angeles. Keeping them in San Diego is a form of cruel and unusual punishment that is, I believe, forbidden by the U.S. Constitution.
MIKE HOLMES, North Park
FAILURE TO EXECUTE: Congratulations to the Chargers on a truly exciting season, but I hope that this loss won't end up with everyone taking cheap shots at Schottenheimer. This loss wasn't about the coach, this was about a failure to execute by the players on the field. The Chargers did everything they could to hand the game to New England. Four turnovers, a ridiculous penalty, two dropped balls, and a horrendous 2-minute defense was the story. And with all of the brilliant moves that A.J. Smith has made for this team I hope that he doesn't use this as an excuse to get rid of Schottenheimer, it wasn't his fault. Drew Brees was an accomplished and poised QB whose shoulder was never really in doubt, but Smith used it solely as an excuse to get him out, one of his rare bad moves (really bad as it turns out). Rivers, while putting in a stellar first year, was clearly taken out of his game whenever he faced a pressure defense. Brees, at 80 percent, would have taken this team to the Super Bowl in a walk. Oh well, so much for spilt milk. As Rivers gets better so to will the Chargers chances at a Super Bowl ring, but until then it would be best for Smith to figure out how to get along with Schottenheimer and how to replace Michael Turner – I'm sure he'll get the starting role he deserves, unfortunate, as it will likely be on another team.
MICHAEL SNELL, Poway
LIKE SWISS CHEESE: The Good: Another superb performance by LT. The Bad: Good field position squandered, turn-overs. The Ugly: A pass interception that should have been knocked down, ill-timed penalties and overall poor play selection. The Chargers shot themselves in the foot so many times it must look like Swiss cheese. Another fall-on-your-face performance.
RICHARD ANAYA, San Diego
CAN'T FORGET: How soon we forget. In 2002 we got to the playoffs and lost in the last two minutes because Quentin Jammer was called for interference on a 40-yard pass which allowed the winning score. In 2007 with 1 1/2 minutes to play he got burned for 45 yards which allowed New England to score the winning points. This playoff had many mistakes by both teams but when Jammer says the many fans who have maligned him were nuts – and I read where a sports writer wrote they would not throw in his direction because he was such a great player and that New England would avoid throwing his way I laughed. Losing two playoff games in the last minute? Especially with the best team we have ever had this way, and Marty's ridiculous challenge, costing our last time out... don't say the fans or Smith's attitude are unwarranted... The guy i feel sorry for is LT. He deserved to go to the Super Bowl. What a shame.
S. JACOBSON, Oceanside
EMOTIONAL LAPSES: It is one thing for a team for fight hard and lose to a better opponent, but to simply give the game away at home by more mental, physical and emotional lapses in 60 minutes than we witnessed the entire season is another. Only a few coaches have the true ability to eliminate team stupidity when the chips are really down. Unfortunately Marty is not one of them.
The great coaches make and maintain winners on their team. The great ones don't allow pure stupidity to kill a team during the most important game of the year. Drayton Florence and Shane Olivea should be banished form the team and will have to realize that their macho, selfish attitude played a major part in depressing the entire city. Eric Parker, Marlon
McCree, Quentin Jammer, the victory was yours with coolness and composure under pressure but each let instantaneous panic overwhelm him.
Great coaches can somehow take the fear and pressure in their players and turn them into a positive aggressiveness... Marty can't. I believe the silent thinking in this town all year was that the Chargers won in spite of Marty instead of winning because of Marty. It's tough to believe the Chargers will ever have as much raw talent as they had this year. What a waste.
SKIP STEELE, El Cajon
WHO'S GOING WHERE: Well, Drew Brees is going to the championship game and we're not. Any questions? Comments?
MICHAEL JOHNSON, San Carlos
GROWING PAINS: The Chargers were bigger, faster and better than the Pats. They had a solid game plan and dominated the game on many different levels. But they lost the game because the were not emotionally prepared for that game. They, and Marty, lost the game between the ears. That was not the same team I have been watching all season. Marty made more mistakes than I have space to list them. Marty, you taught this team well, but they/we have now outgrown you!
MAC TYSON, Reston Va.
GREAT CHARACTER: To my Chargers, we just came up a little short on a few bad bounces... I've waited a long time for a team like this to represent us, a real quality team with players of great character. for the first time in over 20 years, I know the term “wait till next year” means something, not just unwarranted hope. I'm proud to be a Chargers fan. Thank you, gentlemen, I know the future is bright.
EDDIE KESTER, Santee
WHAT MANTRA? Well Chargers fans, I guess that's why they play the games. At the end of last season the mantra was “the best team not in the playoffs.” So what is it this year? Best team not in the AFC final?
JOHN UBURTIS, Mission Viejo
NOT SMART: I am an angry Chargers fan... not just because we lost. I am angry because the better team did not win – the smarter team did. The Chargers did not play smart. It was not the fault of a rookie quarterback or the fault of the coach. It was the fault of costly mental mistakes... dropped passes, stupid penalties, plus maybe a too-relaxed defense at the end of the first quarter.
It will be difficult to watch the conference championships and the Super Bowl without thinking of what should have been. To the Spanos family... this was not Marty's error. As much as I wouldn't support him at the beginning of the year. I do support him now. Keep him.
Also... please stay. Don't let our local government get in the fans' or the Chargers' way! They're short term... we aren't!
N. MINERVA, Rancho Peñasquitos
GO QUICKLY: Martyball, Cam-ball or New Sod? Its More like dumb penalties, too many turnovers, and very questionable coaching. Martyball can't win a meaningful game. Nice effort LT. Martyball needs to go and go quickly.
RANDALL ST. BERNARD, Santee
