We gave him the benefit of the doubt on his way out the door in Oakland. We applauded him for giving us hope Alex Smith could be an NFL quarterback. And we nodded with approval when he took the Chargers to within one game of the Super Bowl in January.
But now that his team is the NFL's biggest disappointment of 2008, Norv Turner's coaching has to be questioned.
The Chargers' 37-32 loss to the Saints in London drops San Diego to 3-5. This is a team with arguably the best talent in the NFL; certainly the the AFC West.
They have Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates. The only significant injury has been to linebacker Shawne Merriman, who couldn't make it through the opener.
The Chargers rarely have played to their potential this season. During Turner's previous head-coaching stints, his teams had the same shortcomings in Oakland and Washington.
So was last season an anomaly in San Diego? We're not sure, but it's apparent we gave him too much credit during his time with the 49ers.
What to surf
www.firenorv.net This is one of a handful of anti-Norv Turner sites. It's very funny.
What to watch
NFL: Colts at Titans, 5:30 p.m., ESPN.: Forget the World Series, this is a great rivalry that vexes Nashvillians – they root against ex-Vol Peyton Manning.
What to do
Prep volleyball: No. 6 Del Oro at No. 3 Rocklin, 6:30 p.m.: Rocklin won the last meeting at Del Oro.
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