It was a perfect capper to my Sunday that I couldn’t even comment on my own site. The fact that Jay Cutler broke his thumb during Cason’s interception return is also a perfect summation of the Chargers. Cutler shredded the Bolts, but the rest of the AFC West will get to face the Bears without their starting quarterback. But, as Tom Twomey reminded me, it doesn’t matter what other teams do. We can’t beat anybody right now. Kevin Acee was just on NFL Network saying “It will take a miracle turnaround for Norv Turner to be the coach beyond this year.” You can see the interview here. Here was Acee on XX1090. You can can even read about the last time we thought it was the end for Norv here. So I guess I’ll be thinking about that when I foolishly root for this team. During yesterday’s game, Josh Lewin said “Roy Williams, where’s he been?”
The answer: Not playing the Chargers.
This team, this organization is a complete mess. Shaun Phillips was even on Twitter bitching about fans who are rightfully criticizing the team.
To all the fake fans suck it cause talking ish won’t get us anywhere. How’s your perfect life my point exactly.
Remember how Phillips got all pissy when asked at the charity bowling event about his head butt in the playoffs? I won’t spend too much time on this, but being angry about a team that can’t win is hardly “talking shit.” I would assume that all the empty boasting and celebrating that guys like Phillips have done constitutes “talking shit.” Hey, the guy is a first-class talent. Since Steve Foley’s shooting, he’s been a star. But his leadership skills certainly have been a question. The same goes for Vincent Jackson. He’s a hell of a player. But he’s hardly been an exemplary team player. He clams up after disappearing against Oakland and “not expecting the ball” at the end. Apparently Mathews pulled the same shit after yesterday’s game. I guess I can’t fault Norv for not trusting Mathews this time. Mathews’ head is all fucked up and I can’t imagine what’s going on in Rivers’ brain right now. I guess the next coach will have to deal with it. Of course, with our history of hires I could see the Chargers finding some third Harbaugh brother who can’t inspire or make in-game decisions.
Peter King, who actually picked the Chargers to reach the Super Bowl with Rivers AS LEAGUE MVP, picked us to lose by 20. He wasn’t that far off, although he also thought we’d beat Green Bay. Today he wrote:
I think I can’t fathom how the Chargers don’t change the coach or GM if they continue to fade into oblivion. I know Norv Turner is signed through 2013 and A.J. Smith through 2014, but how does Dean Spanos make no changes on a team with such great expectations? The Chargers are 13-13 since opening day 2010. Sometimes, with the weight of expectations, it feels more like 3-23.
Yeah, I think he’s a bit of a windbag as well. Don Banks’ SI piece did a better job of summing up our pain. One more loss will put this team out of its misery? It’s hard not to hope for that at this point. However, I’ll still root for a win. That seems to be the best way to ensure a loss, anyway. My daughter Sarah came into our bedroom during the end of the game yesterday. I turned the game off after Norv blew two timeouts to challenge a play. I didn’t even see Lovie Smith, who’s a little Norv like, call a fake punt. But I also missed Rivers throwing a pick while trying to throw the ball away, yet another moment that sums it all up. Some people would argue that this season is an aberration . Sadly, I think it sums up our “good but not good enough” journey of the previous 7. If we deluded ourselves by thinking that it was only Steve Crosby that kept us out of the playoffs, we now know better. I know Tom Twomey calls guys like Phillips and Jackson members of “Team Cancer.” I told him to be careful when using that name–people will think we are having a fund run or something. “Stand Up To Team Cancer!”
I seriously don’t know how Rivers will rebound from this year. I’ve always loved the guy, but…Then again, Alex Smith is reborn under Captain Comeback. But Smith was never a perennial All-Pro as Rivers has been. My 5-year old daughter said it best yesterday when I told her that the Chargers were going to lose yet again. “They always lose. They’re boring!”
Of course, she had to explain that after telling me that a team called the Bears seemed like a better club to back.
In a week where Arrested Development officially returned to the air and Bruce Springsteen finally announced a return to touring, the Chargers continued to put the perfect cherry on the shit sundae that has been getting close but not finishing.
I’ll talk to you before Turkey Day, although I don’t think this week deserves an official “preview post.”
RLW
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