Dec 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner walks off the field after game against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

The time has come to act, and act fast….. Norv and A.J. are leaving.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit how extremely upset I was at the initial announcement that Norv Turner was to be hired as head coach of the San Diego Chargers. 

My ire was not solely based on the firing of Marty Schottenheimer.  To fire a 14-2 head coach takes “guts.”  Or stupidity.  Depends on how you look at it.

I had serious reservations about bringing in a head coach that had a resume full of losing. 

I’m not talking about the times in which he “earned” the moniker Offensive Genius while manning the offensive coordinator position with the Cowboys. 

With all due respect to Norval, my son would have been able to call plays with those Dallas teams.  Describing them as loaded at 90% of their positions is an extreme understatement.

All of that being said, I have over-extended myself in the defense of Mr. Turner.  I have gone above and beyond in an effort to support him.  I have spent many hours attempting to justify his job as head coach of the team that I love so dearly.

Well, it looks as though I will no longer have to lie to myself or the rest of the Charger fanbase. 

Any day now, Norv will indeed be fired.  He has proven that he is completely incapable of taking this team to the promised land. 

In saying that, Norv has had to work with the pieces that A.J. Smith’s ego has afforded him.  Smith has not exactly given Turner the needed draft picks, nor free agents, that are needed to forge towards the trophy that is rumored to have a gleam.

To begin to speak on the players that have been allowed/forced to leave would be redundant.  We’ve all been singing that tune for quite some time. 

This was a joint effort.  Both Turner and Smith are responsible for the saddening decline of our San Diego Chargers.  No longer are the days of being three deep at a decent amount of positions. 

We have traded in the winning horse for the cheaper one that has potential and a good attitude. 

Potential is a word that gets general managers and head coaches fired quicker than you can say Buster Davis.  Quicker than you can say run it on first and second down and then throw it on third.  

That last run-on sentence was intentional.

The run of both Smith and Turner has managed to remain a humongous thorn in the side of the Bolts.  Many have been calling for their heads for at least a couple of years. 

Whether Smith would have been successful with a different coach is a moot point.  He hand picked Norv. 

To speculate whether or not Turner would have been more successful with a different general manager is futile.

Why?  Because the clock is quickly ticking.  Counting down until the moment that many fans have been crying for at length.

Norv Turner and A.J. Smith will be fired.  The only question is when. 

People, like myself, will no longer have to try and justify their presence on this team.  And for that, I am thankful. 

Good luck to both of them as they embark on the adventure of finding employment. 

In an economy such as ours, it’s extremely difficult to hope for anyone to lose their jobs.  In the cases of both Norv Turner and A.J. Smith, they’ll still be collecting large paychecks beyond their firings.

The era of Turner and Smith is about to come to an end.  It has now become clear that these are the first steps in ensuring that the Chargers can fight their way back to the top of the AFC West title and beyond.  That guy at quarterback for Denver might have something to say about that.  But I’ll be more than happy to entertain the thought that changes at both positions are exactly what the doctor ordered. 

Yeah, I might be hoping that our doctor is re-evaluated and looking for work elsewhere also.

But that is a story for the offseason.

Thank you all for supporting this site and making our efforts worthwhile.  I can’t say how much it means to me and the entire staff of BoltBeat.com.

Hang on tight for an insane offseason! Please feel confident that we will do our best to keep you informed for the entire ride.

Thanks a lot for reading.

BoltUp!!!

BoogaP

September 16, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; General view as fans tailgate before the San Diego Chargers game against the Tennessee Titans at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

In 2005 I left San Diego as I enslisted in active duty in the US Army which was the last time I saw a Chargers home game. The last 3 years while I’ve been going to school at Illinois State University, I have come home for the holidays. The last 2 years my trip home did not coincide with the Chargers playing a home game. This year however, we are playing the much-hated Raiders in what will be Norv Turner’s (and hopefully AJ Smith’s) final game.

We are unfortunately not playing for anything other than pride. The reign of AJ and Norv has wasted several years of prime from several of our players. I for one will not shed a tear as I watch in person Norv walk off that field for the last time. In fact, I will be holding up a sign wishing him a speedy trip out of our great city (maybe in not so nice terms).

I will be heading down the stadium a few hours ahead of the game and would love to meet up with any of the BoltFam. I hope to see several of you there (and not so secretly hope to run into Annie Heilbrunn) but shhhhh, don’t tell her! I will be riding the Trolley into the Q and if you will be there please hit me up on Twitter where you will be!

This season went by too fast and was full of more downs than ups, but no matter what this guy will always BoltUp!

Dan Locke

Nov 1, 2012; San Diego CA, USA; San Diego Chargers Norv Turner reacts during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers defeated the Chiefs 31-6. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

The writing is on the wall.  In fact, the writing is everywhere.  It reminds me of that moment that we’ve all had, at some point in our lives, when we appreciate the wait at the DMV. 

The moment I’m speaking of is that one when you are stuck at the tracks while the longest train in the history of trains continues to delay your advance to your final destination.  It is, of course, covered in graffiti.  This train is decorated in “Norv and A.J. are done in San Diego” spray paint. 

It sounds as though Norv’s final destination, as far as being a head coach in the NFL, will certainly be on the eternal unemployment line. 

Although there is a zero percent chance that he will ever be a head coach in the NFL again, it has been reported that he would be interested in taking on the offensive coordinator duties for a team that is close to advancing to the NFL’s final destination.

Norv has expressed interest in latching onto a contending team that truly has a chance at winning the Superbowl? 

Sounds familiar, to Charger fans, with the exception of a different role on said team.

When Norval came to San Diego, the Chargers had just been ousted from the playoffs after a 14-2 regular season record.  The roster that he inherited was one that any incumbent head coach would absolutely salivate over the chance to become it’s leader. 

There is no need for me to regurgitate all that has transpired over the Norv Turner regime.

Despite some promising rosters and seasons, it has now become apparent that, coupled with the performance of A.J. Smith as general manager, the prime years of some of our players have been completely wasted. 

Philip Rivers is now 31 years old.  Although he has 4-5 quality years, at least, left in him, where does that leave guys like Gates and Hardwick?

Gates has shown, despite being as healthy as ever, that he has lost a step.  Hardwick, during the offseason, made it clear that he might retire before playing in 2012.

In short, thanks for everything Norv.  Despite doing my best to defend you through the years, you have coached this team into the ground. 

But wait.  You’ve done so while under the ironfist of A.J. Smith.  I don’t have a lot to say about A.J.’s tenure as our general manager.  Well, I do, but it is summed up while making a few statements. 

You let your ego get in the way of building a successful team.  And that includes the players and the coaching staff.

You wanted a “yes man” as head coach.  In that, you succeeded.  You wanted to prove that every Charger was a Charger one year at a time.  I don’t need to go through the players that left this organization due to the egomania of Smith.

You all know the names that have gone on and proven that they are superstars in this league. 

Note: My complaints do not include the handling of Drew Brees.  Everyone, including the Chargers, had a shot to sign Brees.  Miami and New Orleans were the only ones that were considering it.

In conclusion, my thanks to you as well, A.J. Smith.  The train has now been derailed and is still covered in the names of both you and Turner.  It will remain as a reminder that the window for a franchise is short and can be destroyed in a small frame of time. 

Oh, what am I thanking them for? NOTHING!

Now as far as you all are concerned as a fan and supporter of BoltBeat?  Thanks a lot for reading!

The time has come for change, my friends.  And that time is now.

BoltUp!!!

BoogaP

P.S.  Go ahead and tell me all the reasons that you have believed in them both.  I did too.  I, most likely, share the same exact thoughts and beliefs.  Hindsight is 20/20.  I stood in “front of the train” for years.”  Now I’ll watch it leave the station rejoicing that it will never return again.