San Diego, CA (My Sportsbook) - The San Diego Chargers will retain head coach Marty Schottenheimer for the 2007 season, but the coach turned down a one-year extension for 2008. "I have decided that Marty Schottenheimer is the best person to lead the Chargers in the 2007 season," said Chargers president Dean Spanos in a statement released on Wednesday. "General Manager A.J. Smith and I agree on this fundamental point." Spanos did reveal in the statement that a one-year $4.5 million contract extension for 2008 was offered to Schottenheimer, but he declined the offer. It was speculated that the 14-2 Chargers' 24-21 home loss to the New England Patriots, combined with a reportedly strained relationship between Schottenheimer and Smith, would lead to the end of the Schottenheimer era in San Diego. The loss to the Patriots was Schottenheimer's sixth straight playoff loss as a head coach, and the coach fell to 5-12 in the postseason. |
