If Chargers Lose Sunday, Marty Schottenheimer Will Get Fired Monday

There's been a bit of speculation about this, but John Czarnecki of Fox Sports is the first person I've seen state it this bluntly:

It may seem insane for those close to Marty Schottenheimer to hear this, but if Bill Belichick and the Patriots come to San Diego and stuff L.T. and beat the Chargers you can bet the mortgage that Schottenheimer will be unemployed next Monday.

Schottenheimer is coaching for his job this weekend. Is that fair? Can you really fire a coach after his team was the best in the league during the regular season? I think it is fair. The fact is, Schottenheimer has allowed his relationship with the Chargers brass -- especially general manager A.J. Smith -- to deteriorate to the point where he has no margin for error.

A Schottenheimer firing would have ripple effects throughout the league. For one thing, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron would be the most likely successor. Cameron has been mentioned as a candidate for just about every opening, so every team considering him would have to look elsewhere. But more importantly, a Schottenheimer firing would put him on the open market. Would the Dolphins want him? The Steelers? Might a team like the Browns decide to fire its coach to get Schottenheimer? With this storyline, an already great Chargers-Patriots game is getting a little more intriguing.