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Exactly 24 hours after the San Diego Chargers experienced one of the most crushing playoff losses in franchise history, team president Dean Spanos announced Monday night that he had signed head coach Norv Turner to a three-year contract extension.With that, the Chargers made it clear they believe in Turner and the direction he's taking the club.
"I'm extremely proud of the job Norv has done with this team," Spanos said in a statement. "In three seasons he's led the team to three division titles. I'm confident that if we strengthen our roster and continue to provide Norv the assets he needs, this team will have continued success."
Turner, who is under contract through the 2013 season, has guided the Chargers to AFC West titles since becoming head coach in 2007, and has the best winning percent of any coach in franchise history (35-19, .648).
But while San Diego (13-4) posted an 11-game regular-season winning streak in 2008 and is 13-0 in December under Turner's watch, frustrated Chargers fans are still steaming about Sunday's shocking 17-14 AFC divisional loss to the underdog fifth-seeded New York Jets (11-7) at Qualcomm Stadium.
Cries of "Stupor Chargers" have filled the air in San Diego after kicker Nate Kaeding missed all three field goal tries, quarterback Philip Rivers threw two interceptions, running back LaDainian Tomlinson struggled to gain 24 yards on 12 carries and the second-seeded Chargers committed 10 penalties -- several of them costly personal fouls -- for 87 yards.
But while the high-flying Chargers went completely flat in the postseason, players voiced confidence in Turner on Monday.
"Norv can't play the game for us," tight end Antonio Gates told XX 1090 Sports Radio. "They call plays and we go out and execute. Norv wasn't jumping offsides. Norv wasn't doing unsportsmanlike conduct. That was all self-control or self-inflicted wounds. I think that's why it hurts the most."
In the regular season, the Chargers committed the second-fewest turnovers (17) and had the third-fewest penalty yards (570) of any team in the NFL. San Diego's 78 regular-season penalties were the fewest by a Chargers' team since 1976, when the NFL had 14-game regular seasons.
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