A lot of talk on Sports radio and TV on this topic. After a 14-2 regular season, could Marty be on the way out in SD? Is it justified? If he is shown the door, does Miami jump on him to rebuild this team?

Marty has a great track record of taking mediocre teams and turning them into playoff caliber teams......he is just terriable when it comes to getting them over the last hump! Does SD look to bring in a finisher to get this talented team to the Super Bowl?

It is a legit question, in both cases.

First, it is extremely well known that Marty and the GM Smith don't get along in SD. His continued lack of success in the playoffs are almost getting legendary. Fact is SD was the best team in the AFC this year, and could have and should have won the game. But did not due to bad and sloppy play. While most would be shocked if Marty were fired after a 14-2 season.....if you goal is championships...how can you keep him? I am going to bet he is gone.

As for Miami......it is intrigueing. Rumors are flying right now that Marty's son was a leading canidate, but pulled his name as soon as he heard his dad may be gone, and a high canidate for Miami. The fact that Miami is now looking at Mike Shula as a replacement(yuck!!), tells me if Marty gets cut...he will be in Miami.

See also Carr, Lloyd.

Marty made his share of mistakes in the loss, but even with that I feel like there isn't a whole lot that he could have done to win this game. Once again, the chips fell in favor of the Patriots. Brady throws an interception, Troy Brown immediately strips the ball away back to the Patriots. Offensive play doesn't develop for the Patriots, Brady throws it to the ground, 2-3 times and it is an "incomplete pass". LT gets his head turned around backwards multiple times when he probably would have broken big runs and it was "credit the aggressive defense". Through all of that, the Chargers still looked like they were going to win, despite all of this and mistakes by Shotty. Then Brady gets the ball late in the 4th quarter and does what Brady does, marches down the field, Reche Caldwell pushes off for separation in the endzone, and just like that the game is tied.

If you fire Marty, who do you bring in? What guy is available out there with the reputation to win the big game? Probably not going to be able to get Belichick from New England, and forget Chucky because the Bucs probably would have won with Dungy had they simply kept him there one more year

While I can agree with most, the sloppy play, and some of the stupid mistakes have to come to be owned by coaching. Marty has been around long enough to avoid some of this...and yet it continues to happen. Call it bad luck if you must, but at some point, the question will always remain if he can EVER win a big playoff game.

As for replacements...you have them. Cameron the OC has been the subject of many interveiws, it would keep continuity, but yet a change to show management wants to win, but yet keeps Rivers and LT comfortable. Just a thought.

lol, the same comparison came to my mind......

It comes down to what your goal is and what you feel is acceptable. If having a great regular season and then falling out of the playoffs early is acceptable, Marty can get it done. If it's winning a Super Bowl, I'd say look in another direction, despite some very good teams, he's never been there.

You promote the offensive coordinator and you have a huge risk of no respect from the rest of the coaching staff. Could do more harm than good. I think it is always best to bring in an outsider unless the coordinator is a guy that was specifically brought in to replace a coach who was about to retire. These days, you really don't see that and coaches are hired and fired constantly in hopes that the grass is greener somewhere else.

Pete Carroll.......Keeps him in Sunny So Cal.

I still would not leave USC if I was him, but it would be a better job and more tempting then Miami IMO.

now theres an interesting one, cuz thats a job i could actually see being an amazing fit for carroll. but san diego's gm has done an awesome job and theres no way they are ending that part of the deal. carroll's better off in college anyhow.

I dont think he goes anywhere. Sure he has made mistakes, and he now has the moniker that he cant win the big game, BUT he did have a great season with a 1st year QB at the helm and not much in the way of receivers outside of Gates. Give him a really good #1 receiver and this team has a shot again next year.

Marty's proven several things:
1: He can scout talent
2: He can assemble a great team
3: He can't win in the playoffs

Bring in the Tuna.

Sounds like you have read the same stuff I have, Taz.
The Chargers are a fine football team. It is likely they were the best team in the league, during the regular season. They got out-coached and out-played in their game last week and the players (and coaches) should have been able to learn from the experience. Hopefully, they will pick up another receiver in the draft or through free-agency or trade and they will be on their way. Maybe TO goes to SD?

Well, ESPN radio has reported he is staying. I have to admit I am shocked. Not that I don't think Marty is a good coach, but I here he and the GM can't stand each other. Curious which of the two go if they back slide next year.

I don't think there is any way they could have fired him. If they did, and the team was to drop to something like 10-6 next season (which is very possible, depending on the schedule they get), the fan reaction would be huge.

If he doesn't take the team to the next level next year though, and the odds are against him doing so, I would be willing to bet he is gone. At that point, he could be fired without worrying about controversy.