With their 4-1 start seeming like a dream from another century, the fast-tumbling Chargers now confront the possibility of widespread change inside an organization that appeared destined for a better outcome in 2011.
The feeling from those around the team is that Chargers president Dean Spanos has "no choice" but to fire coach Norv Turner after the season, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Friday.
The future of A.J. Smith also appears to be in jeopardy, with one source indicating that San Diego's longtime general manager will "almost certainly" be sent packing.
"The decisions are not made," a team source said on condition of anonymity, "but everything is lined up."
If Smith's departure would come as a surprise to some, a source claimed "the needle on (Smith's possible firing) has moved from 50/50 to 75/25."
Meanwhile, you'd be hard-pressed to find a human being stunned by Turner's release. The Chargers, losers of six straight games, have free fallen into an abyss during a campaign quarterback Philip Rivers says "snowballed out of control" sometime before Thanksgiving.
This team has fought its way out of tough spots before. In 2008, the Chargers were a 4-8 footnote before they rattled off four straight to win the wacky AFC West with a .500 record. This time around, there's no indication such theatrics would ease the dark reports flowing out of San Diego.
