San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Payton isn’t answer for the Chargers
Sez Me … Sean Payton is not a Junior Mint that can drop into an operation and magically stave off a misbegotten infection.
Payton is the easy answer — for a whole lot of questionable organizations who don’t have one, haven’t had one, and aren’t about to get one.
But he isn’t, wasn’t and shouldn’t have been the solution for the eternally questionable NFL Team That Used To Be Here — you know, the Judases/ L.A. Lodgers/freeway Foot Wipes/inglewood Ingrates/ Playoff Patsies — who have few answers to much of anything.
The Judases never were going to fire head coach Brandon Staley, let alone replace him with Payton, who’s name has been blasting out of talking heads’ voice boxes for weeks — cranked up since (as only the J’s can) they blew a 27-0 lead at Jacksonville in the wild-card playoff round.
Staley should get one more year, with sideline help and a short leash until he grows up.
They have fired offensive coordinator Joe “Un-vince” Lombardi, a major step, and that’s plenty — unless the person they hire gets to the Red Zone and immediately alerts the kicker.
There is no simple answer to “Chargering,” which has become an accepted verb in the Oxford NFL Dictionary (Ted Leitner believes I coined the term, but I don’t think so, and if I did, of course I don’t remember, although it’s really good).
Why not Sean? First and foremost, he’s not worth it.
Second, those who think he’s a natural, don’t know owner Fredo Spanos, and how he operates — how he has operated. Sadly, I do.
Dean is his father’s son as much as any son I’ve known. He idolized Alex, but he’s never had his dad’s figs or, obviously, the pride gene. Alex, who came from nothing, Fredo from third base — from which he never advanced — was “Screw with me all you want. I’m not budging. I’ll show you.”
Which is why I don’t believe he would have succumbed and admitted failure here and moved the team out of town to play second fiddle to Stan Kroenke in L.A., a poor fit from a lousy tailor.
I talked to Alex many, many times. He had an ego the size of Stockton, but the first thing he’d ask me was: “How’s your wife? How’s Teresa?” It was family first. Loyalty. When I asked him why he never moved to San Diego, he quickly said: “I gave San Diego my No. 1 son.” So let’s move on to Payton. He’s making $13 million this year from the Saints doing nothing. Reports say he’s going to want $20 million per, out of range for Fredo, who can’t shoot the 3.
Second, he’s going to want control of football ops. John, son of Fredo, has that job now. John’s dad believes in checks and balances, a separate coach and GM. Few have Belichicked, done both effectively, although Payton managed it in New Orleans.
Third, being that he’s still under the Saints’ control, they’re going to want at least a first-round draft choice for him. Again, not worth it.
Fourth, would Payton guarantee a ring? He’s the best offensive play-caller in the game, and may have done wonders with young quarterback Justin Herbert. But Sean won one Super Bowl (2009-10 season), with ultra-prolific Drew Brees at QB. He was 9-8 in playoff games.
Oh, and, accused of bounty hunting, he’s the only head coach in history suspended for a year.
I haven’t put Staley in my cart. But he won 10 games this season and made the playoffs with a No. 5 AFC seed despite his engine missing so many parts.
Still, no question he had a direct hand in the Jacksonville debacle.
Brandon is inflexible, conservative and yet still dares to swashbuckle, a unique package. He has to lose some of it. The offense must be changed. After going up 27-0, Herbert threw 25 times vs. eight rushing plays. Tailback Austin Ekeler is a fine weapon, but if he has to sit every other series, find someone else.
Staley’s players like him and play for him. The problem with the J’s is eternal friendly fire bad luck, so much of it created by poor decision-making, which comes from stubbornness and simply not being smart when intelligence — not recklessness — is called for.
Would Payton have won the game with a 27-point lead? Maybe. But he wasn’t winning a Super Bowl.
And, given its track record, there’s no guarantee he could get this carnival its first White House visit since Alex dined with Reagan.
In any event, his hiring wouldn’t have erased the one constant to Chargering — Fredo. …
It wasn’t so much Staley played his regulars in the Denver finale. He played the injuryprone. Mike Williams and Joey Bosa should have been in civilian clothes. …
After firing Lombardi, Staley said, “We’ve got to find another gear.” Yeah, like second. …
Please stop the clamoring for
Philip Rivers as the J’s offensive coordinator. Why would he want it? And, as much as I admire Philip, the offenses he’s captained never won anything. …
Oh, and for those who complain about this paper still covering the Judases, the TV rating here for the Jax game was 17.8. Not the biggest of bangs, but a whole lot of San Diegans watched. So allow them to read. …
Monday night playoff games are unfair and unnecessary (except to owners). Dallas had to go to Tampa, now San Francisco, which gets two more days to rest at home. …
The NFL is considering (perhaps permanently) putting all AFC and NFC championship games in neutral sites. Bad idea, but Geneva and Zurich are beautiful in January — and head coaches can learn something about Clock Management from the masters. …
Do the NFL arithmetic. Owners + neutral sites =? Greed. …
Lamar Jackson doesn’t make the Ravens’ playoff trip? The flag being read is red. …
The worst sideline question to coaches always has been: “What did you tell the team at halftime?” Cynical Peyton Manning basically says: “Be sure to flush.” …
Trying to get a leg up in the playoffs, the Cowboys sign Nate Kaeding .…
Will new Aztecs offensive coordinator Ryan Lindley at least bring something watchable? He has to close the store, remodel, and sell something other than the Woody Hayes Sleep Elixir they’ve hopelessly been trying to peddle in Brady Hoke Era II. …
What the Ham & Eggers should do is tell people to enjoy the rain by driving their cars through high water. Then maybe the brain flatulence will cease and the fools won’t try. Still doubtful. Some consider it a Disney ride. …
RIP, David Crosby .Ihopei have taught my children well. …
On to another Crosby. Gonzaga’s men lost their first basketball game at home since Bing stepped out for a halftime smoke and never returned. …
Americans may not know how hard it is for sea level basketball teams to win at Mountain West altitudes, but San Diegans should by now. No such thing as a bad win — especially in the clouds, and not scoring for 9½ minutes. …
If I am forced to go to Florida, will the Gator Gestapo inject me with truth serum to confirm I’ve burned all my Black history literature?