Turf Show Times

The San Diego Chargers announced today that they will retain both head coach Norv Turner and GM A.J. Smith. Based on recent reports, the news has direct implications for the St. Louis Rams as they search for candidates to replace Steve Spagnuolo and Billy Devaney. How exactly is the the news out of San Diego connected to the situation in St. Louis?

It seemed strange to more than a few readers that reports out of San Diego were offering tidbits about the situation in St. Louis. The San Diego Union Tribune has been reporting for weeks that Rams owner Stan Kroenke would fire both men. A.J. Smith, according to those reports, was said to be a leading candidate for the Rams' GM position. Obviously, that's not happening now, and recent information, despite a continued insistence from some sources, made the Smith scenario seem like a stretch.

Those reports typically linked Smith to head coach big fishes, Jon Gruden and Jeff Fisher, as two men Smith could bring to St. Louis. Now, it seems as though the FIsher talk is the only thing that has legs.

Speaking of Fisher, a coaching vacancy in San Diego would have been a prime competitor for the Rams landing a candidate like Fisher. The Chargers have a franchise quarterback and a more talented roster than the Rams, the ingredients for a quick turnaround. Fisher is said to prefer jobs where the quarterback situation is settled for the long term.