A J Smith

Former NFL player Terrence Kiel was killed Friday night when his car struck a wall and he was ejected, authorities said Saturday. Kiel, 27, was a star at Texas A&M and played four seasons as a safety for the San Diego Chargers. Police said Kiel was driving his 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo at a high rate of speed in the Scripps Ranch area when he lost control, hit a curb and crashed into a wall.

Being a Saints fan, which I have been since their 1967 loss to the Redskins for some reason that eludes me, is like loving an unfaithful woman: You keep thinking it will get better, and she keeps on breaking your heart. Darcy Vernier Marina del Rey -- Norv Turner reminds me of those people in the workplace who fool their employers by talking a good interview, yet are plain lousy workers. Jon Umeda Monterey Park -- Hey, A.J. Smith!

Now that the Chargers have hired Norv Turner, here's some advice to the L.A. Times reporters when an NFL coaching vacancy occurs: Unsubstantiated rumors and "guesswork" that Pete Carroll is a candidate for the opening are not journalism, and serve no purpose at all. I suggest your standard opening line in any article on possible NFL head coaches should be that as long as Pete Carroll is at USC, he will be a "candidate" for every NFL opening....

Marsh & McLennan Cos., the world's largest insurance broker, named Jeffrey W. Greenberg president and said he will succeed Chairman and Chief Executive A.J.C. Smith by the end of 1999. Smith, 64, will retire in 2000 from the New York-based company, which he has run since 1992, though he will remain a director. Greenberg, 47, was at one time a potential successor to American International Group Inc. Chairman Maurice R. Greenberg, his father.

The boos and rude chants came thundering down on Eli Manning from the moment he ran on the field, rising up every time he lined up under center. San Diego fans got their payback, and it was raucous. "I knew it was going to be loud," said Manning, who spurned the Chargers 17 months ago, then lost to them as San Diego defeated the New York Giants, 45-23, on Sunday night.

Mike McCoy has agreed in principle to become the next head coach of the San Diego Chargers, the Associated Press is reporting. [Updated at 1 p.m.: The Chargers have scheduled a news conference at 2 p.m. PST Tuesday to introduce McCoy as their new head coach, according to the Associated Press. ] McCoy spent the last four seasons as offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos, who ranked No. 4 in total offense and No. 5 in passing offense this season. That should come as good news to Chargers fans, whose team finished 31st in total offense and 24th in passing.

The San Diego Chargers sent wide receiver David Boston home before practice on Wednesday as a disciplinary measure. Coach Marty Schottenheimer was guarded in his comments about Boston, who signed a $47-million contract as a free agent in March. "David and I had a discussion and in the course of the discussion, thought we ought to have this day [off], and he's been excused for a matter that is not related to the medical part of it," Schottenheimer said. General Manager A.J.