Chargers Coach Norv Turner

Forget that stuff about the pen and the sword. In the case of San Diego's Philip Rivers, the arm is mightier than the magic marker. That's how it feels for the Chargers quarterback, at least, when he zips one of those sizzling passes to his big receivers, no matter the scheme drawn up by the opposing defensive coordinator. "Certainly I'm not ignoring the coverage over there, and we go through our progressions the same as we have always," Rivers said. "But there comes a time when it's that me-to-you factor, and you feel like your guys can make a play regardless of what the blackboard tells you."

It's official: Coach Norv Turner and General Manager A.J. Smith are out in San Diego. The Chargers have fired the tandem after the team missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season. “I thank A.J. and Norv for the determination and integrity they brought to the Chargers each and every day,” Chargers owner Dean Spanos said in a written release. “Both Norv and A.J. are consummate NFL professionals, and they understand that in this league, the bottom line is winning.  My only goal is the Super Bowl, and that is why I have decided to move in a new direction with both our head coach and general manager positions.  I am committed to our great fans, and we will do whatever we possibly can to achieve that goal.” Smith joined the Chargers as assistant general manager in 2001 before being promoted to general manager in 2003 following the death of John Butler.

Jared Gaither went from a left tackle to a tackle left behind. Sunday, the former Baltimore Ravens blocker will play a pivotal role — good or bad — for the San Diego Chargers. Gaither, released by the Ravens after last season, has started the last two games at left tackle for the Chargers, ably protecting the blind side of quarterback Philip Rivers in victories over Jacksonville and Buffalo. The Chargers signed him after he was cut by Kansas City three weeks ago. The position has been a soft spot for San Diego since Pro Bowl left tackle Marcus McNeill suffered a neck injury against Oakland on Nov. 10. Gaither has done a good job filling that vacancy on short notice.

Quentin Jammer is a 10-year NFL veteran, and the San Diego Chargers' most experienced former first-round pick, but he found himself transformed into nothing more than a common fan last week. The target of Jammer's interest during the team's exhibition opener against the Green Bay Packers was the Chargers' newest first-round pick, linebacker Melvin Ingram. "Did I watch him?" Jammer responded to a question, nearly incredulous. "Everyone on our sideline was watching him. " Ingram satisfied any doubters right away.

Welcome to Same Diego. It never seems to change. Each season the San Diego Chargers dig a hole for themselves, and each season they claw their way out, winning enough games to clinch the AFC West and reach the NFL postseason. Well, it could be happening again, as the Chargers head into Monday night's home game against Denver having won two in a row as the Broncos have slid backward, losing four of five. The division is vastly improved, however, as both Kansas City and Oakland have taken big steps forward.

The San Diego Chargers have followed this path so religiously they should pave it. Out of the crypt ? and back to the script. Philip Rivers conceded Monday that this feels familiar, the Chargers starting to play their best football in late November ? as evidenced by their 35-14 pounding of Denver ? and methodically digging their way out of the pile of defeats from earlier in the season. But, Rivers warned, "We can't just assume that we're just going to stay on a roll and find our way into January.

LT is leaving town. LaDainian Tomlinson, the All-Pro running back so famous he's known simply by his initials, was released by San Diego on Monday after nine seasons with the Chargers. He was due a bonus of $2 million in March, and was coming off career lows of 730 yards in 223 carries and a 3.3-yard average. "This is the part of the business that I hate. . . ," said Chargers President Dean Spanos, who met Monday with Tomlinson and informed him of the decision. "Change involving great players is never easy.

Kyle Orton took off the glove last week and had his best game as quarterback of the Denver Broncos. Tonight, the San Diego Chargers hope to take off the gloves and save their season. Orton's glove is real, worn to protect a cut on his index figure. Playing without it last Sunday, he threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-17 overtime victory against New England. The Chargers' gloves are figurative, whatever it's been that has held them back in their lackluster 2-2 start, one that prompted even General Manager A.J. Smith to call the team "soft."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Mouthy to a fault, quarterback Philip Rivers made a pronouncement Friday that pleased the San Diego Chargers: He's optimistic about playing in the AFC championship game. Rivers returned to the practice field, encouraged his sprained right knee would heal enough for him to go today against the New England Patriots. Chargers Coach Norv Turner took a more cautious approach. He listed Rivers as doubtful and said it would be a gametime decision. "We want him to be able to move well enough to protect himself," Turner said.

Lots of NFL players fancy themselves football historians, but San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers never dreamed he'd be flipping back to these kind of statistics. "Last time we were 2-4 ? it turned into 4-12," Rivers said Monday, referring to the Chargers' 2003 season, the year before he was drafted. "We have to understand that this thing can get away from us. [We're] going to fight like crazy not to let that happen. " So far, there has been very little to indicate the Chargers (2-4)

Jared Gaither went from a left tackle to a tackle left behind. Sunday, the former Baltimore Ravens blocker will play a pivotal role — good or bad — for the San Diego Chargers. Gaither, released by the Ravens after last season, has started the last two games at left tackle for the Chargers, ably protecting the blind side of quarterback Philip Rivers in victories over Jacksonville and Buffalo. The Chargers signed him after he was cut by Kansas City three weeks ago. The position has been a soft spot for San Diego since Pro Bowl left tackle Marcus McNeill suffered a neck injury against Oakland on Nov. 10. Gaither has done a good job filling that vacancy on short notice.

The San Diego Chargers begin every season trying to exorcise the demon of having never won a Super Bowl. Along the way, the franchise finds itself running into ghosts of past decisions. It traded away No. 1 draft picks Michael Vick and Eli Manning, and let quarterback Drew Brees walk to the New Orleans Saints after the 2005 season. The Chargers have defeated Manning twice in regular-season games since trading him, but he won a Vince Lombardi Trophy with the 2007 New York Giants.

The San Diego Chargers have followed this path so religiously they should pave it. Out of the crypt ? and back to the script. Philip Rivers conceded Monday that this feels familiar, the Chargers starting to play their best football in late November ? as evidenced by their 35-14 pounding of Denver ? and methodically digging their way out of the pile of defeats from earlier in the season. But, Rivers warned, "We can't just assume that we're just going to stay on a roll and find our way into January.

Welcome to Same Diego. It never seems to change. Each season the San Diego Chargers dig a hole for themselves, and each season they claw their way out, winning enough games to clinch the AFC West and reach the NFL postseason. Well, it could be happening again, as the Chargers head into Monday night's home game against Denver having won two in a row as the Broncos have slid backward, losing four of five. The division is vastly improved, however, as both Kansas City and Oakland have taken big steps forward.

Lots of NFL players fancy themselves football historians, but San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers never dreamed he'd be flipping back to these kind of statistics. "Last time we were 2-4 ? it turned into 4-12," Rivers said Monday, referring to the Chargers' 2003 season, the year before he was drafted. "We have to understand that this thing can get away from us. [We're] going to fight like crazy not to let that happen. " So far, there has been very little to indicate the Chargers (2-4)

LT is leaving town. LaDainian Tomlinson, the All-Pro running back so famous he's known simply by his initials, was released by San Diego on Monday after nine seasons with the Chargers. He was due a bonus of $2 million in March, and was coming off career lows of 730 yards in 223 carries and a 3.3-yard average. "This is the part of the business that I hate. . . ," said Chargers President Dean Spanos, who met Monday with Tomlinson and informed him of the decision. "Change involving great players is never easy.

The San Diego Chargers begin every season trying to exorcise the demon of having never won a Super Bowl. Along the way, the franchise finds itself running into ghosts of past decisions. It traded away No. 1 draft picks Michael Vick and Eli Manning, and let quarterback Drew Brees walk to the New Orleans Saints after the 2005 season. The Chargers have defeated Manning twice in regular-season games since trading him, but he won a Vince Lombardi Trophy with the 2007 New York Giants.

Quentin Jammer is a 10-year NFL veteran, and the San Diego Chargers' most experienced former first-round pick, but he found himself transformed into nothing more than a common fan last week. The target of Jammer's interest during the team's exhibition opener against the Green Bay Packers was the Chargers' newest first-round pick, linebacker Melvin Ingram. "Did I watch him?" Jammer responded to a question, nearly incredulous. "Everyone on our sideline was watching him. " Ingram satisfied any doubters right away.

Philip Rivers is a country boy and a family man, and his vehicles reflect that. When he's not driving his Ford pickup truck, he rolls around in a minivan, earning him all sorts of ribbing in the San Diego Chargers locker room. But in the eyes of the greatest quarterback in Chargers history, Rivers spends every Sunday behind the wheel of a vintage roadster, a tire-squealing offense assembled decades ago. "It's great to see the thing that 'Air Coryell' was all about is still successful today," said Hall-of-Fame quarterback Dan Fouts, who threw for 43,000 yards in the jet-fueled offense of legendary coach Don Coryell.

Kyle Orton took off the glove last week and had his best game as quarterback of the Denver Broncos. Tonight, the San Diego Chargers hope to take off the gloves and save their season. Orton's glove is real, worn to protect a cut on his index figure. Playing without it last Sunday, he threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-17 overtime victory against New England. The Chargers' gloves are figurative, whatever it's been that has held them back in their lackluster 2-2 start, one that prompted even General Manager A.J. Smith to call the team "soft."