The Chargers had just inducted former tight end Antonio Gates into the Chargers Hall of Fame during an illustrious ceremony led by Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson when I noticed that star quarterback Justin Herbert was dressed in a light blue sweat suit instead of his Bolts uniform.
An alumni class that also featured the great Chargers Hall of Fame signal caller Dan Fouts, and HOF candidate Philip Rivers were all on hand to witness and salute one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the NFL, one whom the next generation of tight ends was all molded after…The one and only Antonio Gates.
Gates and his former teammates all represented a Chargers bygone era of close but no cigar, The San Diego Super Chargers rallying cry, high scoring super exciting teams that kept you on the edge of your seats until they eventually knocked you off in utter disappointment.
This was supposed to be a Chargers team that could change all of that and the alums wanted to get a glimpse of the present and future.
What they witnessed on this eventful Sunday against division rival Denver Broncos was heartache and heartbreak in the cruelest fashion.
This was yet another must win situation for a team that is arguably the most underachieving in the NFL, a team that many viewed as a Super Bowl contender, or at the very least a playoff lock.
However, here they find themselves with a disappointing 5-8 record. They will; not qualify for the playoffs barring a miracle and now that the face of the franchise has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a fractured right index finger that will mandate surgery a cloud of uncertainty hovers over this often beleaguered franchise.
The Chargers have now wasted three brilliant seasons from Herbert who was extended to the most lucrative contract in the NFL.
A Rookie of the Year campaign, the second longest active starting streak of any NFL quarterback behind Buffalo’s Josh Allen, 62 games where he had accumulated 17,223 yards, 114 touchdowns against 42 interceptions.
The most passing yards ub three years (14,089) of any passer in the history of the league during that span.
In just five years he is already the fourth leading passer in franchise history behind Rivers, Fouts and John Hadl.
Now he’s gone.
I have never been one who opined about the job status of any NFL head coach. The late Al Davis taught me that coaching in the NFL is probably the second most difficult job in America besides being President.
However, when you are at the helm of a team with the level of talent the Chargers have, especially at the quarterback position and you don’t excel, the lingering questions will mount. It comes with the territory of being a head coach in the NFL.
Brandon Staley is a very bright man and he knows this better than anyone and when you continually put your football team in difficult positions to score points by going for it as he did against the Broncos twice with an opportunity to come away with three points it does not bode well for you.
I find it disrespectful when folk speculate on the job status of coaches in the NFL when the season is not completed. I understand the follow behind it but I do not think it’s right particularly when people making the observation have never blown a whistle or called a time out.
Where the Chargers go from here is anyone’s guess, but as far as Justin Herbert’s season this is the end.
