When 14-2 isn't good enough

The clock radio goes off this morning, and realizing my wife isn't up yet I race in to get our daughter up and moving.  Once back to bed, I hear the teaser for the sports report: Marty Schottenheimer fired as head coach of the San Diego Chargers...

wha Wha WHAT?

Now I'm getting more of the details from Chris Mortenson on ESPN, who broke the story.  Turns out this is all about personalities.  The GM, Doug Spano and the coach just, "Couldn't get along".

And I thought it was because his team had the league-best record, the best rusher, and opportunity to go all the way.  Coaches have been fired for less.  Heck, Coach Gibbs was 5-11 this year for my Redskins... He's still gainfully employed.

I see no issue with the Chargers losing to New England in the second round of the playoffs in January.  After all, the Pats have won three Super Bowls in recent years, and Tom Brady is arguably the best quarterback of this decade.  Philip Rivers was in his first season as an NFL starter, and lost a close one.

The issue I do see is that Schttenheimer is a great coach in the regular season, but can't win in the playoffs.  That's reason for concern to me, but I'd have given him another season to get over that hump.  NFL owners can be fickle types, morons at times, But with Wade Phillips' departure to coach the Cowbows, and now Schottenheimer shown the door, don't look for the Chargers to be best in the league next season.

Personalities aside, I guess there's just times when 14-2 isn't good enough.