Source: Associated Press



BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) - Norv Turner was not the choice to succeed Bill Parcells in Dallas. But it appears he is the choice to replace Marty Schottenheimer.

ESPN.com is reporting that the San Diego Chargers have reached an agreement in principle with Turner, who interviewed for their coaching job last week.

Since firing Schottenheimer last Monday, the Chargers interviewed six candidates - Turner, defensive coordinators Ron Rivera, Rex Ryan, Gary Gibbs, Mike Zimmer and linebackers coach Mike Singletary.

Turner was the only one with offensive expertise and he would inherit a team that ranked first in the NFL in scoring with 492 points (30.8 per game). MVP LaDainian Tomlinson set a single-season record with 31 touchdowns and won the rushing title with 1,815 yards for San Diego, which finished 14-2 but lost in the divisional playoffs to New England.

Turner was the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator this past season and served as a tutor for quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft. He will likely do the same in San Diego with Philip Rivers, who was selected to the Pro Bowl this past season after passing for 3,388 yards and 22 touchdowns with nine interceptions.

Turner was a finalist for the Cowboys' job after Parcells retired, but owner Jerry Jones decided to hire former Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Turner was the offensive coordinator under coach Jimmy Johnson when the Cowboys won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1992-93.

The departure of Phillips led to the firing of Schottenheimer, who wanted to hire his younger brother Kurt Schottenheimer to replace Phillips.

The Chargers had already lost offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who left to become coach of the Miami Dolphins in January.

Turner did not have much success in his last coaching job with an AFC West team, compiling a 9-23 record in two seasons with the Oakland Raiders before being fired in January 2006. Included in that record was a 1-11 mark against division opponents.

Turner previously coached the Washington Redskins from 1994-2000, taking the team to the playoffs in 1999. He compiled a record of 51-62-1 with Washington before getting fired.

ESPN.com is also reporting that the Chargers will meet with longtime defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell this week. He most recently worked as a coordinator with Minnesota in 2004 and 2005.