Go ahead. Hate me.

Mike McCoy should not be fired. Not this week. Not during the season. No matter if it would be more popular than Christmas (can I say that?) around here.

But the Tuesday morning line, which to La-Z-Boy quarterbacks reads the same as the Monday morning line, claims this very well could be the week that McCoy’s pink slip will be showing.

Following the Chargers’ latest crack-up in Oakland, which followed other bad-team-finding-ways-to-lose performances vs. Kansas City, Indianapolis and New Orleans, the whispers have grown into hollers: If San Diego doesn’t beat the Broncos here Thursday night, the head coach is gone.


1 / 26 San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers walks of the field after a 34-31 loss to the Raiders in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 26 The snap gets by San Diego Chargers holder Drew Kaser on a game tying field goal attempt by Josh Lambo (2) in the 4th quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 26 San Diego Chargers Melvin Ingram, left, and Caraun Reid hit Raiders Derek Carr as he throws a touchdown pass to Amari Cooper in the 3rd quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 26 San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers is sacked by Raiders Stacy McGee in the 3rd quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 26 San Diego Chargers Melvin Gordon runs in for a touchdown off a screen pass against the Raiders in the 3rd quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 26 San Diego Chargers Melvin Gordon celebrates a touchdown against the Raiders in the 3rd quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 26 Oakland Raiders Sean Smith break up a pass to San Diego Chargers Travis Benjamin in the 2nd quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 26 San Diego Chargers Joey Bosa tries to sack Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in the 2nd quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 26 San Diego Chargers Joey Bosa (99) sacks Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in the 4th quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 26 San Diego Chargers Melvin Ingram reacts to dropping a possible interception in the 2nd quarter against the Raiders in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 26 San Diego Chargers Antonio Gates dives in for a touchdown in the 4th quarter against the Raiders in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 26 San Diego Chargers Joey Bosa (99) sacks Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in the 4th quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 26 San Diego Chargers Tyrell Williams makes a catch in front of Raiders David Amerson in the 3rd quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 26 San Diego Chargers King Dunlap was slow to get up in the 4th quarter against the Raiders in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 15 / 26 San Diego Chargers Antonio Gates gets a first down by Raiders Perry Riley Jr. in the 4th quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 16 / 26 San Diego Chargers Brandon Mebane (92) celebrates an interception in the 1st quarter against the Raiders in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 17 / 26 San Diego Chargers Philip River throws a pass to Travis Benjamin in the 2nd quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 18 / 26 San Diego Chargers Joey Bosa stops Raiders Jalen Richard in the 2nd quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 19 / 26 Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr throws a pass agains the Chargers in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 20 / 26 San Diego Chargers Joey Bosa rushes against Raiders Donald Penn in the 3rd quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 21 / 26 San Diego Chargers Hunter Henry gets taken down by Raiders Sean Smith in the 3rd quarter in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 22 / 26 San Diego Chargers Antonio Gates dives in for a touchdown in the 4th quarter against the Raiders in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 23 / 26 San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy meets with Raiders coach Jack Del Rio after a 34-31 loss to the Raiders in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 24 / 26 San Diego Chargers Tyrell Williams catches a touchdown pass in the 2nd quarter past Raiders David Amerson in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 25 / 26 San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers and Melvin Gordon listen to the national anthem before a game against the Raiders in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 26 / 26 San Diego Chargers raise their fists during the national anthem before a game against the Raiders in Oakland on Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

And maybe even if they manage a win, which would mean something incredibly stupid or unusual wouldn’t happen to them (seemingly an impossible something), McCoy still could be thrown out onto Murphy Canyon Road.

Because, of course, if there’s a proper moment for McCoy to be canned, it would be after the Broncos game, because this being a Thursday matchup and all, there would be more time for an interim head coach (offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt being the presumptive successor) to prepare these bunglers to suddenly heal the sick and raise the dead.

I’m not defending him. My heart won’t be broken if he’s dumped this week, but I can’t see adding chaos to chaos.


Because it’s not going to do a damn bit of good. In fact, if I were Whisenhunt, I might tell the bosses to find somebody else. Nothing like being handed the keys to a Yugo for a few months and the next guy gets the Porsche.

I don’t fire people, but I can’t say McCoy deserves to keep his job after this season. He has failed. After a modicum of success in his 2013 rookie year, his team has tobogganed to the point where it is now — a 1-4 walking wound that finds creative ways to get beat.

There is no question McCoy has been victimized by terribly bad luck, especially when it comes to injuries. But the best coaches also have a way of overcoming, as Napoleon said of his generals, making their own luck, and he seems incapable of it.

And he’s not a fixer. Just as an example, he never has corrected his horrible, important special teams, which have been disgraceful for years.


Is it all his fault? Hardly. He has no control over injuries, fumbles, interceptions, dropped snaps or officiating screw-ups (as with the bad spot before Sunday’s botched field-goal attempt, which our intrepid Tom Krasovic uncovered).

But this is about culture, toughness. Losing is easy, and he is coaching a bunch of players who can’t help but screw up at the most inopportune times. It is a losing culture, and it has to change.

McCoy is the captain. When the Exxon Valdez crashed into Bligh Reef, people didn’t blame the reef.

But trying to change it this week would be a waste of time. It is true the Chargers very easily could be 5-0, but they are not. They are not because the players have done stupid things and the coach hasn’t always done the smart thing, either. They aren’t going anywhere. Kicking out McCoy won’t jump start this jalopy.


The Spanoses have to turn the organization inside-out, and must spelunk deeper than they have into the nearly impossible injury plague that now strikes this team every year. They cannot win this way. And there’s no denying that McCoy’s ultra-conservative style, his bad clock management, his cardboard personality haven’t helped.

Teams can get away with boring head coaches (most of them are) — if they win.

I’m tired of hearing that if he were to go, it would help the team’s downtown stadium push (Measure C). That the fans would love it.

Well, they might love it, but, as I’ve said, how this team plays or has played, how McCoy coaches or has coached, isn’t going to get the measure passed.


As much as I like the entire concept of the “convadium,” how it’s ideal, it’s not passing. It’s not getting 67 percent of the vote. The hope is that enough people will support it to make the franchise — and the city, now that Mayor Faulconer has endorsed it — live to fight another fight.

If McCoy’s firing means Measure C passes, he should be fired yesterday. It’s not going to matter.

Unless a higher authority intervenes and this team makes a dramatic U-turn, the Chargers are going to have a new head coach. McCoy is doomed. He probably shouldn’t have been brought back this year, but when it comes to matters such as these, the Spanoses can be a forgiving lot.

There won’t be enough forgiveness to save him from his inevitable fate, but why rush? If nothing else, his kids play for him and probably trust him more than he does them. They just don’t play very well.


Maybe McCoy will be fired this week. But it would accomplish nothing.

Except possibly bring some joy to Mudville. But not enough to get the Chargers out of the muck.

sezme.godfather@gmail.com; Twitter: @sdutcanepa