ESPN's Chris Mortensen is the first national media figure to mention the name of USC coach Pete Carroll in connection with the San Diego Chargers job. The key is GM A.J. Smith, since Carroll wants full control over the football operation. If Smith goes, then the time could be right for Carroll to come back to the pro game without leaving Southern California.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES of Dean Spanos firing AJ Smith and Norv Turner, and replacing him with a REAL COACH AND LEADER like Pete Carrol? Can we do that this week please?????

No - Carroll is a great recruiter. I think that explains his success more in college than his coaching skills. Carroll would only be a slight upgrade to Turner in the pro game.

just one more unproven, well Turner is proven, proven he can not be a head coach to Carrol who did not have much success to begin with in the NFL. I would think he would want to stay at USC, I mean how much better could he have it?

Nah. Let's see how this plays out. Yeah, we're 1-3 but it's still early in the season and really we are only one game out of first place. My faith hasn't been shaken yet

the Bolts couldn't win a title even if Vince Lombardi was their coach. They're a bunch of underachieving chokers

Pete Carroll is not gonna leave USC...He got fired from the NFL already(Patriots)...

Caroll was a decent coach and I think he learned his lesson. The players loved him (on the Patriots) and I think he can improve in his next outing like Belichik did form his first. he needs to be tougher.

Carroll also improved drastically between his Jets debut and his Patriots stint.

Norv Turner obviously is a complete mess that can't strategize, adjust, manage or lead. The Britney Spears of NFL coaches.

Carroll already said there is no chance. This comes up every year.

I'm not sure if Carol is the answer. However, if you could talk your local high school coach into taking a stab at the job he just might be a improvement over Norv Turner.

The bigger question is, would Pete Carroll want the San Diego job. His name seems to come up every time there is an open NFL position and every year he stays at USC.

The job could definitly be open, San Diego is underperforming and I wouldn't stand for it if I were the owner. However, they could just as easily turn things around and finish the season 13-3 and win the Super Bowl and this won't matter anyway.

Ok.. lets see... Bill Cowher is out there.. Jason Garrett from the Cowboys is out there.. Mike Martz is available... Josh Mcdaniels the OC in New England is out there.... and you tell me they would pick Pete Carroll..

I don't think so... 3 of those 4 would be cheaper and want less power than Carroll - you be the Owner.. who do you pick ??

no, then i'd have a reason to hate the chargers, that crooked nosed idiot wouldnt know the first thing about coaching in the nfl, god knows we already have enough douches coaching in the nfl *cough* *bellichek* *cough*

Steve Spurrier proved that some coaches are just built for a college program, and Pete Carrol proved he's one of them. A journeyman early in his career, he finally found a home in the Collesium. There's no way he's going to give up the dynasty he's built to coach a team that's expected to win out in the NFL. He has to notice that the Chargers talent level is vastly overrated, even if only on the defensive side of the ball. Donnie Edwards was a dynamic playmaker and the heart and soul of that defense. And what's sooo talented about their secondary? I know they havee the streiod pumping sack machine, but what else can he do?... Oh yeah get beat all day long when he drops back in coverage. In college an extremely gifted offense paired with a defense that's adequate at best will prevail, Pete sees that that's one of the many differences between college and the pros; he's a smart enough man to know that the grass isn't greener.