<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>SAN DIEGO ---- In a roundabout way, new Chargers coach Norv Turner had a hand in bringing LaDainian Tomlinson to the Bolts.That is, if you believe the story told to me by the late John Butler.During his term as general manager of the Chargers, Butler and I would meet periodically and talk about the state of the team and football. He especially loved to talk about the draft.He was a good storyteller if you promised not to print his opinions.Butler, who died in 2003, orchestrated a trade with Atlanta one day before the 2001 draft that sent the top pick to the Falcons.Atlanta took quarterback Michael Vick, while the Chargers dropped to the fifth spot and selected the incomparable LaDainian Tomlinson, the 2006 NFL MVP.The Chargers also received two other draft picks over the next two years plus kick returner Tim Dwight.During one of my chat sessions with Butler I asked him how in the world he could pass up Vick, a dynamic college quarterback who was billed as a franchise-changing prospect."Norv wasn't sold on him," Butler said.At the time Turner was the offensive coordinator on Mike Riley's staff.Butler explained that during a workout the week of the draft at Virginia Tech, Turner drew up some plays on the blackboard for Vick. He then took Vick to the practice field to see if he could put what he saw on the blackboard into action. Vick failed miserably.According to Butler, Turner told him that he didn't believe that Vick was a viable first pick.I'm not sure if this is fact or fiction because current general manager A.J. Smith doesn't remember the incident. And he was there."John Butler liked to tell stories to the press," Smith said, "and this may be one of them."Turner does remember the workout but stopped short of saying that Vick did not merit being a top pick."I don't believe that was the wording," Turner said from his new office on Tuesday.Turner had given Drew Brees the same workout at Purdue two days before the Vick workout."I knew that John wanted LaDainian, and I had a strong belief that Drew had all the intangibles to be that kind of (special) player," Turner said.Both Turner and Smith chose their words carefully in describing Vick. They operate under the NFL code in which coaches and general managers say the best and think the rest. In the NFL, one does not speak ill of a possible future opponent.My thought: There is more than a grain of truth to the story.Butler directed Smith and Turner to work closely together on the 2001 draft."We all valued his opinion as a talent evaluator," Smith said of Turner. "We were looking to find a key element to build from, a key running back, a key wideout. That was something Norv did when he was in Dallas and that we did in Buffalo when we drafted Thurman Thomas. Our goal was to start with a great player and support him with good players."The Chargers had to wait for Arizona to select tackle Leonard Davis, Cleveland to pick defensive tackle Gerard Warren and Cincinnati to take defensive end Justin Smith before they got their great player.Now, Smith and Turner are together again, working on the next Chargers draft.Don't count me in the camp that thinks Turner is a bad hire to replace Marty Schottenheimer. Given the timing, Turner is the best person for the job.The Chargers can't afford to have a young, inexperienced coach learn and make mistakes on the job. Despite his losing record as a head coach Turner is here because Smith respects him and knows there will be continuity in the offense.That's why Smith hired him.Now, if the two can put their heads together and draft another player comparable to Tomlinson, few will worry about Turner's previous coaching record.</div>
Norv Turner is a great offensive mind, that doesn't suprise me. But, that still doesn't make him a good Head Coach....
