The Pete Factor

Now that the Chargers have hired Norv Turner, here’s some advice to the L.A. Times reporters when an NFL coaching vacancy occurs: Unsubstantiated rumors and “guesswork” that Pete Carroll is a candidate for the opening are not journalism, and serve no purpose at all.

I suggest your standard opening line in any article on possible NFL head coaches should be that as long as Pete Carroll is at USC, he will be a “candidate” for every NFL opening. Why not just say that each time a vacancy occurs, and then move on to the facts.

DREW POMERANCE

Woodland Hills

*

Do the Spanos brothers, and A.J. Smith, really think they can just plug in anyone to the head coach slot and win a Super Bowl? As if it is that easy. We’re talking either idiocy or arrogance -- probably both. Now I know why the Chargers will never win the big one.

DAN JENSEN

San Clemente