Chargers deny fates of Norv Turner, A.J. Smith determined

• 'The San Diego Union-Tribune' reported coach, GM will be fired at season's end
• Chargers haven't reached playoffs since 2009
• Smith's recent draft picks, free agent signings have not panned out

If the San Diego Chargers have already determined the futures of coach Norv Turner and GM A.J. Smith, they're not admitting it.

Chairman Dean Spanos released a statement through the team Thursday that read: "There is only one person in this organization who will make those decisions and that's me, and I haven't shared my thoughts with anyone. I will make my evaluations at the end of the season. Anything coming out now — from sources or otherwise — is pure speculation."

It seemed clearly designed as a response to a report from The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee, who (citing his anonymous sources) reported earlier today that Spanos decided a month ago that Turner and Smith will be dismissed once the season ends and that longtime director of player personnel Jimmy Raye would replace Smith.

Spanos drew the wrath of many San Diego fans in January when he retained Turner and Smith on the heels of an 8-8 season in 2011.

Acee didn't offer a short list of who might claim Turner's job, but many NFL pundits are already speculating about the possibility of Southern California native Andy Reid moving west, assuming he's dismissed himself by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jon Gruden and Oregon's Chip Kelly could be other names that bear watching.

From 2006 to 2009, the Chargers were AFC West champions thanks to an impressive roster constructed by Smith. He hired Turner in 2007 to replace Marty Schottenheimer, whose top-seeded 2006 team (14-2) lost its first playoff game.

Despite injuries to stars LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers, the Bolts reached the 2007 AFC Championship Game under Turner, who is 56-42 since coming to San Diego. However the team has just one postseason victory since then and was one-and-done in 2009 despite having a first-round bye.

The Chargers are 21-23 since 2009 and have lost six of seven after a 3-1 start this season. Rivers, an avowed Turner supporter, has become a turnover machine, and the offense has lost much of its juice since Smith allowed running back Darren Sproles and wideout Vincent Jackson to defect in free agency while the offensive line deteriorated. Many of the GM's offseason signings — including Robert Meachem, Eddie Royal and Jarret Johnson — have failed to make an impact.

Smith, whose hardball negotiating tactics over the years kept Jackson and tight end Antonio Gates off the field at key junctures, also seemed to lose his golden draft touch of late with Antoine Cason, Buster Davis, Larry English and Jacob Hester among his notable misses while the jury is still out on Ryan Mathews, Corey Liuget and others.

The job could be a fairly attractive one assuming Rivers and Mathews can rebound and players like Liuget and Melvin Ingram develop into defensive stalwarts.