It should be how bad the Chargers actually were….bad coaching, bad o-line, bad receivers and a chubby Natrone.

As far the players, there was a lot put on Leaf that should have been put on others…funny how the coaches and Seau escaped criticism; I know blasphemy.

Seau was a great player, but he hated his contract since Day 1. He felt he never got the respect he deserved which was probably true; but certainly he rallied the defense around him and pointed out the offense has deficient. Again he was right, but you ever Ray Lewis calling out his offense?

As far as the coaches go….Riley, nice guy but then it drops from there. Players were not on same page, his handling of a rookie QB from a small town small college

Jamarcus had a running game to fallback on: he is throwing with a bit more time against 4 and 5 def back sets. Leaf was throwing against 6 dbs with less time.

This isn’t me supporting the Chargers getting Leaf, but unless it is Peyton or Elway. No way would I draft a QB in the top of the draft; it is a position that success depends more on development and surrounding cast. Leaf was exactly what he was in college, a small town QB with talent. The media acted like he was going to carry the Chargers to the playoffs like Washington State….

History will place all of the blame on him, but others should shoulder it as well

it was a pretty bad team (by definition, drafting high in the first round even before the trade up). The Chargers did have a pretty good defense back then. The Colts were awful too, but Manning took the right approach to making himself and the team better. Leaf was just mentally not ready to lead a pro team. His play on the field was just one aspect of the dysfunction.

Your point is made though. That was a situation that, in hindsight, seemed destined to end badly.