{"id":31344,"date":"2023-12-03T09:08:11","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T09:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moabcelticfestival.org\/?p=31344"},"modified":"2023-12-03T09:08:11","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T09:08:11","slug":"antonio-gates-backs-chargers-coach-brandon-staley-says-org-shouldnt-fire-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moabcelticfestival.org\/celebrity\/antonio-gates-backs-chargers-coach-brandon-staley-says-org-shouldnt-fire-him\/","title":{"rendered":"Antonio Gates Backs Chargers Coach Brandon Staley, Says Org Shouldn't Fire Him"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Chargers are in last place and virtually everyone believes it’s a foregone conclusion head coach Brandon Staley<\/strong> will lose his job … and that’d be a mistake, according to Antonio Gates<\/strong>, one of the greatest players in franchise history.<\/p>\n TMZ Sports<\/strong> ran into the 8x Pro Bowler earlier this week in L.A., who spent all of his 16 seasons as a pro with the Bolts, and asked him whether it was time Staley got the ol’ heave-ho after another disappointing season in SoCal.<\/p>\n “Ya know, I don’t personally think [the coach should be fired],” AG told us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Hall of Fame candidate explained his reasoning … “Just because of the relationship he has with the players. I’m big on, ‘Can you get the guys to play for you?’ I feel like Staley has a rapport with the players, and I believe in that particularly because I’ve been in that locker room.”<\/p>\n Staley’s been the HC since the 2021 season … and while the squad is chock full of talent, including star QB Justin Herbert<\/strong>, the team has struggled to find any postseason success. Last season the 10-win Chargers lost to the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card round, and this year has been a disaster.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Things have been so bad for the 4-7 squad, there’s near-constant talk about who could replace Staley after his all-but-guaranteed demise … and Bill Belichick<\/strong> is often at the top of the list.<\/p>\n Things aren’t exactly going smoothly for the 6x Super Bowl-winning head coach (8 total) on the other coast, either. Bill and owner Robert Kraft<\/strong> have reportedly had tension, and it’s not crazy to think Belichick walks away or even gets fired after the 2023 season.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We asked Gates if he believed Belichick would be a good fit in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n “I think Belichick is a proven, historical winner. Why wouldn’t he be good for any team? I don’t know how the old-school coaching would transition now. I come from that old-school mentality, but I don’t know if these guys can commit to that style of play. I’m not sure. I don’t know.<\/p>\n “But we do know what we know is that he’s a proven winner. I just don’t know if his style of play is still considered valuable in the National Football League.”<\/p>\n The Chargers have 6 games remaining \u2026 including a matchup with the Pats this Sunday.<\/p>\n Barring something miraculous, it’s hard to imagine the team sticking with Staley … even with the backing of the great Antonio Gates.<\/p>\n