NFL | Schottenheimer fired by Chargers

San Diego Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer was fired last night by team president Dean Spanos, who cited a "dysfunctional situation" between the coach and general manager A.J. Smith.

The dismissal came less than a month after San Diego's NFL-best 14-2 season was wrecked in a playoff loss to New England. Spanos cited the exodus of both coordinators and other assistants in firing Schottenheimer, who had a year left on his contact.

"The process of dealing with these coaching changes convinced me that we simply could not move forward with such dysfunction between our head coach and general manager," Spanos said in a statement. "In short, this entire process over the last month convinced me beyond any doubt that I had to act to change this untenable situation."

The firing was first reported by ESPN.

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was hired as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, following offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and two other assistants out of town for better jobs.

Although Schottenheimer said last week that change was inevitable, Smith sounded concerned, saying, "Both in the same year - wow."

Tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski became Cleveland's offensive coordinator, and linebackers coach Greg Manusky was hired as San Francisco's defensive coordinator.

Running backs coach Clarence Shelmon was promoted to replace Cameron, but accepted only a one-year contract because of Schottenheimer's lame-duck status. Schottenheimer declined the team's offer of a one-year, $4.5 million through 2008, which came with a club-option $1 million buyout.

Schottenheimer has been at odds with Smith since the 2005 season, apparently over personnel decisions by the general manager.

At 200-126-1 in regular-season games with Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington and San Diego, Schottenheimer is the most successful coach never to have reached the Super Bowl.

Giants. New York released linebackers LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons and offensive tackle Luke Petitgout in the first major shake-up under new general manager Jerry Reese.

Arrington, formerly a Penn State star and Pro Bowler, was signed last year for $49 million over seven years but suffered an Achilles tendon injury against Dallas on Oct. 23 and played in only six games for the team that was 8-8 this season and lost to the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs.

Emmons, acquired from the Eagles in 2004, was, like Petitgout, often injured in the past two seasons.

Titans. Mike Reinfeldt, Seattle's vice president of football operations, was hired as general manager at Tennessee, the franchise for which he once played.

He replaces Floyd Reese, who resigned on Jan. 5.

Barber joins NBC. Tiki Barber will work for NBC next year after having spent most of the 2006 season entertaining bids from various networks for jobs in both news and sports.

The Giants' Pro Bowl running back will be introduced today at a news conference, according to a person familiar with the deal.