Marty Schottenheimer, winner of more than 200 games as a pro football coach, posted a 14-2 regular-season record with the San Diego Chargers this season. Then, on Sunday, the Chargers lost their first playoff game to New England, 24-12. It didn't surprise any of Erie's longtime football fans -- especially backers of the Cleveland Browns, the first pro team Schottenheimer served as head coach.

Back in the 1980s, Schottenheimer built the Browns into a near-championship caliber team. If not for bad luck (?), the Browns, with quarterback Bernie Kosar at the helm, might have advanced to two Super Bowls. But there was "the drive" and "the fumble," and the Browns never made it to "the big dance," as cliche-loving sportswriters love to call the championship game.

Schottenheimer quit as Browns coach and resurfaced some years later in Kansas City, where he built the Chiefs into a near-championship caliber team. Except the Chiefs couldn't buy a win in the playoffs either.

In San Diego, Schottemheimer performed a coaching miracle. He transformed the cellar-dwelling Chargers into a near-flawless team this season. But, heading into Sunday's playoff game against New England, I told my sons, "Bet the ranch of the Patriots today, boys. No way Schottenheimer will ever win today."

For three quarters the Chargers made me look bad, but they let New England's brilliant quarterback, Tom Brady, hang around too long, and the Patriots eventually prevailed, as expected.

John Dudley, the Erie Times-News' prize-winning sports columnist, came out hard against Schottenheimer in today's editions. He quoted a number of San Diego sportswriters, all of whom said Schottenheimer will likely be fired unless the Chargers beat New England.

Dudley took it one step further by pointing out that if Schottenheimer is shown the door in San Diego, there's a possibility -- likely a slim one, but a possibility nonetheless -- that Marty could end up as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers have been interviewing candidates for the past 10 days to replace the recently retired Bill Cowher.

No doubt, reading Dudley's column over breakfast this morning ruined the day for quite a few local Steelers fans. But, as a long-suffering Browns fan, I wouldn't mind Marty back. Hey, even a loss in the playoffs wouldn't hurt so badly if you could smile your way through a 14-2 regular season.

Dudley provided interesting food for thought in his sports columns today. Now, if only a pro team could figure out a way to let Schottenheimer handle the regular season, and then have an experienced hand take over the playoff games. You'd have the best of both football worlds.

Sorry, but when you're writing this sports stuff, the cliches come too easily.

-- Kevin Cuneo