SAN DIEGO – Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer was fired Monday night in a shocking move by team president Dean Spanos, who cited a “dysfunctional situation” between the coach and general manager A.J. Smith.

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.”

Giants release Arrington, two others

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The New York Giants released linebacker LaVar Arrington and two other starters Monday in the first major shake-up under new general manager Jerry Reese.

New York also cut linebacker Carlos Emmons and offensive tackle Luke Petitgout, both of whom were slowed by injuries over the last two seasons.

The release of Arrington ended a brief and unsatisfying tenure with the Giants for the former Pro Bowler, who was signed last year for $49 million over seven years but suffered an Achilles injury against Dallas on Oct. 23 and played in only six games.

Reese, who replaced the retired Ernie Accorsi, served notice that he will not stand pat with a team that won the NFC East in 2005 but was humiliated in a first-round playoff loss to Carolina, then scraped into the playoffs last season with an 8-8 record and again lost in the first round.

Petitgout started 106 games at tackle and guard over eight seasons for the Giants. He broke his leg against Chicago on Nov. 12 and missed the Giants’ final seven games.

Emmons, acquired from Philadelphia in 2004, played in 36 games in three seasons but missed a total of 11 games in the last two seasons with a pectoral injury.

Eagles’ Reid taking leave of absence

PHILADELPHIA – Andy Reid is facing a crisis far tougher than a quarterback controversy or a disruptive player.

The Philadelphia Eagles coach will leave the team for a month to deal with developments that have rocked his family the past two weeks – one son tested positive for heroin, another was arraigned on drug and weapons charges.

The team said the leave will last until mid-March. “He’s not going to come into the office. His priorities will be his family for that period of time, but he will be available to have a couple of calls with us and collaborate and if he needed to be here for a visit of a free agent,” Eagles president Joe Banner said Monday. “He will retain final say over whatever we do.”

Titans hire Seattle VP as new general manager

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bud Adams prefers sticking with people he knows for important jobs. The Tennessee Titans owner did just that Monday, picking a safety from his franchise’s old Houston days as his first new general manager since 1994.

Mike Reinfeldt started 102 consecutive games for the then-Houston Oilers between 1976 and 1983 and lost to Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game in the 1978 and 1979 seasons – when the fans rallied around the phrase “Luv Ya Blue.”

He led the NFL with 12 interceptions in 1979. Now Seattle’s vice president of football operations,

Reinfeldt was among seven candidates and three finalists to replace Floyd Reese, who resigned on Jan. 5.