San Diego coach Mike McCoy has his hands full with a 4-11 Chargers team.
Still, he’s not oblivious to some of the whirlwind flowing around his former quarterback, Peyton Manning, from the al-Jazeera report that Manning allegedly was linked to HGH.
McCoy didn’t hesitate to come to Manning’s defense Wednesday.
“I know Peyton Manning,” McCoy said. “I’m behind Peyton 100 percent.”
McCoy’s only season with Manning was 2012, as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator.
Manning, who was in his first season with the Broncos and coming off a neck injury that caused him to miss the previous season, set individual, franchise and league records under McCoy’s tutelage. McCoy, 43, then moved on to the Chargers.
“He’s one of the best of all time,” McCoy said. “Phenomenal player, a great person. It was a honor and privilege to coach Peyton Manning for the short amount of time I got to spend with him. I am where I am today because of guys like Peyton Manning. I learned so much from him.”
McCoy has his own turmoil. Every week, the questions get louder about the Chargers’ potential move from San Diego to Los Angeles in 2016.
Meanwhile, on the field, his team is certain to finish with its worst record since going 4-12 in 2003.
San Diego has been hit so hard with injuries, wide receiver Dontrelle Inman had to play snaps at safety during the closing minutes of the Chargers’ 23-20 loss on Christmas Eve at Oakland. The good news? His players haven’t lost faith.
“From what he’s had to deal with, I think he’s done a phenomenal job,” tight end Antonio Gates said of McCoy. “To be able to deal with some of the things that Coach had to deal with this year, I can’t say enough about how he’s been able to handle the fluctuations of so many guys coming in and out.”
Gates, 35, has spent all 13 years of his career in San Diego. He said he has never quite been through a season like this. But those struggles have made it easier for Gates’ decision to come back next season.
Heading into the Chargers’ season finale against Denver, McCoy stressed the importance of “finishing strong.” Gates preferred the importance of “self-pride” as a reason that the Chargers won’t just pack it in.
Plus, this could be the last game they play with “San Diego” in front of “Chargers,” and that means a lot to their players.
“It’s so hard to look forward to what’s to come in the future,” Gates said. “The Philips (Rivers), the Malcoms (Floyd), the Mike Scifreses, the Eric Weddles, who have been with me close to a decade. I’m just prepared to play for them and play for what we stand for since the day that we got here.”
Cameron Wolfe: 303-954-1891, cwolfe@denverpost.com or @CameronWolfe
