| San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner disagrees with a call during San Diego's loss to the Denver Broncos. Turner said the Broncos have made something out of nothing with the Stickum probe. (US Presswire) |
Chargers coach Norv Turner on Monday denied that his team used a banned sticky substance in their 35-24 loss to the Broncos on Oct. 15.
“Nobody from the San Diego Chargers used Stickum in the game [against Denver],” Turner said Monday. “Nobody has used Stickum in any game."
The NFL banned the product Stickum in 1981.
“The questions that have been asked by the league involve a towel that has been used by this organization for over 10 years,” Turner said. “It’s used by a lot of teams in this league. The towel is used to dry the balls, to dry the gloves the players wear and their arms. The league is looking into the towel and that is about where we are at.”
Turner indicated that a member of the Chargers' organization had received permission to use the towel in question. “It has been asked about in the past,” Turner said. “One of the officials in the past said he thought it would be a good thing to use. This is a couple of years ago.”
Turner clarified, “According to our equipment guys --- this would be a good thing to use to dry his clubs when he is playing golf.”
WR Robert Meachem, however, appeared to contradict Turner about whether it was a specific type of towel. “It just the towel you wear on your side,” Meachem said. “That little towel right there," he said, as he pointed to a white cotton towel at the floor of his locker.
Meachem said he used the same type of towel when he played for the Saints from 2007 to 2011.
The Broncos have made something out of nothing, Turner said.
“It’s the first time that it has been brought to [the league’s] attention and it was brought to their attention by Denver,” Turner said. “A lot of attention that has come out of it the last three or four days has come from the same sources.”
The issue of punishment for the use of the towel was not addressed. “It’s something that has obviously been brought to the league’s attention,” Turner said. “If they decide that teams shouldn’t use it, there are going to be a lot of teams having to change what they use.”
Turner did not identify the brand of towel in question. “They are going to make a lot of money off of it,” Turner said. “I understand a lot of golfers use it to dry their grips in inclement weather, but it is pretty widely used throughout the league. I do not need to help anybody in terms of marketing there."
There were initial allegations that officials had found two flesh-colored sticky bandages in the pocket of a San Diego equipment manager. “That is not what the league is asking us about,” Turner said. “If you believe everything you read, you are going to be chasing a lot of wrong stories.”
Turner also denied reports that the equipment manager initially refused to turn over the item(s) in question. “Don’t believe everything you read,” Turner said. “What we are telling you is how this thing was handled and I don’t believe anyone refused to turn over the material.”
Turner spoke to the media immediately after practice at a podium outside the team’s locker room. OLB Shaun Phillips followed, and addressed concerns about the team's integrity.
“Cheaters is a big word,” Phillips said. “I have seen a lot of cheating in the NFL. I do not know if using Stickum would be considered big-time cheating. It always sucks because you never want to be [called] a cheater.”
Follow Chargers reporter Dan McLellan on Twitter @CBSChargers and @sandiegosports.