APIn the wake of the Chargers’ 8-8 flop last season, there was reasonable speculation about the futures of both general manager A.J. Smith and coach Norv Turner.
Both survived, but the mandate seemed shaky, and Smith has taken on a win-or-else mentality this year.
He may be right, but Kevin Acee, a former beat writer/now columnist for U-T San Diego (that’s a newspaper in California, not a community college in Texas) wrote that Smith should be safe, even if the Chargers miss the playoffs for a third straight season.
On the whole, Smith’s tenure has been good. They’ve won games, made the playoffs, even if they haven’t progressed far in them. In Chargers history, that’s worth something.
Acee admits he didn’t ask Dean Spanos for a ruling on this column, but he’s been around the team long enough to be familiar with the way Spanos works.
And in writing that Smith could survive another disappointment even if Turner doesn’t, it establishes the pecking order.
The Chargers, on paper, have been a talented team. In the NFL, if you have a quarterback, you have a chance, and they’ve been consistent contenders with Philip Rivers at the helm.
That puts it back on Turner, and from the sounds of things, he’ll be the one that takes the blame if things don’t reverse course this year.
Smith’s more than a bit of a grouch, and that willingness to be the bad guy probably serves him well, because it keeps his boss from feeling the heat. And though he’s mockingly referred to in league circles as “The Lord of No Rings” for his imperious attitude, it sounds like Smith’s more secure than his recent record would indicate.
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“Lord of no Rings”. Really? NFL execs are nerdier than I thought.
Clear evidence that AJ Smith has a photo of Dean Spanos… and a goat.
Even if you don’t like the man, you can’t deny AJ Smith’s success at evaluating talent. He’s the best the Chargers have ever had, IMO, maybe next to Sid Gillman. I support keeping him. Since his first full year as GM, the Bolts have not had a losing season and have won more games than all but a handful of teams.
Still, A.J. never goes out without the team’s official ID badge around his neck. Just to reassure himself.
In that case I hope they go 4-12 so ‘ole AJ can look like a jerk for another year.
While I agree that Turner as coach deserves much of the blame, AJ Smith isn’t innocent. This is the man that has let Michael Turner, Darren Sproles and Vincent Jackson go while trading up for Ryan Matthews who so far hasn’t been impressive.
Well, being that only 18 teams in the NFL have won the Superbowl… there are plenty “Lords of no Rings.”
AJ is a joke, his team’s performance is proof of that. He got rid of a 14-2 coach, I can understand the argument for that, but how much leeway does AJ deserve? How many year/opportunities does he get?
sdb0ltz says:
Jun 21, 2012 2:33 PM
Well, being that only 18 teams in the NFL have won the Superbowl… there are plenty “Lords of no Rings.”
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Is kind of funny how the Great Chargers are the only AFC West team that doesn’t have a ring though….
As a Raider fan, I hope Smith and Turner stay in San Diego for years and years.
As a football fan – I scratch my head every year how both of these guys remain employed there.
ademell1 says:
Jun 21, 2012 4:50 PM
As a Raider fan, I hope Smith and Turner stay in San Diego for years and years.
As a football fan – I scratch my head every year how both of these guys remain employed there.
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Amen. Keep doing what you do, AJ!
If it werent for the Stupid mistakes by Shottenheimer (overruling the oc for much of the game) and mccree trying to return a game clinching int we might have a ring
Wow! Someone doesn’t want to lose his access to the Chargers I guess. The core philosophy for that team was built by Butler not by AJ Smith. Smith is the one who fired Schottenheimer, setting up expectations of Super Bowl or nothing. He’s also the one that got rid of Drew Brees, who’s had better career since that time then Rivers, who replaced him. Smith is also the one whose reputation was so lousy
Eli Manning declared that he did not want to go to San Diego before he was even drafted. AJ is the walking definition of the Peter Principle in the NFL. He is a very good number two on the front office. But as a GM his results are a number two.
And though he’s mockingly referred to in league circles as “The Lord of No Rings”
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In league circles? Blog comments count as league circles now?
For those who have a problem with memory:
AJ did not fire Marty. Marty orchestrated his own firing by trying to hire his son, which was strictly forbidden, among other things.
AJ did not get rid of Brees. Brees shredded his shoulder in the last game of the season before he was going to be a free agent. Only two teams offered him a contract besides the Chargers.
sdb0ltz says: Jun 21, 2012 2:33 PM
Well, being that only 18 teams in the NFL have won the Superbowl… there are plenty “Lords of no Rings.”
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Misery loves company. Only the fan of a team that never won a Super Bowl would know how many teams have failed.
Bearflagfan
If u want to point at a game changing moment when the chargers went downhill why do u point at butler? Shoulda opted for buddy nix. U wouldnt have just totally lost me.
Second, dont look at Brees as a Saint, look at him when he was a charger. He was pro bowl caliber but rivers is a better CHARGER than when Brees was here. Also Rivers was much better in mini camps and practices. His shoulder surgery. Was an excuse to give rivers the job.
third, Rivers is better than Eli so thats not a discussion. Its not that Eli didnt want to play in (low market) SD its that he wanted to play in (high market) NY. it was the market not the GM.
ripseau says: Jun 21, 2012 10:29 PM
third, Rivers is better than Eli so thats not a discussion.
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It’s not a discussion because Eli is twice as good as Rivers when it comes to winning a ring. Eli 2, Philip 0. Nothing else matters. Ask your trophy case.
Firing Schottenheimer after going 14-2 but losing in the playoffs on a very fluky play probably cost the Chargers a super bowl. Replacing him with–of all people–Norv Turner guaranteed a constant decline.Firing Schottenheimer after going 14-2 but losing in the playoffs on a very fluky play probably cost the Chargers a super bowl. Replacing him with–of all people–Norv Turner guaranteed a constant decline.
Poor rips: Another delusional victim of the Charger PR machine.
Rivers ain’t done squat. No SB Rings, Brees and Eli Manning both have theirs – Eli dos.
Q’s?
And it wasn’t a just a “fluky” play. That idiot – Safety – Marion or whatever his name was – just had to fall down with the intereception and they could have run out the clock – but NOOOOOOOO – he wanted to try and run it back and be a forever ESPN highlight. What a schmuck.