Approval Rating: A.J. Smith

by Wonko on Jan 21, 2011 1:00 PM PST in San Diego Chargers Approval Ratings

Last year, we half-heartedly tried to do some of these, but I want to start this offseason by getting a few of these going. First up is Chargers General Manager. I'll try not to give too much of my own opinion because I don't want the votes to be influenced. Although, if you're curious you can always look at peoples' SBN profile page and see how they voted.

A.J. Smith became the Chargers GM in 2003. Since then he's overseen:

One losing season
One .500 season
Six winning seasons
Four 10+ win seasons
The franchise's winningest season
Five playoff appearances
A 3-5 postseason record
An appearance in an AFC Championship game.

His notable decisions this past year were:

Signing Head Coach Norv Turner to a contract extension.
Signing TE Antonio Gates to a contract extension.
Allowing an extended holdout with Vincent Jackson and losing him for most of the season.
Allowing an extended holdout with Marcus McNeill and eventually singing him to a contract extension after missing several games.
Allowing a holdout with LB Shawne Merriman and eventually releasing him after another unproductive season.
Trading CB Antonio Cromartie for what became a second round pick.
Releasing franchise icon RB LaDainian Tomlinson.
Trading QB Charlie Whitehurst for multiple draft picks.
Trading up in the draft to get RB Ryan Mathews.
Selecting the injured, ineffective or eventually released LB Donald Butler, S Darrell Stuckey, DT Cam Thomas, QB Jonathan Crompton and TE Dedric Epps including trading up to get both Butler and Thomas.
Placing the franchise tag on RB/KR Darren Sproles.
Waiting until the end of season to fire Special Teams Coach Steve Crosby.

Poll

Do you approve or disapprove of the way A.J. Smith is handling his job as General Manager of the San Diego Chargers?

Approve

509 votes

Disapprove

517 votes

1026 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 33 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Firing Crosby

Isn’t that Norv’s decision?

by Cake or Death on Jan 21, 2011 1:18 PM PST reply actions

I almost wrote that

But, you hear about GMs forcing coaches to fire coaches all the time. I think his lack of action counts as a decision.

The National League West title was all but a lock,
Then they lost 10 in a row, ‘twas like a punch in the jock!

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jan 21, 2011 3:24 PM PST up reply actions

AJ's been pretty clear on the coaching thing

In an interview on XTRA 1090 AJ said the coaching decisions are 100% Norv. And think that is fair – in season. I like that better than the AJ of years past.

Out of season I think AJ and Dean should push Norv on every single staffing decision right down to the water boy. Norv should prove that each person on the staff is the right person for the job every single season. It feels like too often the staffing decisions are on autopilot.

by Trendsearcher on Jan 25, 2011 10:06 AM PST up reply actions

approve

I remember Bethard and Butler.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Jan 21, 2011 1:21 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Butler?

Was there something wrong with Butler??

by Andy (allfield) on Jan 21, 2011 8:33 PM PST up reply actions

David Boston

by TennesseeTuxeD'Oh! on Jan 22, 2011 7:03 AM PST up reply actions

we didn’t really improve under butler, granter we had a long way to go.

In addition to Boston, he also gave us Wiley and gave Tim Dwight a big fat contract to help justify his Vick for LT and Dwight draft day trade. Butler’s drafting sucked as well.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Jan 24, 2011 11:59 AM PST up reply actions

I always remember Dwight

as that ‘collapsed lung’ guy

"If you wanna crown em, then crown their asses"

by Natrone Means Business on Jan 25, 2011 12:04 PM PST up reply actions

i think he has plateaued

the team peaked in 2007. they had a toughness to them. they could have easily beaten NE to advance. it’s been a decline ever since.
2008 had some bad luck games, and LT getting hurt in the finale doomed any non-Indy playoff games. the 2009 team, while having an outstanding regular season record, again wilted against very good, physical teams (balt/pitt/nyj). this year’s team seemed to lose to physical teams period. i don’t like the trend line.

by sirbud on Jan 21, 2011 1:41 PM PST reply actions

Spot on

Didn’t AJ lose a key personnel guy a couple years backk? Most distressing is always losing to physical teams. If we don’t man up we aregoing to be the Raiders’ b$&@$.

by Robo65 on Jan 21, 2011 1:57 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Buddy Nix

is who I believe you’re referring to.

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Jan 21, 2011 2:05 PM PST up reply actions

I don't think

it’s fair to criticize AJ for losing personnel guys. When a team has success, they lose staff members. It’s nothing new.

I agree that we aren’t physical enough, though.

by Cake or Death on Jan 21, 2011 2:08 PM PST up reply actions

The Trend Line

The trend line is a NFL team slowly being eating alive by a nepotism. Started with Dean-O, now the whole family. What’s next the family dog as equipment manager? Nanny as head trainer?

All the teams in the final 4 right have how many family members in key organizational positions?

by PowayRecon on Jan 21, 2011 6:18 PM PST up reply actions

Well, the Jets and Steelers both are family run operations

The Johnson (of Johnson & Johnson) run the Jets and the Rooney’s have been running the Steelers forever.

The Packers are run by the city. I can’t remember what the Bears deal is.

The National League West title was all but a lock,
Then they lost 10 in a row, ‘twas like a punch in the jock!

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jan 21, 2011 8:17 PM PST up reply actions

is rooney’s son or grandson the head of scouting for the steelers? i think that’s what he meant.

by BORTZ on Jan 22, 2011 1:03 PM PST up reply actions

if anything John Spanos is doing great IMO

He’s on the road and finding that talent. The dude is paying his NFL dues in frequent flier points. How many trust fund kids can you say that about?

by Trendsearcher on Jan 25, 2011 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

On the fence

Not sure how I feel about AJ anymore. He has made good decisions in the past and put together some of the best teams we’ve seen. But this last season left a very bitter taste in my mouth. The holdouts with MM and VJ I thought were excessive and the past few drafts have been seriously lacking. The spotlight is hot on him this year after the debaucle that was 2010, lets see how he responds.

"If you wanna crown em, then crown their asses"

by Natrone Means Business on Jan 21, 2011 2:17 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

I was going to click approve...

but then I read the summary and got mad. AJ wouldn’t like me when I’m mad.

Dielman on Rivers: "I've tried to get him to say s--- or f--- and all he'll ever do is say, 'Golly gee, I can't do that."

by Superduperboltman on Jan 21, 2011 2:29 PM PST reply actions

I hate how AJ’s ego allowed SM’s holdout

AJ’s ego should be ashamed and saddened.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Jan 21, 2011 2:35 PM PST reply actions

I wonder if we poll "Do you listen to Scott & BR every morning"

if we get the same results?

by Grey Suit on Jan 21, 2011 2:42 PM PST reply actions

The only poll

that would work in that situation is, “Which method of suicide do you find most appealing?”

by Cake or Death on Jan 21, 2011 2:50 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

chargers G.M. A.J. Smith

There have been many things that, hes done that ive nevr liked. Seems like we lose players, then they go elsewhere and do wonderful. Drew Brees went to superbowl and won! God bless him. Then theres L.T. whose with comartie in the playoffs. All i can say is why arent we in the pklayoffs? or maybe being in the superbowl. Been a diehard charger fan for over 30 yrs. I no longer go to he games because they lose,when i can watch at home,the blackouts another day. God Bless my CHARGERS like i continue o say!Maybe next year?

by Charlotte Steppe on Jan 21, 2011 3:23 PM PST reply actions

I can't resist

1. We let Brees go!
2. I no longer go to games because the team loses!
3. But they’re still MY Chargers!

Seriously?

by RiversMVP on Jan 21, 2011 5:32 PM PST up reply actions 5 recs

by soulSD on Jan 21, 2011 8:07 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I learned something new today

I had no idea my MIL read and posted on BFTB.

by Chargers Chickee on Jan 24, 2011 8:30 AM PST up reply actions

I agree with those that say 2011 will be a crucial year for AJ

He’s done well enough to deserve a pass for this season, but a repeat performance from AJ and Norv will be disasterous. We need a solid draft and a playoff appearance without the slow start in 2011. If Mathews becomes a star, AJ will be knighted.

Prove 2010 was a fluke guys!

by RiversMVP on Jan 21, 2011 5:35 PM PST reply actions

I think A.J. is safe

I can’t see Dean ever giving A.J. the axe without something bigger that just missing the postseason two years in a row happens.

Norv on the other hand needs to at least make the postseason. I think.

The National League West title was all but a lock,
Then they lost 10 in a row, ‘twas like a punch in the jock!

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jan 21, 2011 8:18 PM PST up reply actions

I approve.

by soulSD on Jan 21, 2011 8:11 PM PST reply actions

I relecutantly voted to say that's he's doing a good job

Personallly, A.J.‘s an a-hole who’s B.S. really pisses me off.

"Since we only live once (that we know of) we should focus on enjoying our lives, not stressing to follow every single thing and trend that society impose upon us." - Thom Yorke of Radiohead

by Jonathan Holmes on Jan 21, 2011 10:07 PM PST reply actions

He brought:

Approved. ’nuff said.

Narrator: I am Jack's smirking revenge.

by TecateBoltsFan on Jan 21, 2011 11:55 PM PST reply actions

My votes depends on..

Who decided to hire the barber that does Garay’s hair?

by JiltedEmu on Jan 22, 2011 12:01 AM PST up reply actions

Are we back on this again?

AJ has had a few not so good drafts and taken a “not so popular” stance against signing players. but i guess you can do that as long as your winning and making the playoffs. but I think he’ll bounce back, because sometimes winning can be taken for granted, and i think this season was great for AJ.

The peanut gallery has spoken!!!

by gatesoftds on Jan 22, 2011 12:19 AM PST reply actions

Things left out that he did this year

He got Barnes, Tutu, Crayton (and I’m probably forgetting others)

He saved money by releasing Jamal Williams, while still building a strong D line. (Or perhaps more accurately, he built a strong DL allowing them to release Williams)

by CABurrito on Jan 22, 2011 9:07 AM PST reply actions