Will A.J Smith cost the Bolts Vincent Jackson?

by JeremyBeckett on Sep 26, 2011 2:21 PM PDT

Is it time for A.J to go?

Lets ask ourselves a couple questions Chargers fans.

1. Why was Marty Shottenheimer fired? Poor play calling? No

Poor record, nope 14-2.

Players didn't like and respect him ? Wrong!

He butted heads with A.J Smith? Bingo.

2. Why was Vincent Jackson NOT given a contract?

He's not that good? Wrong.

No chemistry with the quarterback and offensive schemes? Wrong!

Not a team player? Wrong again.

A.J Smith doesn't like him? Bingo.

3. Outside of the trade with the Seahawks involving Charlie Whitehurst, can you name one trade where the Chargers got anything but completely hosed?

Don't feel bad, I cant either.

However, what I can do is list 8 pro bowlers the Chargers have lost in the past 5 years and received almost nothing for.

Jamaal Williams

I know there was lurking reasons, but if you make a trade before guys get put on waivers, you could get some compensation. I think Chambers or Merriman could have at least brought a third rounder, which could have brought in Jonas Mouton. Yes, I am well aware the Chargers selected him in the second round, but like every one else in the entire world (outside of AJ Smith) I am aware that he would have been available in the fourth round.

Which leads to another topic.

Drafting.

Is there a single Chargers fan out there that doesn't think our drafting hasn't got worse every year since 2004? No? Thats what I thought.

And before you think about crediting A.J Smith for the drafting of Rivers, the credit goes to guess who? Marty Shottenheimer. That's right! Smith was hell bent on drafting Eli Manning (which he did), and Shottenheimer who coached Rivers in the senior bowl was adamant about getting Rivers instead.When Eli refused to play in San Diego, Smith buckled and got Rivers . The trade netted the Chargers Kaeding and Merriman. Smith got all the credit and Shottenheimer got an early retirement.

But before you go bashing Eli for not wanting to play for the Bolts, consider why! Manning wanted to go to a team where he could start. San Diego had Drew Brees. So why draft a first round quarterback when you already have a young first round quarterback? Does this breed competition? No, it breeds a split locker room.

Lesson learned?

Nope, in 2007, they drafted a cornerback ( Cason) in the first round when they already had Jammer and Cromartie playing great, with years left on their contract.

How about that passing game. Passing team right? Hell of a talent scout right? Well who was our last first round receiver? Buster Davis! And who does he play for now? Correct, nobody.

The Chargers top five receiving threats this season: Vincent Jackson (2nd round)

Antonio Gates (Undrafted)

Malcom Floyd (Undrafted)

Mike Tolbert (Undrafted)

Bryan Walters (Undrafted)

Good talent scout or just plain Lucky?

Thursday marked the last day that players could give their franchise players a contract. There were only two teams in the NFL which did not. Miami Dolphins, and the Chargers Vincent Jackson. This is pretty dissapointing news for myself and all other Chargers fans, and it all stems from(once again) A.J Smith.

Yeah, we get the memo:

Nobody argues with A.J

A.J negotiates with No player

A.J calls the shots

A.J is a genius

Yeah, we get it!

So what if Vincent Jackson likes loud music, and an occasional beer, so do I. So do 80% of his fans. Outside of murder, rape, or violent crimes, I dont care what the Chargers players do with their off time. I do care that when they take the field that they give their fans a good show, and win ball games, and Vincent Jackson does that EVERY week!

. Perhaps AJ would be better served to manage a pop warner football team with kids he could give a curfew to. But as a manager of the Chargers, his job is to field the best team he can, and I for one hope he's gone before we lose another pro bowler to free agency because of his stubbornness.

Poll

Should the Chargers get rid of A.J Smith?

Give him a few more years

17 votes

No, he's good for the team

25 votes

Yes, and take Norv with you

88 votes

130 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was written by a member of the Bolts From The Blue community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bolts From The Blue editors or SB Nation.

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 2 recs |

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will Vincent Jackson cost himself the Chargers?

~~mind blown~~

by Lenny Suckerpunch on Sep 26, 2011 2:31 PM PDT reply actions

damn, those were just dashes on the side but converted to full strikethrough text.

neutering the spartan effectiveness of my post.

by Lenny Suckerpunch on Sep 26, 2011 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions

A couple points

VJ loves the Chargers, if they offer him a big deal contract like he deserves he’ll take it. Why hasnt he been signed? Because he has two duis and was arrested before a playoff game. Simple as that.

How do you know Mouton would have been available in the 4th round? We’re you in all 32 teams war rooms? I don’t think so.

A 3rd for Chambers or Merriman? You have to be kidding me. You don’t think they tried to trade them before they were cut? Of course they did.

About Brees, he was horrible then. How do you think they got the #1 overall pick? Because Brees was a superstar? He was basically Chad Henne back then.

And how can you discredit AJs scouting and in the same sentence talk about the players he found was due to dumb luck?

Lot of holes there my friend.

by cameronm on Sep 26, 2011 2:34 PM PDT reply actions

Ya, but you have to admit ...

… AJ’s stock is falling. And if the Raiders punk us for the Division there will be a lot of fingers pointing at AJ. Don’t they say that the quality of the GM is best measured when the first stringers start going down?

Nice article. One can take issue with the supporting “facts” but the thesis is thought provoking. There are chinks in AJ’s armor.

by Robo65 on Sep 26, 2011 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Brees wasn’t given ample time to develop.
Merriman was waived.
Mouton was a projected fifth rounder
Getting Gates, Floyd and Tolbert as undrafted free agents is EXTREMELY lucky!!

VJax going unsigned would be foolish for the Chargers.

Just my opinions, the only sports writing that isn’t opinion are game recaps.

Jeremy Beckett

by JeremyBeckett on Sep 26, 2011 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions

its not a coincidence when you find quality UDFA. Its called scouting.

Mouton was a projected fifth rounder, that doesnt mean anything. Tom Brady was considered a 7th rounder, but would have gone number 1 overall if people knew his talent. If the pats had taken brady in the first round people would be enraged, but it doesnt mean they would be right.

If brees was so good why did only 2 teams want him?

Merriman was waived, yeah i know, that doesnt mean they could have gotten something for him.

I’m all for expressing opinion, but you try to make it seem like fact IMO.

by cameronm on Sep 26, 2011 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Brees wasn't so much bad as he was facing a career-threatening shoulder injury

by Lenny Suckerpunch on Sep 26, 2011 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah and that

by cameronm on Sep 26, 2011 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions

When you say they lost 8 Pro Bowlers...

… shouldn’t there at least be an IMPLICATION that they were Pro Bowl caliber at the time of their being lost? I mean, it doesn’t matter to me if they were ever in fact Pro Bowlers (e.g. Darren Sproles). I understand that you mean “Pro Bowl caliber.” But many of the names on your list would have to be described as “once Pro Bowl caliber” — as in “many years removed” (Williams, Chambers, Merriman).

I’m not an A.J. apologist. I’m more inclined to vote Yes on your poll. But your copy is so full of holes and incongruities (you ask us to “name one trade where the Chargers got anything but completely hosed,” and then you proceed to beat me to the punch by mentioning the Manning-Rivers trade) that I found it more maddening than anything else.

If you’re trying to inspire us to mount up with torches and pitchforks and storm AJ’s office, I think you convinced to bring the bucket of water.

by Andy (allfield) on Sep 26, 2011 4:31 PM PDT reply actions

Actually

Im just bored at my job, and wanted something to kill off an hour.

I Needed some filler for my entire article that was.

Damn, I hope the Bolts dont lose Jackson on account of AJ’s stubbornness.

Jeremy Beckett

by JeremyBeckett on Sep 26, 2011 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I would not trade Rivers for Brees, he is El Capitan.

Michael Turner was “let go” because of respect to LT, which we all know that got us nothing.

Osgood wanted to be a WR, and he is not a good WR or TE. He is a ST specialist, and he learned this until he went to the Dolphins.

The rest either did not deserve a contract, were not market valuable or just burned out.

Marty got a long time to get us to the Super Bowl, but lost every time because he is just not good in the playoffs, at least Norv has gotten us to the AFC Championship game. And AJ has drafted horribly, besides Cason, Mathews and Liuget. And yes… he might cost us VJ, and it’s more noticeable now because Gates has not been earning his paycheck lately because of his injuries, and taking up contract money as well.

It’s not all black and white… AJ is not a complete idiot but he’s never earned the right to act the way he has with players. He handled McNeill fairly well considering the cap situation, holdout, etc… but VJ’s attitude hasn’t helped him either (kicking flags, anyone?)

The big question is… cap-wise, how do we keep VJ?

Narrator: I am Jack's smirking revenge.

by TecateBoltsFan on Sep 26, 2011 11:29 PM PDT reply actions

yeah

All pretty true.
I guess Iv’e jumped on the " dislike AJ bandwagon. Like most Chargers fans, I will be fine when they win a superbowl. I just think the team is taking a step back every year talent wise, and think a golden opportunity might slip away.
As for keeping Jackson, and salary space. Yeah, he’s affordable. A multi year contract, Im sure they could get him for 9-10 mil/year.
Right now theyre paying 13 for his franchise tag, so yeah, theres money for a contract.

Jeremy Beckett

by JeremyBeckett on Sep 27, 2011 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Jackson is a great talent...

but I think in a matchup of egos (there’s that darned word), he more than holds his own with AJ Smith. The guy is one slip-up away from a lengthy suspension, really blew it on the day of the playoff game two years ago, and still carries on with the arrogant theatrics on-field and big-ticket long-term contract demands off-field that indicate that he maybe hasn’t learned any lessons.

by Lenny Suckerpunch on Sep 27, 2011 5:37 PM PDT reply actions

in other words, the full 2011 franchise tag year is "prove-it" time for him

That’s why he didn’t get the offer at this point…but we’ll really see AJ Smith’s ego when the Chargers franchise him again this spring.

by Lenny Suckerpunch on Sep 27, 2011 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions

The Chargers will use the threat of another franchise tag in 2012

to leverage negotiations for a long term deal. Sadly, I think the money is going to come from Gates retiring after this season. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t see Gates getting any better. How can that foot heal with 260lbs crashing on it all day long?

by SDreal on Oct 3, 2011 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions

If they don't resign vjax...

it’ll be because he’s banging aj’s daughter

"that wasn't a very good start to us getting our lives together. i didn't even go to work today."

...ya'll are brutalizing me... ronnie dobbs

i go ham

by notorioushbi on Sep 27, 2011 7:02 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

VJax is a Charger

He’s smart enough to know, after everything, that Rivers makes him better. And AJ Smith knows that VJax makes PR better. Not only that, I think VJax likes living in SD. So there’s that. I predict he gets locked up sometime during camp next year.

by SDreal on Oct 3, 2011 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions

I stopped reading when you revealed you didn't know why Schottenheimer was fired.

Bolts from the Blue // "I eat cereal out of a giant novelty wine glass because it makes me feel fancy." - Britney Wade
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan

by Richard Wade on Sep 27, 2011 9:19 PM PDT reply actions

AJ is the problem?

I think not. Point 1: AJ did not can Schott. He renewed his contract for one year after the 2006 season. Dean Spanos fired Marty for trying to hire his brother.

2. Yes, Aj has made some nice trades. We traded for Travis Johnson and Kevin Burnett who when healthy made significant contributions to this francjise. AJ traded up to draft Weddle and Matthews.

As for your list of players who left via FA or releases. Do your homework. Brees wanted max money, guarunteed. AJ wanted him back but at a lower price following his shoulder injury. He had PR behind him. Smart money move.

Turner and Sproles were looking at huge paydays and AJ made a money move. Osgood wanted to play WR and two coaching staffs decided he couldn’t. What has he done for Jax? Nothing. Chambers, Merriman, and Williams have done little or nothing since being released. And we got a 4th rounder for Cro who played w/o heart or an ability to tackle people.

BTW: every draft pick is a gamble. Just look at JeMarcus Russell. Ryan Leaf and many other top five busts over the last ten years.

by '63 Chargers on Sep 27, 2011 11:58 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Poor article.

BFTB has pretty high standards. Bring your arguments and back them up with good data. This gives a good platform to start the discussions.

Your lack of factual support makes this article frustrating. Almost a rant.

Many BFTB followers know the ins and outs of AJ’s doings “In Depth”. Compare AJ’s Drafts to other managers and u will see that his worst drafts are pretty much the average in the league. All yall have just gotten too spoiled. You are expecting miracles every year.

Every one on here including myself (just a lurking tomboy) knows VJax and luv him but also understands AJ’s viewpoint of a potential loss of service if VJax gets one more DUI infraction. Not just 4 games this time, but a whole year. What AJ is doing makes sense to me. Let VJax prove himself. They can franchise him one more year next year. They can get 2 good years of service and extend him then. Maybe Vjax shows more maturity along the way.

And don’t call the Dean “cheap”. He’s willing to pay top money to VJax while he works thru this and grows into the player he needs to be.

"Live to love and love to live"!

by Desyrel on Sep 28, 2011 12:22 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

More of the same

Please take your opinionated crap back to Bleacher Report. Or maybe PFT.

No wait – at least PFT has some facts,

If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!!

Robert Hunter

by Buck Melanoma on Oct 1, 2011 9:13 AM PDT reply actions

Bleacher Report

Is really bad. And it’s not just the Charger writers, either. They must hire instigators in each city just to get people to bitch and complain on their blog.

by SDreal on Oct 3, 2011 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions