San Diego Union (Free subscription) | 09/30/2008
A.J. Smith makes a lot of money doing what he does, but he likes to speak in quarters, and it has nothing to do with coin of the realm. Caesar may have divided Gaul into three parts, but the Chargers' general manager splits an NFL season into four quarters.
LA Times (Free subscription) | 10/12/2008
"Make no mistake about it, this is a critical time for our football team," said running back LaDainian Tomlinson, whose Chargers play host to the Patriots tonight at Qualcomm Stadium. "These next [three games] before the bye are very critical for us. To me, this is going to determine what type of team we're going to be this year."A.J. Smith, San Diego's general manager, thinks of the...
SI.com (Free subscription) | 10/10/2008
... attached to this matchup that we've come to expect.In mid-July, I called Chargers general manager A.J. Smith about San Diego's organization-wide obsession with beating New England, the nemesis that ended the past two Chargers seasons in the playoffs, and beat them a third time early in last year's regular season. Smith candidly admitted he used the Patriots as his measuring...
San Fransisco Chronicle (Free subscription) | 10/10/2008
... and uses an offensive scheme borrowed from college playbooks.A sampling of the discontent:"Memo to A.J. Smith: Looks like you kept the wrong Turner," Lance McCune from Bonsall wrote to the San Diego Union-Tribune.The other Turner, of course, is Michael Turner. He used to be L.T.'s backup until Smith, the general manager, allowed him to leave as a free agent. Turner leads the...
San Diego Union (Free subscription) | 10/06/2008
This Chargers team is not as good as they have been told they are or we think they are .They stink,all of them .Individually they are a very talented group of football players .We do not have the coaching to discipline them into a team effort or to prepare them to win a football game .This is a COACHING problem pure & simple .I wonder how long AJ. Smith will let this persistent problem go on...
San Diego Union (Free subscription) | 10/06/2008
Voice of the fans: Chargers-DolphinsUnion-TribunePAGE TURNER: Memo to A.J. Smith: Looks like you kept the wrong Turner. LANCE McCUNE, Bonsall HALF STAFF: How does Ted Cottrell still have a job? We have the best talent in the league on both sides of the ball, but only half a coaching staff that knows how to use that talent. ED RUBANO, Santee SHOW US: I do not want to hear that the Chargers...
Chargers.com (Free subscription) | 10/02/2008
Wednesday, Oct 01, 2008 By Casey Pearce, Chargers.comChargers quarterback Philip Rivers remembers very clearly his reaction last October when he learned that Bolts General Manager A.J. Smith had pulled the trigger on a deal to bring wide receiver Chris Chambers to San Diego. “It was kind of, ‘Are you serious',’” Rivers said. “It was a little disbelief.” When Chambers was relayed that...
San Diego Union (Free subscription) | 09/17/2008
The Chargers have to win Monday against the New York Jets. It isn't likely anyone at Chargers Park will say that with such conviction. But, essentially, that is what they are saying. Union-Tribune 2007 file photo Having opened the season with two losses, General Manager A.J. Smith knows the Chargers' number is nearly up. That's really what Norv Turner meant when he told his team in a...
San Diego Union (Free subscription) | 09/17/2008
... It's really what Matt Wilhelm meant when he said, “We're backed into a corner.” It's really what A.J. Smith meant when he said, “The way I look at it, we're 0-2. It's another heartbreaking loss, and we're at the bottom of the division looking up. We have to win a game here pretty quick and stay alive in the division race. This game is all about the numbers – numbers of wins. And right...
SI.com (Free subscription) | 09/16/2008
... condition of anonymity because the team hadn't released any information.Chargers general manager A.J. Smith didn't return a phone call seeking comment.Merriman tried to play this season with the torn ligaments but announced last Tuesday that he would have surgery. He played only in the season opener, a 26-24 loss to Carolina.Also Monday, NFL spokesman Corry Rush confirmed that Merriman...
Larry Brown Sports (Free subscription) | 09/15/2008
... Rivers in His Place Will Luis Castillo Be the Next Madden Cover Victim? Why Did Chargers Extend A.J. Smith? Was Marty Schottenheimer all jacked up on Mountain Dew? Tomlinson says Classless Patriots learn from Belichick Schottenheimer’s Bolts go down in Flames
San Diego Union (Free subscription) | 09/14/2008
Week 2 predictionsUNION-TRIBUNE Saturday, September 13, 2008Jerry Magee, Union-Tribune NFL writer Two favorites move ahead in Denver. The Chargers are the second. The first was Barack Obama. Chargers 24, Broncos 20 Nick Canepa, Union-Tribune columnist San Diego General Manager A.J. Smith's bright idea to bring in Neil Armstrong as rarefied air coach backfires when it's discovered high...
San Diego Union (Free subscription) | 09/10/2008
In a decision that was shocking only because of the way he played two days earlier, Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman yesterday decided he can play no more in his current condition. General Manager A.J. Smith said Merriman informed him yesterday he will undergo surgery to reconstruct the torn ligaments in his left knee.
The Washington Times (Free subscription) | 09/10/2008
“Shawne informed me he did not feel right and thought it best to shut it down,” Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said. “The road to winning the AFC West just got more difficult but not impossible. Nothing is impossible. Shawne is a great player and an inspirational leader. He will be missed. We wish him a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.”
Outside the Beltway (Free subscription) | 09/10/2008
... informed me he did not feel right and thought it best to shut it down,” Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said in a statement. “The road to winning the AFC West just got more difficult, but not impossible. Nothing is impossible. Shawne is a great player and an inspirational leader. He will be missed. We wish him a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.”His decision to play despite...
