joelbolt
11-15-2006, 04:22 PM
Smith's genius at work in Chargers' surge (http://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/410202/detail.html)
By Tom Curran
NBCSports.com
Posted: Nov.15, 2006, 3:47 pm EST
When casting a vote for the San Diego Chargers 2006 MVP, throw a nod to Eli Manning.
It should be remembered that, had Manning and his "camp" not declared before the 2004 draft that he wouldn't play for San Diego, the fortunes of the Chargers today might be different. There'd be no Philip Rivers at quarterback or Shawne Merriman at outside linebacker or Nate Kaeding at kicker.
And this Chargers team probably wouldn't be as hot as any club in the league, carrying a 7-2 record into this week's Sunday Night Football showdown with the Denver for first place in the AFC West. So credit Manning.
And, while you're at it, credit San Diego's steel-stomached general manager A.J. Smith. He's the one who drafted Manning anyway then dealt him to the Giants for picks that turned out to be Rivers, Merriman and Kaeding.
That's the signature deal of Smith's three-year run as Chargers GM. But it isn't the only master stroke he's had since being tabbed to replace John Butler as the team GM. Butler died from cancer on April 11, 2003 and was replaced by Smith 11 days later. Butler was frank, smart, affable and tough. And there's no question he'd be smiling at the work being done by his longtime friend and co-worker Smith.
Because if any trait characterizes Smith's tenure in San Diego it would have to be his willingness to take the hard road if he feels it's the right one.
"San Diego has done a great job of (showing guts)," said Chicago Bears GM Jerry Angelo. "They've taken risks and stood by their convictions and watched things come to fruition. I have nothing but the highest praise for what they've done as an organization."
It was April 21, 2004 when Manning's agent, Tom Condon, called Smith and told him that Eli's father, Archie, didn't want Eli to go to San Diego.
"He told me that Archie wishes that we do not select Eli and that they think he would be a good fit in New York (with the Giants)," Smith told the San Diego Union Tribune. "We understand his position and certainly understand his interest in New York, but we will do what we think is the best for the franchise, without a doubt. ... We had a good visit with Archie and expressed our vision for the future of this team and that there was a strong possibility that Eli might be picked by us with the first pick."
Three days after Manning tried to play the Chargers' cards, Smith played them himself, selecting Manning and ignoring the PR embarrassment of having the No. 1 pick forcing a half-smile while holding up a Chargers' jersey.
When the Giants selected Rivers with the fourth pick, the wheels of the deal were set in motion. When they stopped, San Diego got Rivers, a third-round choice in that draft (Kaeding) and the Giants first and fifth-rounders in 2005. The first rounder wound up being Merriman; the fifth-rounder was sent to Tampa Bay for left tackle Roman Oben.
"You have to go with what you believe and you can't worry about perception," said Angelo. "You can't be read and react and base (decisions) on how they will look. You base decisions on what you feel is right for the team going forward."
If this deal isn't the best one made by an NFL team in this millennium, then one made by Butler was. In 2001, he parachuted out of the No. 1 pick, sending it to Atlanta for the fifth overall pick. The Falcons got Michael Vick -- like Manning, a good to very good quarterback. The Chargers used the fifth pick on LaDainian Tomlinson who is already worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders and Walter Payton. Chargers win, Chargers win.
And while Smith gave evidence during the '04 draft that he had a cast-iron pair, this past offseason backed it up as he hard-balled quarterback Drew Brees. Given Brees' production in 2005 and the fact he was coming off a torn labrum, it's not hard to make the case that Smith can have a heart of stone too.
But success and sentimentality don't go hand-in-hand in NFL front offices. And Smith, with almost no regular-season evidence, believed that Rivers could lead San Diego. He's been right. And as an added bonus Brees is making good dough and winning games for the Saints.
Smith has been strong on the little deals, too. Keenan McCardell's unhappy in Tampa in October 2004? Smith takes a chance and swings a trade that continues to pay off.
Antonio Gates (undrafted free agent in 2003) holds out during the 2005 training camp? Smith hands him an ultimatum to show by Aug. 20 (Gates didn't and eventually came in signed to a six-year deal, but a lot of folks would have caved earlier).
Any man whose job is player procurement has to be measured in large part on his drafts. Smith and assistant GM Buddy Nix? Very good. Aside from getting Rivers in 2004, they got defensive tackle Igor Olshansky, Kaeding, center Nick Hardwick, running back Michael Turner, linebacker Shaun Phillips and tackle Shane Olivea. In 2005, they got Merriman and defensive tackle Luis Castillo (gutsy decision plucking a guy who admitted to steroid use at Northwestern that other teams were scared off of) and Darren Sproles. This past April, they plucked Marcus McNeill, a left tackle from Auburn with the 50th pick. He was the sixth offensive lineman taken. He's been protecting Rivers' blind side all season.
It's not all been roses for San Diego this season. There have been off-field issues galore. Safety Terence Kiel was arrested on felony drug charges, linebacker Steve Foley got arrested in April, shot in September. Phillips was arrested in April as well. And the decorated Merriman is two games into a four-game suspension for a positive steroid test
But, as Smith hoped the character of the group's leaders -- many imported by Smith -- has come through in a time tailor made for Smith. Gut-check time.
By Tom Curran
NBCSports.com
Posted: Nov.15, 2006, 3:47 pm EST
When casting a vote for the San Diego Chargers 2006 MVP, throw a nod to Eli Manning.
It should be remembered that, had Manning and his "camp" not declared before the 2004 draft that he wouldn't play for San Diego, the fortunes of the Chargers today might be different. There'd be no Philip Rivers at quarterback or Shawne Merriman at outside linebacker or Nate Kaeding at kicker.
And this Chargers team probably wouldn't be as hot as any club in the league, carrying a 7-2 record into this week's Sunday Night Football showdown with the Denver for first place in the AFC West. So credit Manning.
And, while you're at it, credit San Diego's steel-stomached general manager A.J. Smith. He's the one who drafted Manning anyway then dealt him to the Giants for picks that turned out to be Rivers, Merriman and Kaeding.
That's the signature deal of Smith's three-year run as Chargers GM. But it isn't the only master stroke he's had since being tabbed to replace John Butler as the team GM. Butler died from cancer on April 11, 2003 and was replaced by Smith 11 days later. Butler was frank, smart, affable and tough. And there's no question he'd be smiling at the work being done by his longtime friend and co-worker Smith.
Because if any trait characterizes Smith's tenure in San Diego it would have to be his willingness to take the hard road if he feels it's the right one.
"San Diego has done a great job of (showing guts)," said Chicago Bears GM Jerry Angelo. "They've taken risks and stood by their convictions and watched things come to fruition. I have nothing but the highest praise for what they've done as an organization."
It was April 21, 2004 when Manning's agent, Tom Condon, called Smith and told him that Eli's father, Archie, didn't want Eli to go to San Diego.
"He told me that Archie wishes that we do not select Eli and that they think he would be a good fit in New York (with the Giants)," Smith told the San Diego Union Tribune. "We understand his position and certainly understand his interest in New York, but we will do what we think is the best for the franchise, without a doubt. ... We had a good visit with Archie and expressed our vision for the future of this team and that there was a strong possibility that Eli might be picked by us with the first pick."
Three days after Manning tried to play the Chargers' cards, Smith played them himself, selecting Manning and ignoring the PR embarrassment of having the No. 1 pick forcing a half-smile while holding up a Chargers' jersey.
When the Giants selected Rivers with the fourth pick, the wheels of the deal were set in motion. When they stopped, San Diego got Rivers, a third-round choice in that draft (Kaeding) and the Giants first and fifth-rounders in 2005. The first rounder wound up being Merriman; the fifth-rounder was sent to Tampa Bay for left tackle Roman Oben.
"You have to go with what you believe and you can't worry about perception," said Angelo. "You can't be read and react and base (decisions) on how they will look. You base decisions on what you feel is right for the team going forward."
If this deal isn't the best one made by an NFL team in this millennium, then one made by Butler was. In 2001, he parachuted out of the No. 1 pick, sending it to Atlanta for the fifth overall pick. The Falcons got Michael Vick -- like Manning, a good to very good quarterback. The Chargers used the fifth pick on LaDainian Tomlinson who is already worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders and Walter Payton. Chargers win, Chargers win.
And while Smith gave evidence during the '04 draft that he had a cast-iron pair, this past offseason backed it up as he hard-balled quarterback Drew Brees. Given Brees' production in 2005 and the fact he was coming off a torn labrum, it's not hard to make the case that Smith can have a heart of stone too.
But success and sentimentality don't go hand-in-hand in NFL front offices. And Smith, with almost no regular-season evidence, believed that Rivers could lead San Diego. He's been right. And as an added bonus Brees is making good dough and winning games for the Saints.
Smith has been strong on the little deals, too. Keenan McCardell's unhappy in Tampa in October 2004? Smith takes a chance and swings a trade that continues to pay off.
Antonio Gates (undrafted free agent in 2003) holds out during the 2005 training camp? Smith hands him an ultimatum to show by Aug. 20 (Gates didn't and eventually came in signed to a six-year deal, but a lot of folks would have caved earlier).
Any man whose job is player procurement has to be measured in large part on his drafts. Smith and assistant GM Buddy Nix? Very good. Aside from getting Rivers in 2004, they got defensive tackle Igor Olshansky, Kaeding, center Nick Hardwick, running back Michael Turner, linebacker Shaun Phillips and tackle Shane Olivea. In 2005, they got Merriman and defensive tackle Luis Castillo (gutsy decision plucking a guy who admitted to steroid use at Northwestern that other teams were scared off of) and Darren Sproles. This past April, they plucked Marcus McNeill, a left tackle from Auburn with the 50th pick. He was the sixth offensive lineman taken. He's been protecting Rivers' blind side all season.
It's not all been roses for San Diego this season. There have been off-field issues galore. Safety Terence Kiel was arrested on felony drug charges, linebacker Steve Foley got arrested in April, shot in September. Phillips was arrested in April as well. And the decorated Merriman is two games into a four-game suspension for a positive steroid test
But, as Smith hoped the character of the group's leaders -- many imported by Smith -- has come through in a time tailor made for Smith. Gut-check time.