A. J. Smith

A.J. Smith (born February 28, 1949) is a professional American football executive, currently serving as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the San Diego Chargers.

Smith was a part-time scout, full-time scout, assistant director of scouting, director of scouting and assistant general manager before being promoted to his current position with the Chargers.

Education and Athletics

A.J. Smith is a graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, Rhode Island where he was a standout on the basketball and track teams. He was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2003.

Smith earned a degree in health and physical education from Kentucky Wesleyan College in 1971. In 2005 Smith returned in order to attend a dedication in his honor, during which he received a plaque of commemoration which will be placed in the new A.J. Smith Weight Room inside the Woodward Health and Recreation Center.

After graduating from college, Smith began his career in semi-professional football with the Attleboro Kings of the Eastern Football League as a wide receiver from 1972-1974. Smith was given a tryout with the Washington Redskins in 1974, but was never offered a professional contract. Smith was eventually inducted into the American Football Association's Minor/ Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

Smith put his college degree to work between 1971-1985, during which he taught physical education in the Providence (R.I.) junior high school system.

Career

A.J. Smith began his career in football management as assistant coach at Cranston High School West in Cranston, Rhode Island from 1971-76. In 1976 he returned to the Eastern Football League and served as an assistant coach for the Rhode Island Kings, and in 1978 served as an assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island.

Smith officially began working in pro football in 1977 when he began serving as a part-time scout for the New York Giants (1977), New England Patriots(1978-1980), and Houston Oilers (1981).

From 1982-1984, Smith began scouting outside of the NFL and became a scout for the USFL (United States Football League) with the Chicago Blitz (1982-1983) and the Pittsburgh Maulers (1984).

In 1985, Smith began his first stint with the San Diego Chargers while serving as Pro Personnel Director until 1986. In 1987, he began his 14-year tenure with the Buffalo Bills, in which he served as area scout (1987-1988), Assistant Director of College Scouting (1989-1992), Director of Pro Personnel (1993-2000). His time with the Bills was spent within the organizations "Glory Years" when they reached Super Bowl XXV, XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII.

Present

A.J. Smith currently works as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the San Diego Chargers. He began his second tenure with the Chargers on April 22, 2003, 11 days after close friend and longtime associate John Butler died of lung cancer at age 56. Chargers President Dean Spanos would give A.J. Smith control over the team as a result.

Smith was named Executive of the Year in 2004 by CBS Sportsline.com after the Chargers reversed the previous year's record of 4-12 and went 12-4 on the way to an AFC West title. In 2005, the Chargers went 9-7 yet failed to make the playoffs and were criticized for their inability to win close games early in the season. However, first round pick Shawne Merriman was named Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year and was considered as a successful acquisition by Smith.

Reputation and Management

Due to his hardball approach in the contract dealings and as his high-risk/high-reward strategies, Smith has been both widely praised and criticized by fans and media.

2004 Draft

In April 2004, a week prior to the NFL Draft (in which the Chargers held the #1 Overall pick), University of Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning declared he would not play for the Chargers if drafted by them. Smith elected to ignore Manning's threats and select him #1 without straying from his objective. Less than an hour later, Smith completed a trade with the New York Giants which sent Manning to New York in exchange for North Carolina State University quarterback Philip Rivers (drafted 4th overall), as well as a 3rd-round pick in 2004 (used to select kicker Nate Kaeding), a 1st round pick in 2005, and a 5th round pick in 2005. In 2005, the Chargers used the first round pick acquired from the Giants to select Shawne Merriman 12th overall. Merriman went on to win the AP's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Antonio Gates

Tight end Antonio Gates was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2003 and had emerged as an All-Pro tight end in 2004 while leading the Chargers to a 12-4 record. Prior to the 2005 season, Gates held out of training camp, seeking a long-term contract. Smith would eventually give Gates an ultimatum; end the hold out by 12:30 PM on August 20, or be placed on the Roster Exempt List. Gates failed to meet the deadline and as a result missed the team's first regular season game against the Dallas Cowboys which resulted in a 28-24 loss. Gates and Smith would eventually reach an accord and Gates was signed to a 6-year, $24 million contract.

Drew Brees

Quarterback Drew Brees suffered a torn labrum in the final game of the 2005 season against the Denver Broncos which immediately resulted in the reconsidering of signing Brees to a long-term contract. Many assumed the Chargers would offer Brees the franchise tag for the second consecutive year. However, with second-year quarterback Philip Rivers on the team, Smith elected to offer Brees a heavily incentive-based contract which Brees rejected. Subsequently, Smith allowed Brees to become a free agent much to the dismay of Charger fans who had considered Brees a fan favorite due to his work ethic and comeback story. Brees would eventually sign a 6-year, $60 million deal with the New Orleans Saints on March 14, 2006.

Marty Schottenheimer

Smith had a contentious relationship with head coach Marty Schottenheimer, who was hired by his predecessor Butler just before he died, which ended with Schottenheimer's firing in February 2007. Schottenheimer had the support of his players and a 14-2 regular season record, but neither of these were enough to save his job in the wake of a 3 point loss to the Patriots in the playoffs. After initially stating that Schottenheimer would be retained as head coach after the playoff loss, Dean Spanos, the owner of the Chargers, changed his mind after losing offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips to head coaching positions at the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, respectively. [http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/canepa/20070213-9999-1s13canepa.html]

Eric Weddle

In the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft, Smith and the Chargers traded their second-round selection (62nd overall), their third-round selection (93rd overall), their fifth-round selection (167th overall), as well as their third rounder in 2008 to the Chicago Bears for their 2nd round pick (37th overall) in order to draft University of Utah safety Eric Weddle. The move raised eyebrows, due to the seemingly high price Smith paid to move up. [http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20070430-9999-1s30chargers.html] However, it should be noted that according to the NFL Draft Value Chart, the Chargers gave up just slightly more than needed. [http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/features/valuechart.html]

Antonio Cromartie

With the Charger's first round (19th overall) pick of the 2006 NFL Draft, Smith and the Chargers selected cornerback Antonio Cromartie from Florida State. However, an ACL injury his junior year resulted in him missing that entire season. That year, Cromartie joined the draft and after he was selected by the Chargers, many criticized the selection. He was taken in the first round despite only starting one game his entire time at Florida State. However, in the 2007 season, the critics were silenced after Cromartie recorded an NFL leading 10 regular season interceptions as well as two in the post season, and was named All-Pro and selected to the AFC Pro Bowl team.

Family

A.J. Smith currently resides in Sorrento Valley along with his wife Susan. A.J.'s son, Kyle, played wide receiver and punt returner for Youngstown State where he ranks 20th in school history with 1,054 yards on 64 career catches and was All-Gateway Conference honorable mention choice and the team's offensive MVP. Kyle was signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings after the 2006 NFL Draft. Daughter Andrea graduated cum laude from Cortland State and was an AVCA All-America honorable mention outside hitter as well as Conference and Team MVP. She currently works in Los Angeles for AEG, Staples Center & Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE as the Account Manager - Premium Seating Services.

External links

* [http://www.chargers.com Chargers Web Site]