Chargers' AJ Smith Rips Archie Manning, Says He Will Determine Peyton's Decision

San Diego Chargers GM AJ Smith thinks Archie Manning is the puppet master of his two NFL playing sons, and he isn't particularly fond of that family. 

While it was not said quite so bluntly, Smith didn't leave much to interpretation when he was recently asked about Peyton Manning's highly publicized free agency whirlwind tour. 

Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego had the comments from Smith, which started off rather benign. 

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"I don't know, and I really don't care. I concentrate on the Chargers."

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That is not a surprising response. It is fairly typical GM speak.

Although you can sense a little bitterness in the first sentence. If Smith had no connection to the Manning's that part likely would have been omitted from the words that left his mouth. 

He may have caught a sense of that as he went onto say, 

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"I do wish him the best in whatever the Manning family decides."

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Then it was as if having the words "Manning family" pass his lips got his blood instantly boiling. And by this point, Smith had exhausted his stamina for restraint and let fly. Smith: 

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"I don't know why you would ask me. And I don't know why anyone is asking Peyton. If you really want to know what's going on—what trips he's making and where he's going to play—call Archie."

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That is not typical GM speak. Of course Smith has a right to feel a little bitter. This is the family that jilted him in the 2004 draft. 

That is when the Mannings let it be known that Eli would not be playing for the Chargers. AJ Smith drafted him anyway, and traded him within the hour to the New York Giants. 

Smith and the Chargers ended up getting picks that they turned into QB Philip Rivers, K Nate Kaeding and LB Shawn Merriman. By any accounting, that's not a bad trade. But that is beside the point, and it clearly wasn't enough to erase the sting of the situation for Smith. 

This certainly isn't the first time he's taken a shot at a the Manning's. Dennis Dillon of the Sporting News had this quote from Smith last summer. 

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"[Eli] was a Charger for 45 minutes, and that was too much time to be a Charger, in my opinion."

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And through this all, we have learned a great lesson. If you want a good quote, just go ask AJ Smith something about the Mannings.