A.J. Smith Responds to LaDainian Tomlinson's Desire to Remain a Charger

Recently LaDainian Tomlinson spoke out regarding the rumors circulating that his time in San Diego may be coming to an end.  On his website, LT had this to say:

"I feel that I need to make it very clear that I have NO intentions of leaving San Diego.  San Diego is where my career started and where I'd like it to end.  I have nothing but love and the utmost respect for this team, the players, and the Spanos Family.  Me being traded is completely out of my hands.  I have ABSOLUTELY no control in that decision making.  All I can do is wait and see how it all plays out.  As for now, I am a Charger and will be until I am told otherwise..."

A.J. Smith, after an inquiry regarding Tomlinson's statement had this to say in response:

"My first reaction was we both have similar feelings. I have no intentions of leaving San Diego. San Diego is where my GM career started and where I’d like it to end. I also have nothing but love and the utmost respect for this team, the players and the Spanos family. I have absolutely no control over how long I will be with the Chargers."

Whether you think the Chargers should retain Tomlinson or not this type of response certainly wasn't necessary.  Considering Tomlinson's ties to the Chargers, and his desire to remain with the club, mocking his response was probably not the most tactful way of handling the situation.

Tact, however, has never been one of Smith's strong suits.

San Diego should try remembering that it wasn't that long ago that a certain player was willing to sit out an entire year rather than play for the Chargers.

San Diego has never been a hot spot for free agents, and although free agents tend to drift toward where the money is, San Diego should be cautious about how it treats its fans and players.

Mocking a player like Tomlinson, who has given so many great years to this once hapless franchise, and who has arguably done just as much to turn around the Chargers as A.J. Smith has—is an absurd way of handling the situation publicly.

Smith, in his tenure with San Diego, has been given a lot of credit for pulling off the deal that brought in Philip Rivers (and more) in exchange for Eli Manning.  However, the Chargers wouldn't exactly be floundering with some obscure Quarterback if they chose to take another route.

Drew Brees wasn't a bad option, and when Drew Brees departed, just like Michael Turner, the Chargers got nothing in return.

Ultimately, football is a business, but a big part of that business is keeping your fan base happy.  Will Chargers fans forget about this whole Tomlinson situation if they choose to get rid of him and still make a run at the Super Bowl?  Probably.

If Phillip Rivers was a bust, do you think Chargers fans would be dying to get rid of A.J. Smith after seeing what Drew Brees has done in New Orleans?  Probably.

It wasn't that long ago that Chargers fans were foaming at the mouth after the departure of Rodney Harrison and Junior Seau.  Winning will cure a lot of unhappiness, and the Chargers have been putting a winning product on the field for a few years now.  It's certainly made it easier to forget about the departure of those two Charger legends.

Speaking of Harrison, he was asked about the issue recently and spoke about how Smith handled his departure, "I’m the same guy that was cut after being there for nine years...I’m the same guy that saw Junior Seau get cut. I’m the same guy seeing LaDainian Tomlinson go through the same thing. So does it surprise me? No. Am I disappointed? Very, because he shouldn’t have to go through it.”

In the end the Chargers can do whatever they want in regard to Tomlinson.  That's the General Managers job, but it should also be part of their job to act as ambassador for the team when dealing with a volatile situation like this involving one of the classiest players in the NFL.

Somehow this whole situation made me think of a quote from Star Wars: Episode VI, where Obi-Wan says in regard to Darth Vader, "he's more machine now, than man.  Twisted and evil."  I'm not sure why this popped into my head, but A.J. seems so detached and cold at times when dealing with players that he almost seems, well, like a machine.

Hmmm, maybe he is a machine.  The Spanos certainly have enough money to build one.