Bad Management: The NFL's Five Worst General Managers of 2010

A championship NFL team is as much about how good the front office is as how much talent is on the field.

If the guys in the front office can't draft, can't get contracts done, and aren't very good at scouring the waiver wire, then there isn't much hope for victory come game day.

Some general managers have early success before quickly succumbing to the pressures of the job. Others have an attitude and approach that works on their way up, but doesn't translate once they're sitting in the captain's chair.

Here are the five worst GMs as things stand in the NFL right now.

A.J. Smith

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SAN DIEGO, CA - JANUARY 3: General Manager A.J. Smith of the San Diego Chargers watches their game against the Washington Redskins on January 3, 2010 at Quolcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

With how successful the Chargers have been over the past few years, A.J. Smith shouldn't be on this list, but his team now is 1-2 and there's that whole Vincent Jackson debacle.

There is no good endgame for the Chargers in the Jackson scenario. He's refusing to ever play for the organization again, Smith decided to play hardball in contract negotiations and Jackson called his bluff.

Rather than concede he'd overplayed his hand, Smith decided to slam the door on any further negotiation, ask for far too much in trade and now Jackson will miss the 2010 season and go elsewhere next year without the Chargers getting anything for him.

Smith has a bad repuation around the league, with media sources reporting his nickname around GM circles is "The Lord of No Rings."

Anyone remember a good explanation as to why Marty Schottenheimer isn't the coach there anymore despite everything he accomplished.

I stress "Good" explanation.

Tom Heckert

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PHILADELPHIA - 2009: Tom Heckert of the Philadelphia Eagles poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by NFL Photos)

The Browns new general manager has not gotten off to a stellar start.

First, Heckert traded away three draft picks to move up a handful of spots from the top of the third round to the bottom of the second round to take a running back with a significant injury history, Montario Hardesty.

Hardesty injured his knee twice in training camp, the second being a tear of his ACL that put him on the injured reserve list for the year. Hardesty now has torn both ACLs and hasn't played one down in an NFL regular season game.

Heckert, who has full control over the 53-man roster, then entered Week 1 with no real wide receivers, only three defensive backs, and 12 linebackers.

Not surprisingly, the Browns have not been a threat downfield, their corners are getting burned and the defensive line has no identity.

The 0-3 start seems like things are going according to plan, but what that plan is no Browns fan can tell.

Al Davis

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ALAMEDA, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis speaks during a press conference to announce the firing of head coach Lane Kiffin of the Oakland Raiders at thier training facility on Septemer 30, 2008 in Alameda, California. (Photo by Jed Jac

Al Davis calls the shots in Oakland, everyone knows that.

So after admitting JaMarcus Russell was a bust this year, the Raiders brought in Jason Campbell, only to bench him after one week for Bruce Gradkowski.

Going back a few years, Davis hired Lane Kiffin, then accused him of being a liar and fired him. He replaced him with Tom Cable, and Raiders fans know what a love-fest that has been.

The Raiders' drafts usually become fascinating for all the wrong reasons as everyone marvels at the reaches Davis makes and his obsession with Combine results over other stats and intangibles.

The Raiders used to be one of the best franchises in the league, but they've been habitual bottom-dwellers the last few years. Davis is considered one of the main reasons for this situation by many former Oakland players and team employees.

The San Francisco 49ers

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LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: A man dressed as Batman' approaches the finish during the Virgin London Marathon on April 25, 2010 in London, England (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers don't have a true general manager. Scot McCloughan was fired right before the draft this past April, and vice president Jed York technically is fulfulling those duties.

But as the 2010 season has unfolded, it's becoming clearer and clearer Batman may as well be named the GM of the 49ers because no one seems to know who is doing what in that organization.

Head Coach Mike Singletary fired his offensive coordinator this week, which reportedly came as a surprise to just about everybody.

There's also the little matter of the "Rat" Singletary still is looking for in that front office who told the media about all the communication problems the team has had.

The 49ers are going nowhere fast, and the lack of a real general manager is one major reason why.

Marty Hurney

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CHARLOTTE, NC - 2008: Marty Hurney of the Carolina Panthers poses for his 2008 NFL headshot at photo day in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Getty Images)

Marty Hurney has brought the Carolina Panthers a roster that doesn't have much on it.

He drafted THREE quarterbacks in the draft this year and not one of them was slated to be the starter when the 2010 season opened, that went to Matt Moore.

Well, Moore was benched after Week 2 and Jimmy Clausen got the Week 3 start.

Like the Browns, the Panthers have no star wide receivers, a questionable defense and a head coach who seemed to be in the hot seat from the time training camp opened.

The Panthers are a mess, and Hurney didn't offer the team much help so far this year.