A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

[IAG]

Re: A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

Smith found Flutie and I will always give he credit for that.

[trapezeus]

Re: A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

smith's ego is the problem.

1. he doesn't want a strong head coach. he wants the glory for himself. that's why he chased marty out. granted marty can never win the big game, but he at least got you theer.
2. he doesn't get along with the players when it comes to contracts and has a bettman like attitude. "they don't come for you. they come for the jersey." as a result, he jettison's anyone who dissents. it's a business. people perform. people want payment. you negotiate. Smith doesn't.

So what would the bills get? a new GM who still wouldn't find a good coach and potentially won't get along with him? his ego isn't going to take a demotion behind a guy who worked for him. and if he does, i can't imagine that he won't rattle his swords to do what is best for AJ and not necessarily best for the team.

and yes, he's been part of a number of good scouting from the 90's until now. but his attitude has held him back from greater success.

[mjt328]

Re: A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

That's a really tough one.

There is NO DOUBT that A.J. Smith did an excellent job building the Chargers into a Super Bowl contender. Anybody who says otherwise is ridiculous.
Think about all the talent he's added over the last ten years.
Phillip Rivers, Michael Turner, Darren Sproles, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, Marcus McNeil, Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, Antonio Cromartie, Eric Weddle.


On the other hand, one of the main reasons that the Chargers were never able to take that next step was because of Smith and his stupid decisions.
What moron fires his coach (Schottenheimer) after a 14-2 season? And then replaces him with Norv Turner?

He also deserves much of the blame for failing to see Tomlinson's inevitable decline - and letting Michael Turner and Darren Sproles walk in free agency.

Smith also has a tendency to let his ego get in the way of his better judgement. That's a major reason players like Vincent Jackson and Cromartie aren't on the team anymore.

[better days]

Re: A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

That's a really tough one.

There is NO DOUBT that A.J. Smith did an excellent job building the Chargers into a Super Bowl contender. Anybody who says otherwise is ridiculous.
Think about all the talent he's added over the last ten years.
Phillip Rivers, Michael Turner, Darren Sproles, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, Marcus McNeil, Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, Antonio Cromartie, Eric Weddle.


On the other hand, one of the main reasons that the Chargers were never able to take that next step was because of Smith and his stupid decisions.
What moron fires his coach (Schottenheimer) after a 14-2 season? And then replaces him with Norv Turner?

He also deserves much of the blame for failing to see Tomlinson's inevitable decline - and letting Michael Turner and Darren Sproles walk in free agency.

Smith also has a tendency to let his ego get in the way of his better judgement. That's a major reason players like Vincent Jackson and Cromartie aren't on the team anymore.

Well, I disagree. As I said Butler & Nix had more to do with building the Chargers than Smith. Since Nix left, the Chargers draft has been terrible.

Think about the talent Smith let get away with no return in the last 10 years.
Marty Schottenheimer, Drew Brees, Michael Turner, Darren Sproles, Vincent Jackson.
Smith gave up a 2nd rnd pick, TWO 3rd rnd picks & a 5th rnd pick to draft Eric Weddle. Was he worth all that? Ans: Hell NO.

[justasportsfan]

Re: A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

That's a really tough one.

There is NO DOUBT that A.J. Smith did an excellent job building the Chargers into a Super Bowl contender. Anybody who says otherwise is ridiculous.
Think about all the talent he's added over the last ten years.
Phillip Rivers, Michael Turner, Darren Sproles, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, Marcus McNeil, Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, Antonio Cromartie, Eric Weddle.

How much of that should be credited to NIx when he was with the chargers?

How have the chargers done since Nix left?

[GingerP]

Re: A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

Well, I disagree. As I said Butler & Nix had more to do with building the Chargers than Smith. Since Nix left, the Chargers draft has been terrible.

Think about the talent Smith let get away with no return in the last 10 years.
Marty Schottenheimer, Drew Brees, Michael Turner, Darren Sproles, Vincent Jackson.
Smith gave up a 2nd rnd pick, TWO 3rd rnd picks & a 5th rnd pick to draft Eric Weddle. Was he worth all that? Ans: Hell NO

Nix didn't come to Buffalo until 2009. Weddle was drafted in 2007. Thus, if you are giving Nix credit for the good San Deigo drafts in the middle of the decade, your criticism of the Weddle pick is on him too. Actually, Weddle has earned that status, he is one of the best in the NFL at his position.

San Diego's drafts were very good through 2006, but went to crap after that. Nix was there when they busted taking Buster Davis in the 1st in 2007. Nix was there for their down draft in 2008. It wasn't like things started going south as soon as Nix left.

[better days]

Re: A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

Nix didn't come to Buffalo until 2009. Weddle was drafted in 2007. Thus, if you are giving Nix credit for the good San Deigo drafts in the middle of the decade, your criticism of the Weddle pick is on him too. Actually, Weddle has earned that status, he is one of the best in the NFL at his position.

San Diego's drafts were very good through 2006, but went to crap after that. Nix was there when they busted taking Buster Davis in the 1st in 2007. Nix was there for their down draft in 2008. It wasn't like things started going south as soon as Nix left.

Nix left the Chargers after the 2007 draft & was not working when he came to Buffalo. 8 players drafted by the Chargers in 07 made the 2008 probowl. Weddle is a good player, & I'm sure Nix told that to Smith, but knowing Buddy, I doubt Nix would have given up all those draft picks for him like Smith did. Look at the Chargers draft from 2008 on after Nix left, terrible.

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

Nix is terrible, AJ smith is world's apart worse. No way in hell should the Bills bring back Smith.

[GingerP]

Re: A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

Nix left the Chargers after the 2007 draft & was not working when he came to Buffalo..

From the team website:

Over the past eight years Nix had run the player personnel department for the San Diego Chargers, which covered both pro and college scouting, before electing to retire following the 2008 NFL draft last April.

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/scouting-veteran-nix-returns-to-bills/af102143-132b-43fd-8303-31d6eb7f9180

You can't give Nix all the credit for San Diego's good picks while relieving him of any bad moves. He didn't do it all.

Nix wasn't even involved in college scouting prior to 2002. He was pro personnel director prior to Butler's death, when he became Smith's assistant GM. Somehow they managed to draft pretty well anyway, with selections like Drew Brees in 2001.

Seeing people give Nix all the credit for good drafts in San Diego reminds me of how they used to say Tom Modrak built the championship Steeler's teams. He was a cog in the machine, and like Nix couldn't get the job done when he got promoted to more responsibility.

[better days]

Re: A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

From the team website:

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/scouting-veteran-nix-returns-to-bills/af102143-132b-43fd-8303-31d6eb7f9180

You can't give Nix all the credit for San Diego's good picks while relieving him of any bad moves. He didn't do it all.

Nix wasn't even involved in college scouting prior to 2002. He was pro personnel director prior to Butler's death, when he became Smith's assistant GM. Somehow they managed to draft pretty well anyway, with selections like Drew Brees in 2001.

Seeing people give Nix all the credit for good drafts in San Diego reminds me of how they used to say Tom Modrak built the championship Steeler's teams. He was a cog in the machine, and like Nix couldn't get the job done when he got promoted to more responsibility.

I didn't give Nix all the credit, I said Butler & Nix BOTH deserved credit. It was speculated Nix was forced out in S.D. & even though his "retirement" was announced after the 2008 draft, one can only speculate how much imput he had in that draft. The fact Randy Mueller was hired immediately, my speculation would be that Nix had very little involvement in that draft.

And if you want to involve Nix in that draft fine, look at the Chargers drafts from 2009 on.

[better days]

Re: A.J. Smith: Bring him back/would he come back?

This thread is poinless anyway. There is no way in hell Ralph would rehire Smith after Smith turned the Bills GM job down when Butler left for S.D. & he followed Butler there instead of accepting the Bills GM job. After his performance in S.D. I doubt any other team will offer him a job either.