Kevin Acee takes it upon himself to write about the Padres after winning a game of Candy Land with Nick Canepa

In the interest of fairness it is my duty to type kind words towards the U-T's Kevin Acee.

It took a week but a U-T columnist finally acknowledged the contract extension of Carlos Quentin. Of course the catalyst for the Quentin mention was the off-the-wall extension of closer Huston Street, but hey, complainers can't quibble. Or can they . . .


Of course they can! But I'm not going to.  I'll just suggest that you go read Kevin Acee's column, Street signing points in right direction,  providing this tasty nugget for you:

Clearly, what’s underway is an attempt to reverse history, to stem the attrition and to no longer be awful.

I enjoyed this line. Pointed and accurate, it's a piece of criticism that the Padres are deserving of, no matter how many positives future generations of ownership perform. The ownership of the hour in San Diego will always be paying for the sins of their Padres*. It is a disappointing reality based on more than 40 years of pain.

*Do you see what I did there? Padres = Fathers? Oh never mind.

And what of the Huston Street extension? When I heard that extension talks were underway with Street, despite his excellent numbers, I thought it was ludicrous! When I heard that the Padres and Street consummated the deal on Sunday I was incredulous!

Then I saw the terms of the deal. Two years at $7M annually for a relatively young guy who currently earns more than that in 2012? I'm not sure what Street's thought process is but I think that this was a good deal for the Padres. This is the deal the Padres would have liked to have given Heath Bell which we now see would have been like wiping our rear ends with $14M and then pissing on it and lighting it on fire. A disgusting proposition.

Huston Street's K/9 has jumped by 3 over the previous two seasons. Will this rate continue? If not what will Street look like as a Padre? And by what will Street look like as a Padre, I don't mean in 2013 and 2014, but in a matter of days?

In closing, I'm glad that Nick Canepa didn't write the linked column from above.

A tree falling in an empty wood (or how U-T columnists cover the Carlos Quentin extension)

The sports columnists for the U-T, Nick Canepa and Kevin Acee, have each been critical of the Padres during the 2012 season, and fairly so. Each writer also stated unique views of Padres LF Carlos Quentin earlier in the season.

Allow me to take you on a timeline tour . . .


JUNE 3rd
Nick Canepa pens a column critical of the Padres with Carlos Quentin at its epicenter. Canepa writes:

And I say, no. Keep him. Re-sign him. Give the suffering fans in this town a hook on which to hang their hat. Be somebody for a change. Man up. It’s time to stop taking organizational laxatives and eat some cheese, rice and crow — you know, something that binds. 

When you tell somebody to "man-up" you're essentially calling them a girl which is sexist and offensive to the delicate sensibilities of the masses. When somebody does "man-up" it should be acknowledged. A form of "manning-up*", if you will.

*I foresee a Peyton Manning column in our future.


JUNE 6th
Kevin Acee pens a column critical of the Padres with Carlos Quentin at its epicenter: Acee writes:

So it is with much reluctance that I submit Carlos Quentin as trade bait.

 Disagreeing with the lead columnist? I like it.

Bottom line, the Padres aren’t good enough (or that close to getting there) to justify keeping Quentin right now. And besides, I just don’t believe Quentin is a guy you build your team around. Not that he needs to rise to that level to justify keeping him, but I’m not even sure the Padres could afford him at $7 or $8 million a year, which he will certainly deserve after this season.  

So you're saying the Padres don't have money? So it might be a story if they could spend that much? Or that if, by some act of God, the Padres spent even more, it would be a three part series!?

Oh, the Padres will be better if they have Quentin.

 Wait. So they should keep him? I sense conflict and passion, the seed and fertilizer of stories!

Now is the time when we fast-forward along our line of time. The Padres are terrible, Huston Street is an All Star even though Acee think Denorfia should represent San Diego, the Chargers season is on the horizon, blah, blah, blah . . .

July 22nd (morning)
Carlos Quentin signs a three year, $27M dollar contract extension with the San Diego Padres. The contract includes a No Trade Clause.

July 22nd (evening)
Nick Canepa does his best Nancy Drew and writes about Chargers Mysteries.

July 23rd
Kevin Acee writes about Penn State and how it got what it deserved. What it deserved? I'm assuming this column includes descriptive epithets about rape and death.

July 24th
Nick Canepa writes about a football referee. A fricking retired NFL referee!
Kevin Acee writes about Chargers rookie free agents and which ones might make the roster.

July 25th
Kevin Acee writes about AJ Smith signing players to contract extensions and doing it NOW! And as a bonus Acee throws in a little story on what the depth chart looks like on the eve of training camp. Depth charts. Yeah, those never change.

July 26th
Nick Canepa writes about the battle for the Chargers' kicking job. Guys who strike balls with their feet! Guys who can't tackle. Guys who are on the field for an aggregate of two minutes each game.

Kevin Acee's U-T archive
Nick Canepa's U-T archive

For two columnists who held such passionate feelings about the future of Carlos Quentin in early June, I find it astounding that neither has written a story about his contract extension. Don't they think it was a terrible decision to sign an injury prone player who's about to turn 30? Don't they think the extension represents a commitment to fans and ultimately a sign of hope that future dollars will be spent on talent in San Diego? A little of both maybe?

The financial commitment to Quentin represents the largest flow of cash* from the Padres since the great Little League uniform distribution of '12, yet nary a story was written?

* Just kidding. I think it was the remodeling effort for the introduction of a Hodads location at PETCO Park.

These statements and questions from me are merely rhetorical outrage. I'm not really surprised. We've heard both Canepa and Acee tell us how many clicks their Chargers stories get. We know that the Manchester & Lynch regime is but a cheerleader for all things Chargers and that they direct which stories will be written.

Maybe our columnists have directives from above to ignore the story and to instead write Chargers fluff as illustrated by our timeline above. What this amateur knows though, is that the Quentin extension is a story, good or bad.

I wonder if our columnists even had a professional desire to follow up their columns from June. Furthermore, I question that if the Quentin extension story was on their radar, would they have even fought to write the piece?

I hope it's the former. And latter.

Media: Ripping Kevin Acee's guts out and lighting them on FIRE!

You've followed a link due to an inflammatory title and I would like to tell you that I have lied to you. And I'd like to apologize for my underhanded tactics. The Union Tribune, having minimized our free access and provided a scant 15 page clicks for free, has resorted to provocative titles in order to draw our attention. They too have lied. But they'll give no apology for it. Whereas, I have.

Now that I have reestablished my credibility I want to tell you that Kevin Acee's column this morning is worthy of the 2 clicks against your 15 click allotment -- plus the the month of June is about to conclude, so use 'em up people.

You see, Acee's column reads like a pissy rant from a blogger. This is a good thing. Blogger types call 'em like they see 'em. If it walks like a man who just propositioned a gold digging gynecologist whore then it must be -- well, John Moores. And that's what Acee just did.

Let us examine Kevin Acee's column . . .

The O’Malley family cares about baseball. It will be passionate about the team it owns. It will be involved. It won’t tolerate an empty stadium, which is largely the product of a bad product.

Valid point and reassuring, although the April-August Padres of 2010 takes umbrage with your last point. There was a winning product falling in the woods . . . but nobody there to hear it.

I hope I’m not being wistfully naive.

You are. You're not unlike a five year old girl caring for the Barbie doll that had its head torn off by an older brother who naively believes that the dolly will one day regain a proper neck swivel. It won't. That doll is done.

Admittedly, I see O’Malley ownership through the romantic prism of my youth. For one fantastic year that affirmed a lifelong love of baseball and showed me that the major leagues could be almost as friendly as Little League, I was a beat writer covering the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Are beat writers allowed to be wistfully naive or romantic if they aren't watching the pairing of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail?

Now, all that said about the O’Malley magic, what I really care about is where the O’Malley group is getting its money – and how much of it the consortium will have to invest in the on-field merchandise after being fleeced by John Moores.

Fleeced! Yes! More!!!!!

Look, the almost-completed purchase of the Padres could leave the O’Malleys on food stamps and their group’s ownership might still be an improvement over Moores’ fraudulent indifference.

Stop. You had me at fraudulent indifference. Time to start a website called John Moores' Fraudulent Indifference.

Moores remains a commendable philanthropist and shrewd businessman, but he only used to be a good team owner.

Used to be! Yes! More!!!!!

What he’s done lately is simply scam the people of San Diego.

John Moores: Scam artist! This is honestly awesome. I retract 3 of my derogatory Kevin Acee tweets during the month of June.

He made hundreds of millions off the Petco Park development, had to give away some big-time dough in a divorce, regained control of his team through some questionable turns of events and in the process ripped us off by not paying to field much more than a minor-league version of a major-league team.

Luis Durango and Walter Silva respectfully disagree but keep going. Tell us more.

On its own, the financially based decision to draft Matt Bush instead of one of the surefire All-Star pitchers in 2004 set the franchise back several years.

I am beginning to feel wistfully naive and romantic. I'm a blogger. It is something I'm permitted to do.

But Moores long ago lost interest in the team he once saved.

 Chasing tail will do that to you. What do you want? After redevelopment, the Gaslamp Quarter became a hoppin' place.

And, then, on his way out the door, he essentially takes the $200 million in advance payment from the Fox Sports television deal by including it in the cost of the team.

I hate John Moores!

But I digress.

Hey, Wayne's World references.

The Dodgers won six World Series under the ownership of Walter and Peter O’Malley but did not win a playoff game between their 1988 World Series triumph and the end of the O’Malley reign.

Blah, blah, blah, Dodgers.

All that is ancient history, however.

Thank God.

How ancient?

I don't know. You keep talking about it . . . so, not very?

Golf has made Mickelson awfully rich, and Fowler is extremely wealthy for a guy who sold beer. 

Beer? Tell us more.

We know neither how much money this group has after paying Moores’ high price nor how much they’re willing to spend.

The beer. What about the beer?

The answer to the latter question will determine whether we resume caring about the Padres and whether we continue to revere the O’Malleys.

I care about the Padres but I'm in the minority. I hope things change and that caring ownership is the catalyst. Or beer.

Nice work Mr. Acee. Moores needed to be dragged across the coals.

Cromartie on the block; eastern philosophy needed

From Kevin Acee's Wednesday UT article, Chargers still seek deal for Cromartie:

Cromartie had 10 interceptions in 2007 but has just five in the two seasons since, and his lack of physicality and a perceived laissez faire attitude has worn on teammates and coaches.

The team is ready to move on from its 2006 first-round draft pick, and Cromartie has told people close to him he would like to be traded.

Perceived laissez faire attitude?

Laissez faire most accurately refers to Thomas Jefferson's thoughts on government interaction with the masses...... not how big of a "Gaping V" Antonio Cromartie plays like. "Perceived" implies that he might actually be on top of things. That he might actually care to win. There is no issue of perception here.

Whether Cromartie is dealt, released, or plays out his contract, the young man needs help. He has financial commitments to an ever growing family and the only way to fulfill these obligations is to perform and then get rewarded with a multi-year contract.

Luckily for Antonio Cromartie, I am currently researching a way for him to emerge from his self created abyss. This research has led me to delve into eastern philosophies and tradition in an effort to restore the shining star of 2007. The research is nearly complete and I believe that if the methodology can be relayed to young Cro' we may be able to avert losing him at all. This intervention may lead to a renewal for our 25 year old quarterback.

Stay tuned, faithful eleven.

Editor's Note:
I also find it laughable that HE WANTS to be traded. If he was playing on the east coast he'd be crucified by the media.... far worse than he gets it here in San Diego. Is it so tough playing for a team that is but a few steps from the Super Bowl? Is it the wrath of Vencie Glenn, Avenging Jack Murphy, and the whole of San Diego that has you lacing up your track spikes?

Run, Cro'. Run.

It's what you do best.

The Godfather of Avenging Jack Murphy...may he rest in peace

...and the writing has never been more clearly defacing the wall. Thank you for 9 fun filled seasons, LT.
From Thursday's Union tribune:

“I’m not coming back,” Tomlinson said. “I don’t believe I’ll be back in San Diego. I’ve accepted it.”

The firestorm has really revolved less around the inevitable departure of a future HOFer and more around the following:

Tomlinson also elaborated Thursday on a radio interview he gave earlier this week in which he questioned the team’s mentality, saying players were about themselves and not always focused on the whole. He did not back off and even stated some things stronger than he had previously.

He said there is a direct correlation between things that happen off the field — “nightclubs, stuff at people’s house having parties, stuff that gets out and is a distraction” — and the Chargers’ performance on the field.

Tomlinson said there are “great character guys” on the team but that a lack of focus by certain players contributed to the loss to the Jets, a game in which the Chargers committed numerous costly and uncharacteristic penalties.

“It makes a difference on how you react,” Tomlinson said. “Their focus was somewhere other than where it needed to be — on the field. We talked over and over about that. We had extra sessions on that as players. And then we go out and that stuff happens. So what else could it be?”

He also said there are players overly concerned about their contracts. A number of Chargers have been rewarded in past years with multiyear deals, but some of the team’s stars are without that security.

“That was a big focus,” Tomlinson said. “A lot of guys got the contracts. Guys see that other guys got paid and taken care of and they’re like, ‘Why ain’t nobody talking to me?’ It became a problem.”

Great.
Tomlinson expects Bolts to let him go [Union Tribune-Kevin Acee]

I'm not sure how I feel about the Jets game yet so listen to Acee

While I'm not sure how I feel about this Jets team yet, I 'm sure there will be ample opportunity to work something Jersey Shore related, into a post at some point this week. Listen to Kevin Acee in the meantime:

Degrees of Crazy in America's Finest City

After the first drive against the Titans on Christmas night ended on a failed 3rd down conversion attempt, Philip Rivers trotted off the field where he and Norv Turner began to discuss what went wrong. I vividly recall thinking to myself: wow, that's the most heated I've seen Philip and Norv.

Fast forward to yesterday's press conference where Norv addressed the incident. Kevin Acee tweeted one quote and I thought it was one of the funniest lines ever dropped by Norv. In fact I think it's the funniest thing Norv will EVER say. Norv Turner on he and Philip Rivers talking animatedly on the sideline:

"I'm half crazy, and he's full crazy."

Love it.

Let's Play: 'The 2009 Chargers in a Word'

When Chargers beat writer Kevin Acee appeared on XX1090 with Darren Smith on Monday, the following question was proposed:

Darren Smith: Gimme one word to describe the Chargers.......I know you're a word smith and you have to write these 1000 piece essays but.....one word.....
Kevin Acee: You interrupted me.....Resilient
DS: That's my word
KA: Oh was it your word?......I don't know!......I don't listen to you!......I listen to Hacksaw, Dude.
DS: You're only human

HaHaHa.... "I listen to Hacksaw, Dude."

That was funny but we're not here for funny we're here to talk Bolts. If you are so inclined go ahead and listen to the Podcast for more insights on the Chargers play over the last few weeks as well as a preview to the Christmas Carnage scheduled for Friday night. Right now though, it's time for: 'The Chargers in a Word'.

It's difficult to disagree with the word resilient being attached to this squad. The number of injuries that have occurred since week 1 in Oakland are frankly, retarded. 'No-names' have filled in admirably and become 'somebodies' in the eyes of Charger fans and that folks is long hand for: R-E-S-I-L-I-E-N-T.

I don't know that this team is defined by its resilient nature however. When I think of the 2009 Chargers I think of Philip Rivers calmly controlling his offense and marching them down the field in times of dire need. If I could describe this team with just one word, personified by the play of Philip Rivers, there's little doubt in this fan's mind as to what it would be: Phlegmatic.

Phlegmatic. That's right......phlegmatic.

Editor's Note:
Do not confuse my use of the word phlegmatic as tacit endorsement of The Four Temperaments school of psychology which stems from the ancient medical concept of Humorism. I believe that this interpretation of the word would be more of a discredit to Philip Rivers and myself...... as I do not believe in Humorism and Philip Rivers is AWESOME!

Chargers vs. Chiefs: I'm not reinventing the wheel

My only input on this game is that I think it will be a blowout. The Chargers are well aware that the Chiefs are capable of defeating them.....see Steelers falling in OT at Arrowhead last week. The Chargers won't fall into this trap.

Other than that half-ass-analysis I'm not going to reinvent the wheel. There are plenty of others who've put together Charger/Chief game previews so here's what they're saying....


Chiefs-Chargers: What To Watch For [619 Sports Craig Elsten and JT Rogan]

Game Preview: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers [Bolts From The Blue]

Chargers vs. Chiefs: Five Things To Watch For [UT Kevin Acee]

Defining Moments: Week 10, Chargers v Eagles

Last week the Chargers did what all "Good" teams must stand up and do from time to time: win a tough game on the road.

Regardless of the fact that the Giants were in a bit of a tailspin at the time it was still a great test because the Chargers' primary weakness (stopping the run) would be attacked by the Giants' strength (running the ball). OK so perhaps we were lucky that Coach Coughlin decided to abandon the run and let ShE-LI do the heavy lifting......who cares, the game was three time zones away and the Chargers' had a defining moment.

Today is the time for another defining moment. The Bolts' are home against another tough NFC East team and to keep pace with the foundering Denver Donkeys a victory is called for.

How good are the Eagles? I don't know, who does? They lost to the Raiders and destroyed the Giants so who can definitively say. Here's all we need to know: the Chargers are at home and they must do what all "Good" teams do.......WIN AT HOME. The Chargers are 2-2 at home and that is not the mark of a "Good" team but today they have the chance to prove themselves worthy of the pre-season hype. Defining moments.

I don't care who the opponent is today.
I don't care if PETA is protesting the return of Vick or if he's featured in a Wildcat set.
I don't care about Brian Westbrook's health.
I don't care about Andy Reid's game plan.
I don't care about ANYTHING.......
Except the fact that the Chargers are at HOME.

"Good" teams win at home. Are the Chargers good?

For more Bolt/Eagle previews:

Eagles-Chargers: Predictions, match-ups, and more [Philly.com]
Eagles-Chargers: What To Watch For [619Sports.net]

Acee Advance: Chargers versus Eagles

Tuesday Morning Analysis

www.chargers.com

We stink.

Seriously, do we even need to discuss this? What's the point? Look at that picture---those are home uniforms---if you can't win at home in October you have little chance on the road in December.

Really? Neither the Union Tribune or the Chargers Website could get any pictures of the Charger Girls in their retro outfits. It just keeps getting worse.

Chargers Postgame Videocast: Bucked By The Broncos [619 Sports.net]
Broncos saddle Bolts with hard-to-swallow loss [UT-Kevin Acee]
This team has fallen flat, fast [UT-Nick Canepa]
Tables have turned for Chargers [UT-Tim Sullivan]

Clinton Hart Cut.....and we breath a sigh of relief!

Upon hearing the news that Clinton Hart was cut, I for one, breathed a sigh of relief. Our defensive line should improve mightily with that transaction.....and at least it wasn't Buster Davis released during the bye week. Now that would have been a traumatic move.

Next Week on the UT Charger Roundtable: Kevin Acee meets the Bloggers....and then Nick Canepa has an aneurysm

I was just watching the weekly Chargers Roundtable that Acee, Canepa, and Posner do for the Union Tribune and there was mention that Kevin Acee would have special guests next week: local Charger bloggers.

Acee's guests will be members of Bolts From The Blue and Glorify the Past. After watching the entire Charger Roundtable: what condescending pricks!

The only thing that ever really matters is perception and what I saw was a boss who told his beat writer he needed to do this to keep up with the competition (see: 619Sports.net)...... who incidentally, had already beat them to the punch on the concept. Oh.....and I also saw a crotchety relic of a columnist named Nick Canepa, nudge Acee and scoff at the notion of meeting with "non-journalists". A gathering with the steerage class of sports writers? Lord no! What a couple of ass-hats.

Or have I overreacted?

Go ahead and hover over the video. The mighty paper of record couldn't even spell [sic] Chargeres correctly. Also, if I'm not mistaken it was a Charger blog (GTP?) who suggested to Kevin Acee that he needed to make his UT videos available for embedding on other sites. Glad the paper lent credence to something a lowly blog suggested.

Editor's Note:
I don't think that I've missspelled anyting. Of coarse teh same standerds dont apply at this site,

Rodney Harrison Retires/David Tyree Still Holding Ball

From the UT's Kevin Acee:

Rodney Harrison made it official Wednesday, that 15 years as the one of the game's most ferocious and instinctive defenders was coming to an end.

“I am done, and I am very much so at peace with that,” the now-former strong safety said in a conference call with reporters. “Football has been good to me. I've worked hard; I've played hard. I've done some things that I never dreamt I could do, and now it's time to move forward to the next phase of my life.”

Charger's recall playing with- and against - Rodney Harrison ~by Kevin Acee

The current debate revolves around weather or not Rodney Harrison belongs in Canton now that he's called it a day and moved on to Sunday Night Football.

Does he? I'm not sure. There aren't too many safeties in the HOF and Rodney's hampered by his HGH
suspension, a reputation for dirty play, and legitimate arguments that he wasn't the best amongst his peers (Polamalu/Dawkins/Reed).

He does, however, have two Lombardi Trophies and that goes a long way in HOF voting.....look at the '70s Steelers.....isn't every player from those Steel City teams in the hall? He also has a lot of sacks and interceptions.....for a safety. Nor does it hurt to have the backing of some of the great coaches such as Shanahan/Gruden/Belichick....even if they are dick-heads.

I'll always remember Rodney's last season with the Chargers in 2002 when he had the opportunity to clean Jerry Rice's clock as he ran a crossing route into the end zone. Rodney had a big fine not too long before this particular play so the question was: Would he take the hit? Are you kidding? It's Rodney Harrison! He blew-Jerry-Rice-the-fuck-up!!! It was beautiful....but then he was fined a gazillion dollars.....and we stopped seeing him pull the trigger like we were used to each Sunday (we didn't get Monday Night games back then). From there on out the hits seemed to be more docile (if that's possible with RH) and then he became hampered with a groin injury which ultimately led to the Chargers releasing him. At least we held on to Marcellus Wiley.

Here's how UT readers are polling:

(Updated Poll-Friday June 5th---Results have changed big time! Approximately 2000 more people have voted since I initially posted UT poll results.....with smaller sample most voters were saying, 42%, that Rodney deserved the HOF and he would go in as a Charger. The worm has turned as it appears that nearly 40 % don't even think he's worthy----click poll for a less fuzzy view.)

I don't know.....if he does go into the Hall he won't be wearing Lightning Bolts. It'll be that other helmet he used to spear guys with, while winning two Trophies.

Either way I don't really care.....my only concern is that he was unable to make the play on the David Tyree jump ball. It led to a river of tears in Boston and that's all right with us. Not too many strings of numbers better than 18-1. What ever your thoughts on Rodney I think most would concede the following points:

1. You hated to play against the dirty bastard.
2. You wished the dirty bastard was on your team.
3. He sure was fun to watch play even when wearing that Pat's jersey.

Enjoy a little You Tube tribute where he unfortunately is seen in more than just Bolts......

Gone-zalez.....sorry, had to do it

Big #88 has moved on and since we have pretty poor Safety play we'll go ahead and kneel, bow our heads, give the sign of the cross, and say.........thank God !!!!

Typical Quentin Jammer 'form tackle'......Typical Clinton Hart?

Chargers win in Gonzalez trade [UT-Bolts Blog]

Quote of the Week...and the week only just started

“I feel great, and I look amazing,”
Merriman said last week.

What a great quote!
A brutally honest self-assessment. We wonder if he cracked a sideways smirk as he said it? We can live with it either way as long as the bravado is accompanied with QB pressure.....Cromartie won't survive this season without it.

Chargers to gather Monday for start of official conditioning
[San Diego Union Tribune-Kevin Acee]

Cholla Cable Comments on Craziness

I open up the UT and what do I see.....Cholla! I hear his righteous proclamations in my sleep and now I have to read his opinions in the Sports section....

“It's a crazy time in this division,” Oakland Raiders coach Cholla Cable said Tuesday at the NFL owners' meetings.

Its only crazy because of that kid up in Denver, and by "kid" I mean McDaniels....Cutler is the "Crybaby". Yea real crazy! The only thing crazier would be that lard ass QB in Oakland developing some game.

Nice. Real Nice Cholla! The least you could have done was get some Black Widows slapped on the side of that Silver n' Black helmet. You useless C@#T!

For more about Cholla and how consistent the Chargers are:

Chargers are a model of consistency in topsy-turvy AFC West
[SD Union Tribune-Kevin Acee]

There's some good stuff on Aztec ace Stephen Strasburg over at 619 Sports. Craig Elsten is calling for the head of DC area writer Thomas Boswell. The charge....Blasphemy!
[619 Sports]

Editor's Note:
Apologies for the randomness of the Cholla reference..there are a select few who will understand. To attain enlightenment the following may provide it for you....... but probably not.....funny none the less.

LT remains sounds better than LT's remains

LaDainian Tomlinson stays put.

A crazy few weeks we've seen here in San Diego. From the AJ Smith mocking incident to the drama filled merry-go-round provided by the UT's Kevin Acee and XX1090's line-up of hosts. It had become awfully draining to listen to the "pundits" as well as shortsighted fans lend their expertise on the issue. I felt that LT was coming back all along (ok-so there was SOME doubt) because it made practical sense: the Chargers have needs on both sides of the ball so why create yet another hole by eliminating your workhorse running back?

But the last week brought a new set of intrigues. We heard from LT's mom on The Scott and BR Show.....and then the same show provided commentary from Drew Brees.....the sort of commentary that may have led you to believe that two buddies talking behind the scenes had come to some sort of "too-good-to-be-true" reunion agreement. Then Acee reported Friday night that the offer was on the table for LT's taking.... and then SI's Peter King gave his 2 cents... which generally doesn't count for shit especially considering that cap "experts" (that horrible word again) were saying that the Saints were in no position to pay a player like LT.

Let's take a step back.........and acknowledge that history is our best teacher (this is the post I was going to write, my predicted outcome, before I saw the good news).

AJ SMITH DOES NOT SIGN FREE AGENTS TO BUILD THE CHARGERS.........HE USES THE DRAFT.

The above statement is half true. AJ Smith doesn't sign free agents..... from other teams ......he signs his own. From AJ Smith's point of view he made an excellent acquisition in the form of retaining Darren Sproles through use of the franchise tag (buying himself time to negotiate a long term deal). AJ added to the team.

Now LT was not a free agent but the minute it was decided that his salary hindered the Chargers' future plans (signing Rivers, et al.) he became expendable and was viewed as a Cap-Casualty thus an ex-Charger. What has AJ done? He added a RB, who wasn't supposed to be here, to his roster....... at the price-tag he desired. How tricky..... AJ added a player during the Free Agency signing period.

Remember Kris Diehlman's free agency a couple years back? He shopped his services but ultimately returned to sign a new contract with the Chargers. AJ considered that a free agent addition.

This was a calculated gamble on AJ's part and he did his absolute best to blow it by insulting LT and making him feel unwanted. This team would have taken a step backwards had we lost LT and then felt compelled to use our 1st round pick on a running back. Disaster averted.....

Let's cross our fingers for Rey Maualuga.....

[Chargers.com]
Chargers, Tomlinson agree on new three-year contract

[SI.com]
Jim Trotter: LT, Bolts agree to restructured 3-year deal

[SD Union-Tribune]
Tomlinson agrees to restructured deal with Chargers

...oh yea...the Chargers also added ex-Dallas LB Kevin Burnett. Read all about it...

Anatomy of a Pissing Contest

What a shit storm. Below is a comprehensive list of links to stories regarding Chargers' General Manager AJ Smith and his public spat with LaDainian Tomlinson. The Country should not know that AJ Smith is San Diego's GM! I never knew that the GM of the Patriots was named Scott Pioli...didn't know it until his name made the news as a possible replacement in KC and he was ultimately hired. Pioli is the guy who built a dynasty in NE but nobody knew him....which is the way it should be.

Note to AJ Smith: General Managers should be seen and not heard.

There is a lot of info below. I would recommend listening to the XX1090 audio files. Jim Trotter is the former Charger UT Beat Writer and currently writes for Sports Illustrated. Kevin Acee is the current Charger UT Beat Writer. They are frequent visitors to Darren Smith's afternoon show on XX1090 and provide some good background. I think the most interesting aspect of this story is the XX1090 interview by Acee on January 22nd. He had the opportunity to give the context in which AJ gave his quote but he did not. He in no way disavowed the idea that AJ was "mocking" LT......but as the shit hit the fan.....he went ahead and published an article on 1/25 where he said there was "NO WAY" that AJ was mocking LT. So which is it I wondered....

The resulting storm that fans rained down on SD caused Owner Dean Spanos to REQUIRE AJ to apologize to LT. What does this mean? Who knows....

January 14, SI.Com, "Chargers handling L.T. like a journeyman, not a Hall of Famer", Jim Trotter.

January 17, Union Tribune, "Chargers ponder LT's fate", by Kevin Acee

January 21, Union Tribune, "Draft day homework is already well underway", by Kevin Acee.

January 22, Union Tribune, "Window of opportunity always open if you have a top QB" by Nick Canepa.

January 22, XX1090, Darren Smith interview with Kevin Acee.

January 22, XX1090, Darren Smith interview with Jim Trotter.

January 23, Yahoo Sports, "Time for Spanos to 'flex' on Smith", by Michael Silver.

January 23, The "WHTNEP" San Diego Sports Fan Collective, "AJ Smith: Front Runner for Douche of the year."

January 24, Union Tribune, "LT can resolve predicament by making a cut-in his pay", by Tim Sullivan.

January 25, Union Tribune, "Abrupt? Egotistical? Smith can be both. Bud did he mock LT? No." by Kevin Acee.

January 25, Union Tribune, "Tomlinson-Smith saga must stop now, Merriman says", by Kevin Acee

January 26, XX1090, Darren Smith interview with Kevin Acee.

January 26, Chargers.com, "AJ reaches out to LT".

January 26, Union Tribune, "Smith calls Tomlinson in effort to clear the Air", by Kevin Acee.

AJ Smith: Front Runner for 2009 Douche of the Year

You can click both excerpts to view the entire articles from the Union Tribune but the meat is found below with intriguing comments by AJ Smith in Gold and a statement from LT's website in Blue. My assessment is that AJ Smith is a cocksucker....what's yours?

Union Tribune Article by Nick Canepa (Thursday 1/22)...Click Here For Full Text

The talk about the Chargers now centers on LT, and whether he'll be back next year, and partner Darren Sproles, who is an unrestricted free agent, and whether he'll return. But the Chargers are starting to talk contract with Rivers, whose deal expires after the 2009 season. And if they don't get him signed, they can have 10 running backs and it isn't likely to matter.

Smith has some tough decisions to make. Rivers might be one – if Smith didn't have a brain, and he does. Think he would have allowed Drew Brees to walk if he didn't have Rivers around?

“You think I wouldn't like to have Michael Turner around or Darren Sproles tied up for six years?” Smith says. “It's like I'm penalized for drafting. I try to sign guys to keep the window going, but sometimes an agent is going to say, 'Let's look around.' Kris Dielman did. I was sick. But he eventually signed back with us.

“I'm not looking forward to the things I have to do. I know bullets and shells are coming. It goes with the job. I'm aware of the community. I know what the pulse is, and I'm not afraid of it. I know I'm not 100 percent right. I'm not good at community relations. I know they're going to hate me. Nothing I can do about it.

“We're not good enough yet. I have to do a better job. We'll probably miss the playoffs along the way. That's how it is. It's on me.”

It's on him, all right. To keep Philip Rivers salaried – and standing upright.

What a freakin' crybaby! We have a diva GM....the next article excerpt is really bad, as in condescending and DICKED....

Union Tribune Article by Kevin Acee (Wednesday 1/21)...Click Here For Full Text

A.J. ON LT

Smith empathized, yet was typically unmoved by the sentiments expressed by LaDainian Tomlinson on his Web site Wednesday.

Tomlinson's statement was actually not anything different than what he had said in previous weeks on the topic of his time in San Diego possibly coming to an end.

The statement read:

“I have been getting a lot of messages on my site regarding me leaving San Diego. 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 upmost (sic) 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.”

Smith, who has acknowledged he is contemplating whether to release or trade Tomlinson or renegotiate his contract, was later asked about Tomlinson's statement.

“My first reaction was we both have similar feelings,” Smith said. “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.

“As for now, I am the Chargers' GM, and I have major decisions to ponder for the organization now and in the future. My recommendation to Dean Spanos will be what's in the best interest of the team – both short and long term. That's my job. That's what Dean hired me to do.”

If you're going to cut a San Diego Icon and future Hall of Famer at least do the guy right on his way out the door. LT doesn't deserve to be treated like this. If he's done he's done but you don't have to be a douche AJ!

Any thoughts?