GM AJ Smith: Chargers “soft and bewildered”

[Kevin Greene]

The Chargers lost 38-28 at Pittsburgh on Sunday night, falling behind 28-0 and allowing the defending Super Bowl champions to pile up 497 yards of offense. San Diego is 2-2 going into its bye week, and already is two games behind the Denver Broncos in the AFC West.

On Wednesday, Smith was quoted in The San Diego Union-Tribune as saying, “Everything is wrong with it right now. I’m not the least bit happy in a lot of areas. I’ve seen us be tough and physical to soft and bewildered.”

....

Merriman at first declined to comment, which would have been a first in his five-year career.

“I don’t know too much of that. That’s an opinion of a person, and it’s not needed,” Merriman said. “We know that we have to play better. We met for an extra hour and a half as a defense as a whole to discuss what we need to do and things we need to do to get better. And we’re going to make adjustments in this locker room as far as players and our attitudes and getting after people a little more. But all that extra (stuff) is not needed at all.”

More:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/33216777/ns/sports-nfl/

[Delhommey]

This is why if I have to chose, I'll take "it is what it is."

[Purity-Control]

Merriman is bitch this is the same guy/team that got pissed at NE for doing the "Lights Out" dance after a loss but its ok for them to do it...PFFF Talk about thinned skinned

Its Football man if they cant take a little criticism they shouldn't be playing, & Hell it doesn't reflect to well on Smith either since he assembled the Soft & Bewildered chargers.

[phidelt649]

Merriman is bitch this is the same guy/team that got pissed at NE for doing the "Lights Out" dance after a loss but its ok for them to do it...PFFF Talk about thinned skinned

Its Football man if they cant take a little criticism they shouldn't be playing, & Hell it doesn't reflect to well on Smith either since he assembled the Soft & Bewildered chargers.

I honestly believe that an NFL team takes on the personality of their quarterback. That's why the Chargers are whiny bitches....because that is all I've ever seen Rivers do. Whine & Bitch.

[Kurb]

I honestly believe that an NFL team takes on the personality of their quarterback. That's why the Chargers are whiny bitches....because that is all I've ever seen Rivers do. Whine & Bitch.

*waits for the RIVERS IS GOD I WANT TO OFFER MY ANUS TO HIM club*

[Panthro]

If Rivers is God then Delhomme is a Mainad

[Fireball77]

Merriman is bitch this is the same guy/team that got pissed at NE for doing the "Lights Out" dance after a loss but its ok for them to do it...PFFF Talk about thinned skinned

LdT is the same way...can dish it but can't take it. And we know Norval ran his mouth about OUR 45 IS BETTER THAN THEIR 45 last year before the Cats played them.

While I don't agree with Smith's public bus throwing under AT ALL, I have less respect for the "dish it can't take it" people.

[X-Clown]

Yeah Philip Rivers is really the problem with the Chargers...

*slaps forehead*

[Panthro]

lol I know right....but I went to State so I can't say that

[Kevin Greene]

lol I know right....but I went to State so I can't say that

Rivers is a great QB.

This isn't the first time AJ Smiths' ego got in the way.

His wars with Marty Schottenheimer are well chronicled. They had a very good coaching staff in Marty, Cam Cameran OC, Wade Phillips DC. Smith left Marty dangling late into the offseason before firing Schotty and by then Cameron and Phillips had jumped ship and all the other good coaches available were snapped up. Norv Turner, like Wade Phillips should be coordinators, not head coaches. The Chargers and Cowboys have to get the least out of the most of anyone in the league. Well, except the Panthers this year of course.

The Chargers need a new HC and the team will take on his personality.

[thefuzz]

I honestly believe that an NFL team takes on the personality of their quarterback. That's why the Chargers are whiny bitches....because that is all I've ever seen Rivers do. Whine & Bitch.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

Please show me a clip of whining and bitching....interview or on field.

That is a persona that ESPN has givin him for jawing while on field. Not whining and bitching.

[phidelt649]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

Please show me a clip of whining and bitching....interview or on field.

That is a persona that ESPN has givin him for jawing while on field. Not whining and bitching.

I can't find a YouTube clip of them because it always seems like they are removed for one reason or another. But I distinctly remember a couple cases where:

1.) Rivers is on the bench pouting.

2.) Taunting fans

3.) Taunting other players (very recently, see the Raiders game where a Raiders guy jumped offsides and fell face first near Rivers who then proceeded to lean over him and run his mouth.

4.) After losing to the Patriots, Rivers calls Ellis Hobbs the "sorriest corner in the league," and tells him to "act like he's won a game before."

5.) There are other examples. You can't whitewash Rivers and say "ESPN is just making that up!" Because he is a classless ass and there is generally some truth to every "rumor." Defend him all you want, but he is a jackass and is no better than Cutler imho.

[Panthro]

Being in Ohio I have a hard time thinking you have any other exposure to him besides what you see on ESPN....so it's safe to say you don't know him from adam or that youve never met him, spoke with him, or know multiple people who have or still do know him well.

So much for having talent and being fiery.....guess the panthers are just stuck with fiery lol

[phidelt649]

Being in Ohio I have a hard time thinking you have any other exposure to him besides what you see on ESPN....so it's safe to say you don't know him from adam or that youve never met him, spoke with him, or know multiple people who have or still do know him well.

So much for having talent and being fiery.....guess the panthers are just stuck with fiery lol

So everything I see on TV is just something that has been taken out of context? Something made up? When they zoom in on him taunting other players or saying poo about other teams in a press conference, it is all made up?

I don't know why you are both riding Rivers' nuts, but I see what I see. As far as being from Ohio, I'm not sure what that has to do with anything? Does that mean I'm unqualified to speak about anything that doesn't happen in my state? What about my county? City?

I call them like I see them. I feel like the Chargers have failed to meet expectations year after year and now it is bleeding down to the team but Rivers has always been this way. Fiery? Pfff....Delhomme is fiery. But an asshole? Rivers has that on lockdown.

I also understand that Rivers isn't the only quarterback like this. Examples that spring to mind are Cutler (obvious) and Favre (check out any game where he plays against Warren Sapp).