“[The trade] was the most satisfying moment for me in my career and I really mean that. I would say that if I was ever fortunate to win a Super Bowl, I’m sure it would’ve trumped that, but I don’t know that. I gotta tell you there was a lot of highs and lows in the business, but that moment was the greatest high for me as an executive for an organization.”
I guess without any Super Bowl victories to show for it, sticking it to Condon and the Mannings was A.J. Smith's most satisfying moment of his career. Maybe if he had kept Brees and drafted Fitzgerald they would have one won.
That is one bizarre thing to single out in your career as the highlight. Especially after the guy you traded went on to be a 2 time SB MVP.
Former Chargers GM says trading Eli Manning was the 'most satisfying moment' of career - (
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And still won jack shit!
Has any reporter ever asked him about that? In hindsight would he have settled in and played for them or does he truly believe he would have sat out????
You know what Eli mannings most satisfying moments are....2 Superbowl championships and Superbowl MVP's
Has any reporter ever asked him about that? In hindsight would he have settled in and played for them or does he truly believe he would have sat out????
He was asked the question many times but refused to answer. And I have no doubt Eli would have sat out. They - the Mannings - were pretty dug in at the time. Once Archie got back from his visit to San Diego - yes, he actually went out there to visit Spanos, Smith and Schottenheimer - he was more convinced Eli shouldn’t play there. And so Condon went to work to make sure it was abundantly clear Eli would never play in a Charger uniform.
That line in the sand move left Smith and the Chargers in a difficult spot. But they were able to create a trade that was worked out very well for them. It’s rare a trade like that is good for both sides, especially under those conditions with a top pick at stake.
But we all love John Elway.
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But I still think it was a dick move by Eli and his camp. If the situation was reversed we would all hate the guy.
But we all love John Elway.
Not me, hate the guy!
I think Smith just helped prove Eli and the Mannings point. What a badly run organization it was at the time with a couple of clowns at the top.
Why would anyone want their future to be in the hands of a guy like this?
Are you actually a Giant fan?
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But I still think it was a dick move by Eli and his camp. If the situation was reversed we would all hate the guy.
Are you actually a Giant fan?
Huge Giant fan for over 50 years.
People making informed decisions about their career and future?
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In comment 14389546 Tittle 9 20 64 said:
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But I still think it was a dick move by Eli and his camp. If the situation was reversed we would all hate the guy.
Are you actually a Giant fan?
Huge Giant fan for over 50 years.
Great but can't understand why as a life long Giant fan you would consider this a dick move knowing what we know now about how bad that organization was...also leading to 2 SB championships and some of my greatest memories as a fan...
The Chargers have had 3 losing seasons in the 15 years since that trade. It worked out well for them.
Winning Super Bowls is really hard, and isn't the only successful measure of an era for a team.
As an aside we all don't hate Elway, but a generation of Colts fans did. I don't begrudge Chargers fans one bit for hating Manning.
Imagine if Barkley refused to play for the Giants and then went on a tear for the Jets.
Yep.
Furthermore - do we think Chargers fans are pleased with the return for Eli Manning and are grateful for Merriman's 3 "legitimate" Pro Bowl seasons??
Tables can be turned both ways on that type of question. NY has 2 rings with Manning. SD has zero rings ever and their GM's most satisfying moment was losing out on that chance.
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In comment 14389606 JCin332 said:
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In comment 14389546 Tittle 9 20 64 said:
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But I still think it was a dick move by Eli and his camp. If the situation was reversed we would all hate the guy.
Are you actually a Giant fan?
Huge Giant fan for over 50 years.
Great but can't understand why as a life long Giant fan you would consider this a dick move knowing what we know now about how bad that organization was...also leading to 2 SB championships and some of my greatest memories as a fan...
Yeah, pretty dumb. People forget that it was supposedly Marty Schottenheimer, the coach of the Chargers at the time, through shared agent Tom Condon who told Archie not to let Eli play there because of how bad the organization was. His point was proven when he got fired after going 14-2 in 2006. When the coach of the team poised to draft you tells you that the environment is bad, I think you listen.
People also forget that it was A.J. Smith and San Diego, not the Mannings, who made public the announcement that Eli wouldn't play for San Diego. We have no idea how often this kind of thing happens, but we have at least two high profile examples in John Elway and Bo Jackson. I think most teams would be too embarrassed to admit that a player told them not to draft him so I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were a few more.
The Chargers have had 3 losing seasons in the 15 years since that trade. It worked out well for them.
Winning Super Bowls is really hard, and isn't the only successful measure of an era for a team.
As an aside we all don't hate Elway, but a generation of Colts fans did. I don't begrudge Chargers fans one bit for hating Manning.
Imagine if Barkley refused to play for the Giants and then went on a tear for the Jets.
I get what you're saying re: measures of team success.
However, when the player you traded away wins two Super Bowl MVPs for the team you traded him to, no number of "legitimate pro bowl" seasons or regular season wins is going to make up for that zero.
So now, years later, Smith is saying he leaked the call timing on purpose? I’m not buying that at all, but an interesting saving face by Smith.
On the other hand, considering the situation the Chargers were in, impossible not to say in hindsight they did as good as any other team has ever done in a trade down situation.
Now that we know the outcome, 2 SB rings for the Giants and 2 SB MVP's for Eli for Smith to still be pounding his chest about the trade is like the kid 6 years out of high school still going to high school parties and looking like a loser.
Cool story bro.
It's not even like Rivers has ever been to the Super Bowl. Is he the best or most successful QB to never have won his conference?
So now, years later, Smith is saying he leaked the call timing on purpose? I’m not buying that at all, but an interesting saving face by Smith.
On the other hand, considering the situation the Chargers were in, impossible not to say in hindsight they did as good as any other team has ever done in a trade down situation.
Peter king has confirmed that he was the source that told Accorsi that AJ Smith was going to call him when the giants were on the clock.
That's been the rub. The Chargers were a shit hole. He knew it. The fans knew it. That's why it pissed them off.