Spanos gives Smith five-year extension

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Chargers President Dean Spanos likes the direction his club is going, and in hopes of keeping the franchise on that course, he awarded General Manager A.J. Smith with a five-year contract extension.

“Since AJ became our general manager (in 2003) following in the footsteps of John Butler, he’s had a distinct and consistent plan to reconstruct the team,” Spanos said.  “He’s a firm believer in building through the draft and taking care of our own players.  AJ and his staff have done a great job of identifying quality football players with excellent character and signing them to long-term contracts.  By re-signing and extending our key, core players, we now have one of the league’s most stable rosters.  Those efforts have helped us build a young team that’s had consistent success over the past several years and is built for continued success for years to come. 

“AJ’s efforts are paying off and I’m looking forward to future seasons working together to bring championships to San Diego.”

Smith’s previous contract was scheduled to expire following the 2009 season.  The new deal runs through the 2014 season.  

“I’m very thankful and appreciate that Dean has given me the opportunity to continue helping with the building process,” Smith said.  “He’s made our job easy.  I can’t imagine a more conducive environment for building a championship team.  I look forward to our future here with high hopes and great expectations.”

After serving two seasons as the Chargers’ Assistant General Manager and Director of Pro Personnel, Smith was promoted to General Manager in 2003.  Smith has overseen the shaping of a roster that has won 46 games since 2004, third-most in the NFL over that period.

Under Smith’s watch, the Chargers have drafted six players that have become Pro Bowlers.  That list includes linebacker Shawne Merriman, quarterback Philip Rivers, cornerback Antonio Cromartie, center Nick Hardwick, offensive tackle Marcus McNeill and kicker Nate Kaeding. 

In addition, Smith and his staff have signed three undrafted free agents who developed into Pro Bowlers: tight end Antonio Gates, guard Kris Dielman and special teamer Kassim Osgood.

Smith has also worked tirelessly to lock up the team’s core players and ensure the long-term success of the Chargers.  In the last four years, the Bolts have signed 25 players to either new contracts or extensions.  The Chargers roster currently contains 26 players who have deals that run through at least the 2010 season and a total of 37 players under contact through 2009. 

“We’re set up to continue winning for years to come,” Spanos said.  “We have won and we will continue to win because we’ve locked up so many of players that have been and will continue to be key to our success.”

Smith has pulled the trigger on a handful of trades that have had big impacts on the Chargers success.  Just prior to this season’s trade deadline, he acquired wide receiver Chris Chambers from the Miami Dolphins for a second-round draft pick.  In April, he sent a package of draft picks to the Chicago Bears in order to move up in the draft and select safety Eric Weddle. 

Perhaps Smith’s signature move came during the 2004 draft.  The Chargers selected quarterback Eli Manning with the first overall pick and traded him to the New York Giants for Rivers, draft picks used to select Merriman and Kaeding, and an additional fifth-round pick that Smith later traded to Tampa Bay to acquire offensive tackle Roman Oben.

“I’ll use whatever means I can to acquire good football players who can help us win,” Smith said.  “That’s been my philosophy throughout my career.  I’m excited that I’ll continue to do that for the Chargers for several years to come.”