Kevin Acee of the San Diego Tribune writes that despite what many have perceived, Chargers’ GM A.J. Smith wasn’t mocking LaDainian Tomlinson last week when he repeated (almost word for word) what the running back said on his website about not having any control over whether or not he stays with the team or is traded.
I definitely see where that interpretation comes from. Repeating someone’s words to fashion your own quote would certainly not seem to be an attempt to show respect.
But as the person who elicited the quote, I feel a certain unique ability to interpret Smith’s intent.
For as abrupt, unpolished and even unfriendly as Smith can come off, I assure you he did not mean to mock LT.Was he unhappy that Tomlinson had once again gone public talking about how badly he wanted to stay in San Diego? Yes.
Might Smith have been better served saying nothing? Yes.
However, what Smith was simply addressing, in his own uniquely straight-forward way, was the reality of the situation.
In a perfect world without limitations on money and salary cap, Smith would have Tomlinson stay a Charger, too. But given all the reasons that have been outlined ad nauseam over the past few weeks, that might not be possible. And tough decisions have to be made – by Smith.
And again, Smith was not meaning to disrespect LT.If anything, his comments were a shot across the bow of the greater Tomlinson camp – namely agent Tom Condon – and what Smith perceived as repeated attempts to paint a certain picture.
Sure looked like mocking to me. And if it wasn’t, then why go about it that way? If Smith wasn’t trying to mock LT, why repeat almost verbatim what the running back had said on his wesbite? Even, “I’m tired of answering these questions – I’ll let you know when I know more,” would have been better than what Smith did.
And if Smith really wasn’t mocking LT, it’s hard to blame anyone who thought he was because he’s been a jerk throughout his entire career in San Diego. So why wouldn’t he be viewed a jerk in this situation? Again, Smith handled this entire situation poorly and all of this could have been avoided.
