A.J. Smith Quotations

We don't have any comment on our business until we're complete with our business.

We faced them at a pre-season jamboree and practiced with them over the break so we know they will bring a tough, pressure defense. We'll have a size disadvantage, but we are quick and can jump.

Now, we're not aware of any of that, but we'd like to explore that.

I don't know where the rumors come from. But if you hear something, and someone asks you and you say it is fine that should be good enough.

Fran was at the Grey Cup. I don't know how many teams actually send a director or scout. My point is he's a tireless worker and he'll look wherever there are players that you think can help your football team win.

He's a terrific football player, very versatile. He's tough and competitive.

I think it is great for our people to be considered, but at the same token, you hate to lose some people because it is for your football team that they are good coaches.

Our proposals have not been acceptable at this point and time, but we will continue to talk.

My philosophy is to pay our own players. We stepped out of the box midway through last season. We didn't want him to play for $380,000. We recognized his ability, but we didn't get anywhere. That's fine. Both parties have to agree. Unfortunately, we can't seem to get it going. Hopefully we will. Now, we all know exactly what we're up against.

That's the way they wanted to approach it. Miami made an offer but was told it was not acceptable. We chose not to. We decided to wait and see if we have a chance in free agency to get him. Unless we had permission to first explore everything involved, we weren't going to make an offer.

With the trading deadline approaching Oct. 18, we'd like to put an end to the swirling rumors that Philip Rivers is available for trade. Phillip Rivers will be a Charger for the remainder of the season.

We are going to try to long-term him. We originally wanted to do this in early February, but I guess Drew was just answering the question honestly.

Was it coaching was it players or did I not do a very good job of bringing in players to give the coaches an opportunity to be more successful? I have to look at that hard. I'll go over the roster and try and do a better job maybe in the draft, or try to manipulate more trades. We will try to get more players in here to get it done.

We are letting the dust settle around here. We are not pressed. We will let it all go for a couple of weeks or more, then it's decision time for the entire football team. I know the quarterback situation is marquee in everyone's minds. But we will deal with it.

We're comfortable with what we're offering and we're willing to go more. It's not acceptable on the other side.

We already have a value set in our mind; that is not a factor at all. We know exactly what we do and we have a way of doing our business.

These rumors are running rampant all over the country. We're fine. Coach will be back in '06. There never was a doubt.

There's always a first time for everybody, but I think he'll do a terrific job and he'll work well with people, which is very important. You've got a new head coach there and new ownership, so it's a new beginning for them. I think it'll be a good mix.

As you know, all the rumors were that he was on his way. We had not officially heard that. But we got a phone call before we kicked off. He is on his way. He is going to sign the tender this evening.

I told him going into surgery that we were going to try to get a long-term deal. I told him not to worry about it during rehab. My main concern is for him to get healthy, come back and help the San Diego Chargers win a championship.

It looks like we've got a window now, from when the tender is signed, until Dallas.

I've heard that for a long, long time. I wasn't even here during the Leaf era. Our ownership was. But I can tell you this, we are open-minded to anything, whether it's using the first selection on a quarterback or getting one in free agency. If it's a first-spot quarterback, so be it. The past will not have an impact on the pick.

I'm not interested in Donnie Edwards' seven-year tackling statistics. I'm only interested in the type of player he is (currently) and the player he may be in the future.

If you're up top, you get a marquee player through about 10 or 11. If you're in the middle of the pack, you'll miss out on that unless you go up.

If you move up, you're going to pay a price. I wouldn't be against giving up a package for a certain individual who you think is an incredible player, a difference-maker. But the people who go up to do something like that probably think, 'We're a player away from a world championship.' I don't know if we're there yet.

I don't know if they were wrong. Sure you want your 1-2-3-4 picks to make it ---- that's how you get to have a good football team. But it's going to be hard for a sixth- or seventh-rounder to make it.