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Bolts hoping to retire renegade reputation
By: SIMON SAMANO - Staff Writer | ∞
SAN DIEGO -- With the NFL's most disturbing offseason in recent years now over (Google search: "Michael Vick, dogfighting" and "Adam 'Pacman' Jones, strip club"), player misconduct is a concern at the start of training camps.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has already exerted his zero tolerance policy, suspending the Titans' Jones for the season and banning Vick from Falcons training camp indefinitely without allowing due process of law to take its course in both cases.
Which brings Chargers general manager A.J. Smith's own stern philosophy on player misconduct to the forefront if you're one of his players.
"The philosophy that we have around here, which our players know and I think everybody knows is you're a San Diego Charger for one year, regardless of your contract,'' Smith said. "That's just how we operate."
Steve Foley and Terrence Kiel know about Smith's philosophy first hand. The Chargers -- who had seven off-the-field incidents in 2006 -- released the former linebacker and safety in March after multiple run-ins with the law.
Now look to the present: Smith may not have to worry about enforcing his own tough policy. In light of the negative publicity the NFL has received, the Chargers sound like they get it.
"I think anytime a situation like that happens, it kind of wakes you up a little bit because you're a part of this league," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "And you understand that anything you might get into off the field -- any kind of trouble -- if that type of thing happens to you, it can affect the team.
"As players, that's something we have to think about. We can't be selfish and think about ourselves. So we've got to make sure we take care of our business off the field."
Then there are those who feel the wake-up call came last September. During that month, Foley was shot by an off-duty police officer while under the influence of alcohol, and Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested Kiel at the team's facility for allegedly transporting codeine-based cough syrup.
"I think it was last season, early in the year, when we had all that drama with this guy and that guy," wide receiver Kassim Osgood said. "We had our off-the-field distractions, and you could see what toll it takes on your team."
Added cornerback Quentin Jammer: "I think we all learned from some of the past mistakes. It happened. We lived and moved on. I don't think anything like that will ever happen again."
Conventional wisdom says that negative occurrences off the field will affect what happens on it. And for a team like the Chargers, who feel they're destined for this season's Super Bowl, any non-football interference could be detrimental to their ultimate goal.
"The last thing we need is any distractions," said linebacker Shawne Merriman, who was suspended for four games last October for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
"And that's not from just the team but from anywhere. In order to get where we want to go, we got to stay focused and avoid as much distraction as possible."
The majority of last year's problems stemmed, in one way or another, from San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter.
"While I know there are a bunch of guys ... obviously I'm married with three children and never really had to live that life anyway," quarterback Phillip Rivers said. "But, you know, guys know to be careful and be smart, and guys take care of one another."
One Charger who enjoys the night-life said he goes out cognizant of avoiding trouble.
"I've told my friends before 'Hey, man, if I'm with you, you can't be popping off to people like that and starting fights in the club and drinking too much,'" Osgood said. "Basically, we got to check our own friends and let them know that we're in the limelight. When you hang with me, people are watching us and what we do."
Smith is also keeping a close eye. And like every NFL general manager, he's hoping for zero incidents, so he doesn't have to enforce zero tolerance.
"I don't know if we're going to get (100 percent), but we know what we want and what we expect," Smith said. "But the most important thing is that if we don't get it, and you don't do what you're supposed to do, the chances are real, real high you're not going to be a Charger, and now you're going to look for your next team.
"I hope that message is out there."
-- Contact staff writer Simon Samano at simon_samano@yahoo.com.
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Fan Maybe wrote on Aug 2, 2007 5:01 AM:I am glad the Chargers are taking this stance! Last season all of the "fans" that stood by Foley over the police officer was disgusting! I know all of the arguments that the officer never should have been following him BUT he was only trying to keep our city safe. BUT that didn't seem to matter to all of those oh so bright upstanding citzens. They want the officer hung and Foley given a parade. Now, maybe with all the rest of the trouble around the league people will figure out that just because a person can play football, that doe not put him above anyone else and certainly not above the law!
SmithJones wrote on Aug 2, 2007 5:08 AM:You have these powerful athletes who must be aggressive on the field to do their job right. It naturally follows that some carry that on right into their personal lives. They were born that way. You have your good and bad apples.
Mike B wrote on Aug 2, 2007 6:09 AM:In AJ I trust!
My kid needs a player he can look up to! wrote on Aug 2, 2007 6:43 AM:There is a reason frachises like the Red Sox , Cubs, Knicks, etc. keep thier fans, even when the team isn't doing well. The team management holds the players accountable. The players stay out of trouble. Then character starts to count. Let's clean up pro sports and get the fan base up with loyal fans who want to stay on target. It would seem that the criminal gang element has started to identify more with the pros and not the main stream citizen who would if the players would straighten up thier act. I am pleased my Chargers are taking this stance! Are you ready for some football?????
Chargers going to Oceanside! wrote on Aug 2, 2007 6:43 AM:Yahoo!
Good Luck wrote on Aug 2, 2007 6:46 AM:I mean really, what do you expect from these 'athletes'? They skate through college because they're on a sports scholarship or they don't even bother with it because they're drafted out of high school. Either way, you have a group of largely under-educated neanderthals running around the grass chasing a ball. Listen to their interviews. Most of them can't even speak an inteligible sentence ... and you want them to act right? I guess it doesn't hurt to dream.
NFL is doing the right thing! wrote on Aug 2, 2007 6:46 AM:LT, Rivers, Osgood those are role models! Like the great Tony Gwynn. Stayed with the Padres, loyal to a community. Loyal to his fans. A great role model to you and your kids. An up standing citizen who was part of his community. A regular joe! That is a Pro!
Jr Seau! wrote on Aug 2, 2007 6:48 AM:That is a role model! He is my kinda hero! I saw him over the 4th of July celebration in Oceanside. That is a guy who loves his hometown and makes a difference. He is a pro!
Benarnd4awhile wrote on Aug 2, 2007 7:21 AM:Let’s face it; professional athletes today are seriously over-paid. They are given an opportunity to 'play' a sport and command outrageous salary while doing it. A percentage of today's athletes forgo the semblance of sustainable responsibility and leadership to not only their team mates, but to the public as well. Those athletes need to be dealt with swiftly. "If your not a team player, and own the responsibility that goes with it, your OUT!" The sports commissions in general are delinquent for not enforcing stricter rules for players all along. The fact that the NFL commissioner is getting around to enforcing policy is simply pandering. Chargers general manager A.J. Smith's policy has been in play for quite some time, he gets it.
GBS wrote on Aug 2, 2007 8:07 AM:More specifically, you've got a bunch of relatively young men with lots of money and sometimes little common sense. Picture yourself at the age of 22 or 23 with a million or more in the bank. Sure, most would consider that a "terrible" problem, but with that immediate wealth and fame, there can be a steep learning curve on how to deal with it. It sometimes takes a few years for some to finally "get it". In the interim, good'on the Chargers and the League for taking the firm stand.
Fan DEFINATELY wrote on Aug 2, 2007 3:04 PM:Hey "Fan Maybe", Steve Foley was removed from the team for multiple encounters with law enforcement and driving under the influence of alcohol. I completely agree with AJ on that move. As for your comment of "the "fans" that stood by Foley over the police officer was disgusting! 'blah,blah,blah'...BUT he was only trying to keep our city safe." Well.. as a "upstanding citizen" I would be worried about off duty police officers going around and shooting people who are driving drunk (last i checked, that is not how they are supposed to handle it). Whether he has an NFL player or not... the police officer(not in uniform, with no badge showing) got out of his 'unmarked' car and shot at him. He did his job by following the drunk driver and getting him off the road... its his actions afterwards is what "Real Fans" and "Real Citizens" are upset about.
marlon wrote on Aug 3, 2007 1:48 AM:Foley was a great player. He is now lost to our team. Sure he made a very bad decision and probably had it coming. He was into some dangerous lifestyle choices. The seperate issue is the excessive use of force by an officer to enforce the law. The police need to follow protocol as they may endanger more lives than nesseccary. I have seen a growing problem with the police force and the way they are the ones who may be feeling above the law.
Bullets kill wrote on Aug 3, 2007 2:48 PM:The police officer's actions were unacceptable. You would hope a tazer or night stick could be used to subdue Foley. If he misses with the gun, he could've killed someone else, and then what? I hope he never pulls me over.
KB Bolt wrote on Aug 3, 2007 8:33 PM:Case in point ... I played golf with Ryan Leaf a few month's back ... he is a dramatically different person than he was when he was drafted #1 by the Bolts, given $10+ mil, had annoying reporters and cameras stuffed in his face, huge expectations as the savior of a franchise, and 3 different head coaches, all at the ripe old age of 22 ... how would any of us handle that situation?????
Reardon wrote on Aug 3, 2007 10:32 PM:KB Bolt: Ahhhh, for 10+ million, he could have TRIED! (Doncha' think?)
Leaf ? wrote on Aug 7, 2007 2:50 PM:Either you have a good work ethic or you don`t, either you`re tough or you`re not. Leaf wasn`t tough & he did not have the work ethic or discipline. These are character traits that he never will have. But hey, he might be a nice guy. Rivers is tough & is one of the most disciplined players you`ll ever meet & as a bonus he is 6ft5 with with a lightning fast release. Don`t be surprised to see Rivers voted MVP this year.
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