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CHARGERS: Ex-49er LB Smith 'elated' to join Bolts
By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | ∞
When Derek Smith was released by San Francisco on Tuesday, 49ers coach Mike Nolan asked if there was anything he could do for the club's longtime defensive mainstay.
Smith had a swift reply.
"I said, 'Yeah, you can give A.J. Smith and Norv Turner a call down in San Diego,'" Smith said.
Five days later, Smith became a member of the Chargers, agreeing to terms Sunday on a two-year contract. And the inside linebacker, who purchased his Encinitas home in 2004, couldn't have been happier with what transpired.
"Absolutely," Derek Smith said via phone. "This team has everything that I could want. It's a winning team. It's got a chance of going to the Super Bowl. It has a chance at winning the Super Bowl. It's where my home is. I love San Diego. Everything makes sense."
An 11-year veteran who turned 34 last month, Smith isn't yet sure what his role will be with the Chargers. He said he knows the organization values his veteran experience.
Smith began his NFL career in Washington in 1997 when Turner was the Redskins' head coach and topped 100 tackles in each of his four seasons with the club. He then signed with the 49ers as a free agent and had 100 or more tackles in five straight seasons before injuries began hindering his play. He had 98 tackles in 2007.
"Derek brings experience, a real knowledge of the game and knowledge of this league," Turner said in a press release. "He's a physical player and an outstanding tackler."
Smith said he left San Francisco with no bitterness ---- "It was time for me to move on and time for them to move on," he said ---- and repeatedly used words like excited and elated to describe joining the Chargers.
He has a young son (Carson) and daughter (Cassidy). Wife Taryn, a Valhalla High graduate, is expecting the family's third child next month.
"We're both kind of pinching ourselves," said Smith, who plans to officially sign the contract on Wednesday. "This is one of those things that's almost too good to be true."
Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.
Jeffrey wrote on Feb 26, 2008 5:20 AM:Great pickup and very tough guy but with one of the deepest linebacking corps. in the NFL one would have to think that someone is trade bait for the draft.????
jayne wrote on Feb 27, 2008 8:09 AM:Considering how well Jyles Tucker played in the absence of Carlos Polk-I get the feeling Polk is gonna be traded for a low pick. Esentially, trade a special teams only vet for a former starter vet good deal if it gets done
Willi B wrote on Feb 27, 2008 9:00 AM:With Smith being more of an inside guy, I think it is more likely that Tim Dobbins is going to go... either by trade or release. Siler and others seem to be outplaying him. I think we got Smith to push Wilhelm - Wilhelm is progressing, but not as fast as we would like!
But when Wilhelm was out, there was tto much dropoff in play.
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