Release by Chargers might be end for Flutie

"I felt very comfortable with him being a part of the Chargers while we were trying to turn this around in a positive way and winning fashion, to know that he was there in any role," Smith said. "I don't care if he was first team, second or third team. If we ever had to call upon him, personally I felt good that he would do anything he can to help us win and calm some of these younger kids if they got in a tough situation.

"He's still got some pretty good skills for a guy who's going to be 43 years old and is 5-9½," Smith said. "He likes to think he's 5-10, but I've told him he's 5-9½."

Smith doesn't think Flutie will retire, and said he would thrive as a No. 2 quarterback somewhere. Flutie might also pursue a TV job, Smith said.

Flutie followed Butler and Smith from Buffalo in 2001 and started all 16 games for the Chargers that season as he mentored Brees, then a rookie. Brees took over as starter in 2002 and then struggled so much in 2003 that he was replaced by Flutie for five straight starts.

In a stunning win over Minnesota in 2003, Flutie threw for two touchdowns and scrambled for two more. He accounted for half of the Chargers' four wins that season.

Flutie opened last season as Brees' backup, but was dropped to third-stringer behind Rivers after the Chargers fell to 1-2. That's when Brees got hot, keeping both Rivers and Flutie on the bench for most of the season.

Flutie did play in two games. He came on late in the home-opening loss to the New York Jets after Brees sustained a concussion, then started the regular-season finale against Kansas City while Brees rested for the playoffs. Flutie scrambled around, as he often did, and threw one touchdown pass.

Flutie was signed by the New Jersey Generals in 1985 as the USFL tried to use his college stardom to build a following.

He began his NFL career in 1986 with the Chicago Bears. He also played for the New England Patriots before starting an eight-year stint in Canada. He was the CFL's Most Outstanding Player six times, and won three Grey Cup titles.

He was brought back to the NFL by Buffalo in 1998, when Butler and Smith were the Bills' top personnel men. He helped the Bills reach the playoffs that year, and was also voted to the Pro Bowl and named NFL Comeback Player of the Year.