The elite teams in the NFL are still playing games. The rest have been left to the side of the road. The Chargers are the latter, no longer the former.

SanDiego.com grades the Bolts after they failed to make the playoffs for a second year in a row.

OWNER (D) Dean Spanos has watched this team fall from grace and yet has decided he will stay the course with the leadership of AJ Smith, the General Manager, and Norv Turner, the coach. This after Spanos looked on the outside and found the hottest coaching candidates did not want to return to coaching, and in some cases, would not work for the management team San Diego has in place. Spanos does not pick the players nor involve himself in the day-to-day operation of the team, but he sets the course of operation. Under his leadership, the team has fallen from the upper echelon of the NFL, has an eroding season ticket base, and he has allowed a toxic relationship to develop between the fans, media, and his leadership. And of course, he has failed to step up and make a financial committment to build a stadium, by committing some of his own money to be the catalyst to get a deal done. What is there to feel good about his leadership right now?

GENERAL MANAGER (D) Once upon a time, Smith's draft picks were magic, his free agent acquisitions superb. Not any longer, or at least not recently. Of his last seven first round draft picks, just running back Ryan Mathews has star-status written next to his name. Smith is personally responsible for the decisions to run-off the likes and talents of Drew Brees and Darren Sproles. His salary dispute suspensions of Antonio Gates years back, and last year's episodes with Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill, likely cost the team two playoff berths. Cutting loose people like Wes Welker, early in his career, and Laurent Robinson this past summer were also setbacks. Yes, signing Jared Gaither was a positive over the last four weeks, but it does not wash away all the negatives the man has become.

COACH (C) Norv Turner can only coach the players given to him, and he has not been given enough. His offense has been prolific, his defense deplorable. And his judgement in hiring assistant coaches questionable, as witnessed by four defensive coordinators in the last six season. Motivation, gametime decisions and inability to make adjustments all come under his reign. He is on death row headed to this 2013 season.

QUARTERBACK (B) It was an erratic Philip Rivers season. A 4,624-yard plus passing campaign, was marred by an all time high 20-interceptions and 5-fumbles. But it was also a year where his offensive line was a wreck, his receivers were hurt most of the year, and his lead running back had different nagging injuries. For the critics, understand this: if you lose Rivers to an injury, your season resembles the Rams and the Colts. He cannot do it by himself, though he would try.

RUNNING BACKS (B) They were productive though not dominant. But in Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert the Bolts got 1581-yards rushing and another 888-yards in receptions on an impressive 104-catches. They surely missed the departed Darren Sproles and his dynamic running style, but in the big picture, these two accounted for over 2400 all purpose yards. Not many clubs got that from their backs.

WIDE RECEIVERS (C) It was not till the end of the season, when the Chargers were trying to climb out of a hole, that San Diego got them all on the field healthy. Malcom Floyd (19.9), Vincent Jakcosn (18.8) and Antonio Gates (12.2) spent half the season playing hurt, and it showed, with their production and Rivers problems. Gates deserves comeback player of the year for his battle with foot injuries. Jackson needs to stay on the field to be a franchise receiver. Floyd can play, but needs to solve the nagging injury issues. Blocking tight end Randy McMichaels was a key role players.

OFFENSIVE LINE (D) It sounds like an indictment, but it is not. The offensive front was hurt, they got Rivers pounded, and for a large chunk of the season the running game was erratic. The future lies very much on the health of left tackle Marcus McNeill, left guard Kris Dielman and the hope center Nick Hardwick does not retire. If that group could play together, combined with the depth the team has in backup players, Jared Gaither and Tyronne Greene amongst them, it would be a very good group. But they have not been able to stay on the field the last three years.

DEFENSIVE LINE (D) It started with Luis Castillo, the defensive end breaking his leg in the opening game, and carried through a season of aches and pains for nose-tackle Antonio Garay. Vaughn Martin held up well at defensive end, second year noseman Cam Thomas had some good games, but first round pick Corey Liuget was overwhelmed, did little, and seemed to be out of position. Maybe a year under their belt on the field will mean a more productive second season for them. The pricetag on Castillo and veteran Jacques Cesaire might be too high.

LINEBACKER (C) Once the heart and soul of the Chargers, the linebacker position has become a pile of bodies. Donald Butler was strong, solid and tough all year, but little else good happened around him. Injuries plagued once strong rusher Shaun Philips. Pass rush specialist Antwan Barnes played well going after the quarterback, but had holes in his game. Ditto for Travis LaBoy. Larry English's career seems marred forever by foot problems, and it was a lost season for draft pick Jonas Mouton.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (D) Safety Eric Weddle was paid lots of money,8M, and made lots of plays. No one else did anything. Cornerback Quentin Jammer was slowed by injuries and age., Antoine Cason gave back all the equity he built up a year ago, and virtually no one else played with any consistency. They have holes there that must be addressed by either new players or seasonsing.

KICKING GAME (A) Nick Novak had a tremendous start and finished (28-35) in field goals, after being in and out of camps for his entire career. He has likely found a home, which would be bad news for veteran kicker Nate Kaeding, out with a torn knee ligament. Punter Mike Scifres performed well this season.

KICK RETURNERS (C) Nobody here will make you forget Sproles will they? Yes, Richard Goodman did have a 105-kickoff return but did little else. Much the same can be said for Patrick Crayton and the punt return unit. So much for Mr. August, return man Bryan Walters, who played well in the preseason but got swealloed up in regular season matches. The Chargers desperately need a game breaker to return kicks next year.

FUTURE (C) How do you return a franchise to elite status when you don't have any playmakers on defense and face some real rebuilding in the offensive front? Simple: hit on draft picks. Get more athletes who can run on defense and for the first time in this era, become a player in NFL free-agency. Time for new players and time for a new philosphy. Otherswise, this time next year it'll be time for a new GM and Coach.

Lee 'Hacksaw' Hamilton talks sports weekday mornings at 10 a.m. on XX-1090 Sportsradio