Smoot Has Gut Feeling He'll Be a Free Agent

skins009:

Bailey had a MUCH higher reputation around the NFL last year than Smoot does now. And to move him along, the Skins had to toss in a 2nd round pick in order to pick up Clinton Portis.

So Smoot's trade value with a franchise tag stuck to his back is at least "questionable".

Oh, and no one even wanted Trotter - let alont to trade for him - when the Eagles franchised him so he came to DAnny Boy and just got what he had been asking for all along. The Skins paid and got next to nothing in return; then they cut this former franchise player who is now starting for the team who will have home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

The franchise tag is not a magic wand; in fact, it usually doesn't even work very well.

I have a gut feeling I'd puke if we lost Smoot.

He's a very important piece to our puzzle, I have a hard time believing we'd let him walk.

"Smoot is in the final days of a modest four-year, $2.6 million contract he signed as a second-round draft pick from Mississippi State in 2001."

Looks to me like he has been under paid the last 3 years. Time for the Skins to compensate him.

I love smoot to death and his cockiness, but if gibbs thinks we need another corner than i guess we need another. there is also another fa corner out there like charles woodson who could be more physical than smoot with the same vocalness and cockiness. how does a combination of wood, springs, taylor and bowen sound for 2005. that group could be the best in the league next year but we would have to see.

Woodson is having an off year, is asking to be the highest paid corner in the league, has attitude problems, has off-the-field legal problems, and is a Class 1A a--hole. If we lose Smoot for Woodson, I'll flip my sh-t.

Like most of you I love Smoot. I think he is a core Redskin, a team leader, and a great CB. Not to mention smootsmack is a great tag name. I really hope we sign him.

But as always I have to look at the numbers.

From the article:
"We've offered Fred to be a top-10 paid cornerback in the NFL." said Vinny Cerrato, vice president for football operations.

Last year the average cap hit of the top 10 cornerbacks in the NFL was $5.7M. It probably went up this year so let's call it $6M cap hit a year. To compare, Springs average cap hit is $5.2M.

Does Smoot deserve more than Springs?

IMO SS outplayed Smoot this year. Not to metion he already had his money, Smoot was playing for his (not a shot at Smoot, just a fact). Nevertheless Smoot has 'earned his stripes' as a Redskin and deserves some goodwill. He's also younger than Springs. So I don't think it would be unfair for Smoot to make a little more than Springs.

Does Smoot deserve to be paid like a top ten CB?

I think Smoot is a great CB and maybe top 10. He's also a team leader and always comes to play, even when he's hurt (except this week LOL). But he isn't infallable, as we saw when he went up against Keyshawn. To objectively say he is more than a top-10 CB I think is a stretch. In all, the $6M number sounds about right to me. It's more than Springs and puts him in the top-10. How much more does he expect?

As for the franchise tag, last year's tag price was $6.8M. This year should be $7M+. I'm not sure if we can really afford that, but then again we can't afford to lose Smoot and get nothing in return. If we can't resign him, I think tagging him is the only move.

At the end of the day, I can't see Snyder letting him go over a little money, but it all comes down to Gibbs valuation of Freddy. If Gibbs wants him, Snyder will find a way to keep him.

I also hate that Smoot is getting advice from Champ on contract negotiations. If Smoot really wants to be a Redskin (unlike Champ) I see no reason why he can't be. Snyder has never been known to be cheap, so what's the holdup? Smooty, Mr. Snyder, let's make this happen!

According to the Post article, Smoot is seeking a deal worth $30 million for six years. SIGN HIM!

The Post reports that......SURPRISE.....it's facing a salary cap squeeze.

"Coach Joe Gibbs has talked highly of Smoot and the importance of keeping core players such as Smoot on the Redskins. But Washington could face a salary-cap squeeze."

Apparently my concerns about the salary cap aren't so crazy.

Woodson is having an off year, is asking to be the highest paid corner in the league, has attitude problems, has off-the-field legal problems, and is a Class 1A a--hole. If we lose Smoot for Woodson, I'll flip my sh-t.


I'll flip my sh-t, your sh-t and just about everyone on this boards sh-t at the same time.

I just dont get it. Why? Why on earth are we looking at the possibilty of losing this guy. In my opnion, this guy is the Redskins. This is the guy who I thought was going to be the next Darell Green, maybe never that good, but a guy who put his ass on the line for the Redskins every week.

Now as I read that article, I see we offered to make Smoot a top 10 pd CB in the league.... how the hell did Smoot not take that? No offense to him, but I really dont know how many teams are gonna throw that kind of money at him, when he hasent been on top recivers a whole ton this year. Does anyone else think he'd get more money than the top 10 paid CB's in the league? Maybe CC has the current top 10 pd CB's cause I couldnt find the list.

To say I'm dissapointed to hear this is a huge understatement. This was the guy I wanted to get resigned this year. I was shocked to hear that today, I odnt want to have to waste our draftpick on Antone Rolle, or waste money on a Chareles Woodson who is just a big name, with a big price with a big additude. I really hope Smoots gut is wrong here, because this really sucks.

According to the Post article, Smoot is seeking a deal worth $30 million for six years. SIGN HIM!

The Post reports that......SURPRISE.....it's facing a salary cap squeeze.

"Coach Joe Gibbs has talked highly of Smoot and the importance of keeping core players such as Smoot on the Redskins. But Washington could face a salary-cap squeeze."

Apparently my concerns about the salary cap aren't so crazy.

That deal sounds fair to me. The cap isn't the issue. I think both sides are negotiating thru the media.

That deal sounds fair to me. The cap isn't the issue. I think both sides are negotiating thru the media.


Urgh! Never like to hear that. I dont know, I'm really upset about this. That is a very fair deal, if that is what was offered. I belive Smoot wants to stay a Redskin, but common. We cant break the bank for him, were in enough trouble as it is. Please Fred Stay, I'll wash your car for free to make up for the extra money!