Smoot's Status with the Redskins

Letting Smoot go would be terrible. You need to keep your draft picks. The ones that work out should be what you build your team around.

I thought it was terrible that we had to let Bailey go as a terriffic corner is much harder to come by then another 1,000 runner out of the Denver system. We paid a ridiculous amount for Portis and while he's had flashes he doesn't have the heart that Gibbs wants in his players. We needed a Jerome Bettis/L Tomlimson type runner, an punch you in the mouth guy on offense which we don't have. I still believe this wasn't really Gibbs doing but dumb and dumber in the front office.

We should keep Smoot and get rid of the salary cap albatross Samuels. Hasn't played like the pro-bowler the last 2 years and is it me or has he committed a lot of false starts?

Why not? Gibbs flawless record when it comes to playing GM? Or maybe the Brunell deal he pushed hard for?

Why not? Gibbs flawless record when it comes to playing GM? Or maybe the Brunell deal he pushed hard for?

Daseal, please include the original post that you're responding to. What are you saying "Why not" to?

This is from Pastabelly's column on the 24th. I wonder which coach he was talking about?

Although there is at least one coach on the Washington staff who does not want Fred Smoot back in 2005, the Redskins may designate the standout cornerback a franchise player if a contract extension cannot be reached. ...

Smoot, I was referring to this comment:
We needed a Jerome Bettis/L Tomlimson type runner, an punch you in the mouth guy on offense which we don't have. I still believe this wasn't really Gibbs doing but dumb and dumber in the front office.

Smoot, I was referring to this comment:

Thanks Daseal

It does sicken me to hear Smoots comments like this . How many top line defensive players have been built up through good systems then to turn around and say they are ONLY interested in money.

No one player is irreplacable NO one player is bigger than the team. I am sick of these players at the begining of the season saying

"yes yes i want to be part of this organsation forever"

Yet when it gets to the crunch the turn it around and say

"Well its not me its the FO they don't want to pay me"

Smoot I hope is talking out of fustration becasue of the record, because of his injuries but he has to recognise he has been here 3 years he has played alongside some of the best CBs in the game and there are going to be questions of just how good he will be especially considering how Bailey hasn't really panned out with the Broncos.

Is he really worth Bailey/Spings money? How many pro bowls has he been to? How many years has he shown he can be relied on... he is a tough resliant player who sometimes gambles too much... he could be a cornerstone of a teams secondary but he will never live up to that potential if he just goes for the bigest pay check...

It is interesting he says he has been talking to Champ about all this but not to his teammate Springs who was in the same place last year as a FA he signed here because he saw the potential not becasue we offered the most money becasue other teams offered more... The question becomes realistically how much can you spend and how much does self respect cost these days?

I think Smoot is a good CB against opponent's #2 WR, but just an above-average CB against opponent's #1 receiver. (Remember what Torry Holt did to him during the pre-season game? And just last week "Meshawn" Johnson caught all passes thrown his way when Smoot was defending him). I would hate to see him go, but if he demands to be paid like a top-tier cornerbacks such as Bailey, McAllister, R Barber, I say let him walk.

I was a bit shocked when I read today's Post article on Smoot.

"That could have been my last game as a Redskin," seems like a far cry from the things he has been saying throughout the season.

Later, he is quoted as saying: "Like I was talking to Champ two or three weeks ago, and that's what he was saying. It ain't never really the player. . . . It's all about the front office and who they want to be here."

Two observations:

1. Invoking the spectre of Champ Bailey seems to be an interesting thing to do considering the negative manner in which he left the organization.

2. Saying "It's all about the front office and who they want to be here" is a ridiculously stupid thing to say. THE NFL IS A BUSINESS AND THE REDSKINS ARE A FRANCHISE!!! OF COURSE IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FRONT OFFICE AND WHO THEY WANT TO BE HERE!!!!!

Sorry, it just blows my mind that players, who continually want to be "shown the money" (with a few exceptions like Tom Brady), criticize the front office for doing what is best for the franchise.

Anyway, my point in bringing all this up is because I sincerely believe that Smoot's 180 with his messaging is obviously due to his agent.

I personally think its lame and I thought Smoot (after firing the Postons) was better than that.

His agent has developed this strategy - using the Post to begin positioning his client in preparation for negotiations - and has the full support of Fred Smoot.

What do other people think?


And you're shocked?! As I have been saying for a few months now, Smoot and his agent are going to play a little hard ball with contract negotiations. Quite frankly, the Redskins are going to write up a deal and sit it on the table. If he signs, he's a Redskin. If not, so long. If he believes a team need to have two CBs making 'top 10' salaries, he's lying to himself. As you can see, with G. Williams' defensive schemes, the secondary has many opportunities to force turnovers. Smoot hasn't always taken advantage of that. Kudos to the 'mouth of the south' for being tough and playing through injuries, but being at the end of a contract year will do that too. Believe me guys, there will be another corner available via free agency who break the heel off the small shoes Smoot leaves behind. I know you guys heard that Phillip Buchanon wants out of OAK. Got Trade (mustache pending)?

It is interesting he says he has been talking to Champ about all this but not to his teammate Springs who was in the same place last year as a FA he signed here because he saw the potential not becasue we offered the most money becasue other teams offered more... The question becomes realistically how much can you spend and how much does self respect cost these days?

Well.. Champ WAS his best friend. So it's hard to criticize him for that. I hope Smoot will be back..