Smoot is Gone

When I first heard in week 10 of the season that the Redskins and Fred Smoot had begun contract negotiations, I was almost certain that a deal would get done. Gregg Williams' blitzing defense relies on a strong secondary that can cover, thereby freeing up linebackers to blitz, and rush the passer. Fred Smoot has been a locker room leader and team spokesman. Smoot brokered the deal between Clinton Portis and Ifeyani Ohalete which resulted in Portis getting the number 26 from Ohalete for $40,000. Smoot talked to the press when others refused to do so. Smoot was always upbeat about the franchise, the D.C. area, and Redskins fans. Smoot has been a Redskin longer than everyone on the team save Chris Samuels and LaVar Arrington. Gibbs has always said he's looking for a core group of Redskins and Smoot is at the center of that core.

However, after listening to Gibbs' statements to the press and keeping my ear to the ground for any scuttlebutt about Smoot's contract negotiations I am convinced that Smoot is as good as gone. Without solid evidence to support this claim, I believe that last offseason, the Redskins front office acquired former first-round pick Walt Harris to replace Smoot. Harris, who was rehabbing an injured knee, is cheap and has proven himself in Chicago and Indianapolis as an adequate starting cornerback.

If the acquisition of Harris isn't enough to convince you that Smoot is as good as gone, according to the Washington Post, Smoot has been offered a deal with about $10-11 million in guaranteed money whereas he is seeking a deal giving him a $14 million signing bonus. They're not just hammering away at the details - they're miles apart with only 6 weeks left before the start of free agency. Moreover, the negotiations, as far as I know, have not recommenced after breaking down several weeks ago.

Additionally, Gibbs told the press corps in his final post-game press conference of the season that even though he'd like to retain Smoot, he's not going to offer a contract to a player if he think's that player's demands are unreasonable. He was sending a clear message to Smoot's agent; "you're offer is unreasonable and we're not going to agree to it." Sure, he could just have been jockeying for a bargaining position in negotiations, but I distinctly got the impression that Smoot isn't coming back.

Finally, I think Smoot's recent statements about the progress of contract negotiations, or lack thereof, are indicative of how wide the chasm is between the Redskins' and Smoot's offers and needs. I don't think Smoot was just trying to wage a media war by threatening to leave. Antonio Pierce and Chris Samuels are in the midst of contract negotiations and yet both have expressed a high degree of confidence that they would complete deals soon. Smoot has been saying that he wants to be a Redskin since he's been here. He didn't just start negotiating with the front office, so I doubt that the very recent change in his statements about the chances of him resigning is just a negotiating tactic. According to many reporters (i.e. Nunyo Demasiyo and Bram Weinstein), he genuinely seems down. To me that says he doesn't think he'll be back.

With Smoot as good as gone, the Redskins front office is in full damage control mode. I anticipate they'll begin pushing very hard to renegotiate Samuels contract ASAP to enable the team to slap a franchise tag on Smoot. Samuels and the front office want a new deal and are optimistic about getting one done. Then the front office will slap the franchise tag on Smoot, and look for possible trading partners.

I doubt the Redskins would find anyone willing to offer up more than a very low first round or high second round draft pick. The Saints might be a good team to target for a trade. The Saints acquired our 2nd round pick (41st overall) last offseason for their third round pick in last year's draft. The Saints acquired Mike McKenzie just before the trade deadlines this season to bolster their secondary, but he hasn't been solid at corner. With a second round pick, the Redskins would have a shot to draft CB Corey Webster, TE Alex Smith, DT Antaaj Hawthorne or some other player who could be an excellent back-up or a solid starter. Another alternative would be to trade Smoot for DE Darren Howard (who too will likely be slapped with a franchise tag).

No matter what the Redskins' front office does, be prepared Redskins fans, Smoot is leaving.

Smoot has ran his mouth so much about wanting to be a redskins and that he wants to be a core player that hes going to have to come down to whats hes worth. If anythign Smoot has said is true then he should be back. But it does seem like money has become more important to him and that he probably isnt coming back. Walt Harris and Springs are both solid, but are getting old. We could probably do without smoot for now but we should keep him. Hes young and we groomed him all these years with Bailey and Green.

I was suprised by Smoots comments a couple weeks ago. He said he talked w/ Champ and its the same thing we did to him. He took the approach if we want him there we will pay him. We've offered to pay him amongst the top 10 cb's in the league. I think that is fair. I want to see him signed but if he wants to go let him. We would have made Champ the highest cb in the league (i believe), he just took a better offer.

I will be real let down if Smoot leaves. He is one of the nicest players I have ever met.I just got the jersey he signed along with a signed 8x10 and a picture of me and him framed, it will make me sick to look at that and think he is no longer a redskin. When I first met Fred he just seemed like he was a REAL redskin and he was with Champ who didn't. I would rather see Samuels get traded for a pick or a solid tackle. I also believe we could find a tackle in a later round of the draft that would be solid without spending so much money. Maybe if he restructures it will free up some room to get Smoot, if not I wish him well.

Just as I loved Champ even after he left, I will still cheer for Smoot if he's gone (except when/if he ever plays the Skins)... I hope our fellow fans won't start bashing him if he gets a bunch more money elsewhere- it was not too long ago that Smoot was the poster boy for the Washington Redskins. If he can find someone to overpay for him, more power to him.

"With a second round pick, the Redskins would have a shot to draft CB Corey Webster, TE Alex Smith, DT Antaaj Hawthorne or some other player who could be an excellent back-up or a solid starter."

That was an excellent post, Ramseyfan. Well thought out, and I fear you're exactly right about Smoot. The only area we may differ on is the need to draft a tight end. I feel like that's an area we should absolutely avoid, as there are other priorities in desperate need of attention -- such as -- all along the offensive line. Chris Samuels is still in question, patience is wearing thin with Derrick Dockery, and the center position is screaming for attention.

Not only that, good blocking tight ends are practically everywhere and can easily be found through undrafted free agency.

I may be in the minority here but I am okay with losing Smoot as long as we can at least get a high draft pick for him. The Redskins have cap trouble coming soon and are going to need to make tough choices so they may as well start now. If Smoot gets a big contract now someone else is going to get squezed out on down the line. I like Smoot, but I would not give him a 14 million dollar signing bonus.

you cant call a guy a core redskin when his first priority is money. NFL's minimum wage will pay for anybodys bills. i like the guy, but springs has just played much better and i dont see a major drop off from him in the next few years. i would as well like to see wilds and harris play cb and try to see if we can get springs at safety. there has been talk of that between coaches and springs. and he has the body to do that. so i would like our team to find a DE and a CB for the future.

you cant call a guy a core redskin when his first priority is money. NFL's minimum wage will pay for anybodys bills.It's not about paying his bills this is probably the last big contract he is gonna get. he wants to be set for life.

When I heard Smoot say Bailey has been in his ear I knew things were going to be interesting. And when he said it's never the player and it's always the front office, I definitely knew things were going to be interesting.

If I had to put money on it I'd say he's gone.