The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Redskins CB Fred Smoot appears likely to hit the open market March 2 as a free agent. Smoot's agent is continuing talks with the Redskins but has turned down a $10 million signing bonus. Meanwhile, Washington is trying to unload WR Rod Gardner for a second-round pick.
-- Newark Star-Ledger


Turning down $10 million in guaranteed money isn't a good sign for Smoot staying. Hopefully, if they can't get it down, they'll ask Freddy to give them the right to match another offer... or franchise him.

Franchising would be a risk, since the team may end up having to pay him $5 or $6 million for this year. And I'm not sure a lot of teams are going to give up big time draft picks for Smooty. On the other hand, they could work out a trade for lower compensation, such a single first rounder, or they could try to negotiate a long term extension this summer.

he either gets the 10 mil or he is done because we dont have money to franchise him and his just being stupid by not wanting to be with a team like ours.
but heel test FA and find no one is willing to pay that much money and heel come back

Skeletor wrote:Franchising would be a risk, since the team may end up having to pay him $5 or $6 million for this year.

I think the going rate for a franchised CB is more like $8 million.

Not sure what the franchise rate for a CB will be this year because it depends on who signs what contracts in the offseason. It will be a minimum of $5 or $6 million... Consider that the best case scenario if we can't renegotiate.

Well it's gotta start somewhere - if he were to get something near $14 mil then it might get done. At least they're still talking - it's better than the Postons would have done!

I know may Redksins fans are distraught about Smoot and FA (including myself), but I have to say that, honestly speaking, Smoot will not get as good a deal as he is getting with the Redksins.

The Redksins are offering him top-ten money for CB. This for a CB that has never made a pro bowl appearance. If you look at the top 10 CB in the league, you can see a pattern of that being a prerequisite.

Also, Smoot has never been placed against the number 1 receiver consistently, which is why we bought in a pro bowl CB (Springs). Freddie better have a coke and a smile, because even some Redksin-haters I know admit that he is being outrageous in his demands.

I firmly believe that he knows this, as well as his agent. Therefore, I think his "buddies", Deon and Champ, have convinced him that he is in a losing organization, and shuld look to go to a "good" team or milk the one you have. Money is not going to be there IMO. Simly stated, Freedie is, and has been, looking to leave.

Lastly, the final game proved the GW does not need him. They shut down the premeir WR in the league w/o him. Clase closed!

So long, Freddie. I wish you well.

What would be the impact of palcing a "transition tag" on him?

i think if you say hes our franchise player it like basiclly says you cant be a free agent
or something like that
and weel pay u like 8 million

Please guys, lets be serious the guy has a hell of a attitude that fits well with what we are trying to do but he is definitely replaceable. If we made it w/out Champ, we can definitely do w/out Smoot. If all else falls put Sean Taylor other teams best receiver. For him to turn down 10 million is ridiculous, so i think we should let the "door hit him, where the good lord split him". lol

Well if we tag him it will be the average of the top 5 paid in the league and we all know that price went up last year...8 mil sounds about right...up from 6 last year!

I think BigPig might be on to something. What is the impact of putting the transition tag on Smoot? Is that still around?

BigPig wrote:I think his "buddies", Deon and Champ, have convinced him that he is in a losing organization, and shuld look to go to a "good" team or milk the one you have. Money is not going to be there IMO.

I agree.

He will not shine in another defensive scheme. This is a BIG mistake for him.

BigPig wrote:Sim(p)ly stated, Freedie is, and has been, looking to leave.

I disagree.

I sincerely feel that he likes it here but he has become greedy under the good advice of his loving "buddies". He still is guided by them. Too bad, I thought he was a smarter guy. He has not realised that this is not Danny and Vinny's say anymore, it is Joe's and GW say.

As "Dirty Harry" Callahan said it in Magnum Force:

"A man's got to know his limitations."

I like Fred Smoot but I think Gregg Wms would be okay with a bigger CB -- a guy who can blitz and hit the QB hard, stop the run and even if they can't cover as well as Smoot -- not a big deal, Taylor is there to help out.

I'd take the 10 mil off the table, we can use the money on a stud DE or WR instead...we need those two positions more than we need Smoot...I think.

First off I love Freddy, and I hope he stays. Now he is nuts if he thinks the Skins will pay more than they paid Springs. Freddy sign up for the 10 mill it's more than enough.

The 10 million signing bunus is for how many years ???

A Transition player must be offered a minimum of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player's position or 120% of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.

The 2004 numbers for a franchise and transition CB were:
$6.5M and $5.7M, respectively.

If the Skins are looking to sign a couple of OL, a couple of WRs and maybe a DE (in addition to keeping others liek Pierce), I doubt they could take the load of a $6M contract for a #2 CB. So, tagging Smoot is not an option. And I seriously doubt the Skins go any higher than a $10M bonus, because a #2 CB isn't worth anything more.

My guess: Smoot is gone.

ITS GREED , show me the money, its a fair offer, let him walk, he won't get that kind of money on the open market, maybe he can go to Denver and play with Champ.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/function ... 2524-9724r

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The unprecedented size of the franchise tag for cornerbacks, announced yesterday at the NFL Players Association's annual news conference, ensures the Washington Redskins won't place the tag on cornerback Fred Smoot.

It wasn't clear in recent weeks how seriously the Redskins considered the option as team officials played coy and coach Joe Gibbs repeatedly said such discussions were yet to be held. However, vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said last night Smoot definitely won't get the tag at a record $8.816 million.

DEHog wrote:Well if we tag him it will be the average of the top 5 paid in the league and we all know that price went up last year...8 mil sounds about right...up from 6 last year!

... yep, Bailey's contract is responsible fr a lot of the increase.

The difference between a transition tag and a franchise tag is clearly laid out in the free agency section.

The monetary difference between the two is that a franchise tag averages the top 5 salaries for their number, the transition tag uses the top 10. obviously compensation on a Franchise player is greater than that for a transitional tag.

As I've stated repeatedly since this whole thing started... if Fred Smoot thinks he's worth more than the fair offer that he's already been made... then i don't care what he's said in the past, I don't care how much of a core Redskin he has been... he is now pulling a CB.

Which means that being a Redskin is suddenly not nearly as iportant as getting paid.

Which means everything he has ever said about being a Skin for life is just pure BS. It's easy to say that when you're in the middle of a contract... you have no choice.

But when the team makes you an offer that is not only fair, it's excessive, then how on earth can you say that you want to be a Redskin for life?

I fully understand that what the media writes can't be taken as any more than conjecture, so you never really know what has and what hasn't been said. But if Smoot honestly feels like he'd rather get paid, and he Skins offerd him a fair contract and he STILL goes elsewhere... how on earth can anyone believe that he always wanted to be a Redskin?

I love Fred Smoot.

I'm really not feelin' Fred 'Champ' Smoot.

I think the Boss is right in pointing out that Fred has actually been offered an excessive contract as a reward for being a good player and as an incentive to stay!!

This makes it simple really! If he checks the market then I think he's most likely not coming back. I do not think this group wants players who do not want to be Redskins first.

The Patriots have been very lucky finding players who put the team first and other teams are trying to use this. Admittedly, this might be difficult to keep going if they win another SB (there will be some players looking for some "mo money!") but it has been working.

I hope Fred stays but we will be good next year with or without him. I would be surprised to see him tagged - he's not a vital piece!

Which means that being a Redskin is suddenly not nearly as important as getting paid.

You have to remember, this is a business. While it is conceivable that a player would take less money to sign with a particular team, if the difference is $2-4 M, you can't blame the player for taking the money. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's different because Smoot can be just as happy with $8M and he could be with $12M (I think that's what he thinks he can get). But $4M is a LOT of money. It can't be ignored. This may be his only chance in his career and life to sign a contract worth this much money; so, don't blame Smoot for wanting to maximize the value of that contract.

gundo wrote:... so, don't blame Smoot for wanting to maximize the value of that contract.

at the expense of other players in the current cap salary regime?

Let him test the market! Reality will strike soon and hard.

Let him go, he's not worth the money he seeks. GW will find another replacement. Champ who, Smoot who??

Deion what ?
I agree. If the grass is surely greener on the other side of the fence, let him eat them weeds.

gundo wrote:

Which means that being a Redskin is suddenly not nearly as important as getting paid.

You have to remember, this is a business. While it is conceivable that a player would take less money to sign with a particular team, if the difference is $2-4 M, you can't blame the player for taking the money. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's different because Smoot can be just as happy with $8M and he could be with $12M (I think that's what he thinks he can get). But $4M is a LOT of money. It can't be ignored. This may be his only chance in his career and life to sign a contract worth this much money; so, don't blame Smoot for wanting to maximize the value of that contract.

I don't blame him and won't hold it against him, but once he starts testing those free agent waters, good riddance as far as I'm concerned. I want players playing for us who LOVE this team and it's fans. That means players who are willing to sacrifice a little for the good of the team.