INDIANAPOLIS — So much for a quieter free agent season in Washington. The Redskins yesterday were on the verge of landing former Tennessee Titans cornerback Samari Rolle with a typically huge signing bonus, believed to be worth $15Â million, NFL sources said.
The two holdups apparently were Williams' need to assuage Redskins coach Joe Gibbs about Rolle's Feb. 15 arrest on a domestic assault charge and agent Peter Schaffer's focus on negotiations for two other clients, wide receiver Derrick Mason and defensive end Trevor Pryce. Rolle's deal, however, appeared virtually completed.
Gee, Rolle is good , but we could have spent the money on Smoot. I was hoping to draft his brother . I guess we will see how its going to play out the next few days. Thats a huge bouns.
15 million to Rolle, is better then 10 million to Smoot. If Williams is pushing for him, then I want him too. I trust Williams more then anyone right now! 5 million more (then they planned) to a better player who wants to be here.
I personally think if we go for a FA CB it should be Ken Lucas from Seattle. I dont think he would command such a high bonus and he is younger and better than Rolle IMO. By the way didnt Smoot want a 14 million bonus???? why would we give Rolle 15 million when Smoot is considered to be the better of the two (doesnt make much sense to me)...
I sincerely hope this isnt true. I was all for signing Rolle and letting Smoot go bc I assumed that Rolle would be a lot less expensive due to the fact that he is older and has had off field problems recently. I cannot believe we'd give him a 15 million dollar signing bonus. If that's the case then why not just give Fred the 14 he wants? He's been with us for years (remember that thing called continuity) and he's 3-4 years younger than Rolle. I don't agree with this at all.
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FatPat wrote:I personally think if we go for a FA CB it should be Ken Lucas from Seattle. I dont think he would command such a high bonus and he is younger and better than Rolle IMO. By the way didnt Smoot want a 14 million bonus???? why would we give Rolle 15 million when Smoot is considered to be the better of the two (doesnt make much sense to me)...
He wanted 14, but we only offered 10. If Williams is saying "let's give Rolle 15 million & not give Smoot 14 million".....I'm thinking there might be a reason!
How can you say you would pay Rolle 15 mil and not give Smoot 10 when he has invested blood, sweat, and tears for the redskins. I don't believe that Smoot is worth 10 mil, however what about all this "core" redskin talk that I hear on this board and from Joe Gibbs. I hear all this talk about "core" redskins and all we do is go and pay other free agents. Springs, Griffin, Washington, those were quality signings none of the got 15 mil for signing bonus. We have Antonio Pierce and Fred Smoot that go back to Marty ball, players that understand what it has been like to lose close games to go threw continuous changes in coaching, to see other players for other teams come in and get more money and we can't find a way to sign them. I love the redskins and it hurts to have to go through what we go through but a lot of this pain is self-inflicting.
murfdawg wrote:How can you say you would pay Rolle 15 mil and not give Smoot 10 when he has invested blood, sweat, and tears for the redskins. I don't believe that Smoot is worth 10 mil, however what about all this "core" redskin talk that I hear on this board and from Joe Gibbs. I hear all this talk about "core" redskins and all we do is go and pay other free agents. Springs, Griffin, Washington, those were quality signings none of the got 15 mil for signing bonus. We have Antonio Pierce and Fred Smoot that go back to Marty ball, players that understand what it has been like to lose close games to go threw continuous changes in coaching, to see other players for other teams come in and get more money and we can't find a way to sign them. I love the redskins and it hurts to have to go through what we go through but a lot of this pain is self-inflicting.
If he was a "core" Redskin he would've took the $10 million and been happy with it. Like I said, if Williams would rather give Rolle 15 million, rather then give Smoot 10, there must be a reason. Tom Brady took a pay-cut so the Patriots can use the money to improve the team, that's what this team needs.
If Smoot & Pierce have been here the longest, then they should know more then anyone that we need every penny we can get to help this team improve.
Despite denials from team officials, the Washington Redskins are pursuing a deal with cornerback Samari Rolle, one of six veterans released last week by the Tennessee Titans in a bloody salary cap purge, and a player who is among the most coveted free agents in the league.
Several league sources here said that Rolle, a seven-year veteran with superb cover skills, could command a signing bonus of as much as $15 million given the spending habits of Washington owner Daniel Snyder and the team's need for a cornerback.
One potential hangup to a contract agreement: Rolle was arrested two weeks ago on domestic assault charges and Redskins coach Joe Gibbs will have to be convinced that the veteran cornerback is not a character risk.
Rolle, 28, would replace Fred Smoot in the Redskins secondary. Smoot, one of the best young cornerbacks in the league, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday. He has already rejected a contract extension proposal that included a $10 million signing bonus and seems intent on testing the free agent market.
Signing with the Redskins would reunite Rolle with Gregg Williams, who was defensive coordinator in Tennessee during the cornerback's first three NFL seasons, and who holds the same position in Washington. Also, former Titans teammate Steve Jackson is coaching the Redskins safeties.
It's believed that Williams, who turned in one of the best coaching jobs in the NFL last season, is lobbying hard for the Redskins to acquire Rolle.
Despite a left knee injury that limited him to a career-low 11 appearances in 2004, Rolle is still viewed around the NFL as an aggressive "shut down" corner with several good years remaining. Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said he believes that Rolle is the top cornerback available as a free agent.
The former Florida State star, a second-round pick in the 1998 draft, has appeared in 100 games and started in 85 of them. He has 299 tackles, 23 interceptions, 66 passes defensed and 8½ sacks.
that would make perfect sense if Rolle was taking less than Smoot. But he is getting more. That doesn't help the team get more players. Why should Smoot and Pierce cheat themselves out of money. The Redskins pay other free agents anything they want but won't pay there own free agents and then paint this picture of the them as being selfish, me first, not Joe Gibbs type of players. I'm not buying that. The skins defense was #3 statically and agurably #1 and Fred Smoot and Pierce were apart of that not Rolle. So why not pay them. If we have 15 mil to give to Rolle why not give Smoot the 14 mil he wanted. As I said before I don't believe Smoot is worth 14 but the is no way in hell Rolle isn't worth 15.[/quote]
that would make perfect sense if Rolle was taking less than Smoot. But he is getting more. That doesn't help the team get more players. Why should Smoot and Pierce cheat themselves out of money. The Redskins pay other free agents anything they want but won't pay there own free agents and then paint this picture of the them as being selfish, me first, not Joe Gibbs type of players. I'm not buying that. The skins defense was #3 statistically and arguably #1 and Fred Smoot and Pierce were apart of that not Rolle. So why not pay them. If we have 15 mil to give to Rolle why not give Smoot the 14 mil he wanted. As I said before I don't believe Smoot is worth 14 but the is no way in hell Rolle is worth 15.
It is not very reassuring to the players who are on the team to see a veteran team player shafted by not giving him $14 and giving more to an incoming FA. That is how you promote disloyalty.
Now if BH is correct and it is bonuses as opposed to signing bonus then that is a huge difference. I still hate to lose Smoot, though. No other player has gutted it out like he has the last few years. This is the same guy who played, and played well, with a busted sternum.
Rolles good but if we're to pay someone 15 mil we might as well give the younger Smooty ihis 14 mil but then again, maybe the Redskins FO knows more than we do
I saw in a few articles at the end of the season that there was at least one coach that did not want Smoot back.
Negotiations seemed to drop, at least publicly. It was put out what he was offered and he said no. After that I didn't see much about any ongoing negotiations. Everything was at a stand still.
He seems like a good guy. He is definately motivated. All I can figure is that they think he is good (Good enough for a $10 mil bonus), but not good enough for $14 mil.
According to Scouts Inc., going into the 2004 season Rolle was ranked well ahead of Smoot. That along with Gregg Williams supposed push for Rolle has to make you think there must be some truth to it. Rolle has his own problems but I guess if you have to pay the same money, Rolle is better.
Yes, we can all agree that Rolle is better. There is no disagreement with that. However, if the signing bonus is actually $15 million, then we have learned nothing about our earlier ways. I still think we should be getting Ken Lucas or keep Smoot. Why do we always go for the big names and pay them more then the product they put on the field?
doctordrew wrote:Yes, we can all agree that Rolle is better. There is no disagreement with that. However, if the signing bonus is actually $15 million, then we have learned nothing about our earlier ways.
1) sounds like Greg Williams wants the guy bad... for a guy who brought our defense #3 in the league.. I'd give him what he wants... we can always improve on defense..
2) Rolle had 6.5 sacks in his first 3 seasons with Williams... Smoot hasn't had any under any system.. remeber Springs got all those calls this year... Maybe he imagines mixing up the blitz with Springs on one side and Rolle on the other... that helps the whole getting pressure on the QB problem... not solves... but helps...
3) again the $15 mil has been stated "up too"... I read somewhere les that he was seeking a $12 mil SB... maybe his agent came to the table with $15.... who knows... we'll have to wait and see... but if Rolle is healthy... I like what he brings to the table much more than what Smoot does...
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I've seen numerous posts staing they did not understand why we would pay the same money for Rolle. I don't think there's a consensus on Rolle vs. Smoot.
15 MIL is a mistake. I agree. I'd rather let both Smoot and Rolle go and pick up a second or third tier CB on the cheap. Everyone forgets, if you stay out of the big free agent bidding now you have several chances to fill holes much cheaper later on.
1. The draft. What if a great CB falls 15 or 20 spots and we can get him in the 2nd or 3rd round (like Smoot did)?
2. June 1st - every year teams cut good players trying to get under the cap on June 1st.
3. Trades - there are always some trades after the draft as teams try to fill holes the draft didn't.
Plus, it wouldn't be the end of the world going with the CB's we have now.
First time to post on here. I live in Illinois and the Chicago radio guys interviewed Antrelle down in Jacksonville over SB weekend. Antrelle said they aren't related but everyone thinks they are. Just a little FYI for you all.
I don't know. This seems like a retarded move to me. Why not just pay Smoot what he wanted instead of getting a guy who is older and coming off knee surgery? Maybe Mike Barrow needs company on the bench.
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