Page 1 of 1
Smith Still Leaning Towards Retirement... Duh!
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 6:00 pm
by Jake
B. Smith Still Leaning Toward Retirement
02/19/2004
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
Redskins defensive end Bruce Smith still has not officially announced his retirement from the NFL, but he continues to suggest that his playing days are over.
In an interview on the NFL Network on Wednesday evening, Smith reiterated many of the same remarks he made last December when he first announced he would “more than likely” retire at season’s end.
Smith, who will turn 41 in June, told the NFL Network’s Rich Eisen that he would “never say never” about returning for a 20th season.
But, added Smith, “I’ve played 19 years now and I’ve accomplished so many things at a team level and on a personal level.
"I think it would be befitting if I was able to walk away instead of going out crawling on one leg—I’ve had a lot of great memories, but I’m leaning towards that.”
When asked if the reason he hasn’t officially retired is that he still hopes to get another chance at winning a Super Bowl ring, Smith replied: “If you want a definitive answer right here on this show, I probably won’t give it to you. But in so many words, I’m going to take it easy and play golf.”
Smith made history on Dec. 7 in a Week 15 game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands when he sacked quarterback Jesse Palmer for his 199th career sack, breaking the NFL’s all-time sack record previously held by Reggie White.
Two weeks later, Smith sacked Chicago’s Rex Grossman at Soldier Field for his 200th career sack.
In the Dec. 27 season finale against Philadelphia at FedExField, the Redskins held a halftime ceremony honoring Smith and his all-time sack record.
The team presented him with a life-size plaque in his form listing many of the achievements the future Hall of Famer made during his 19-year career.
Smith signed with the Redskins in 2000 after 15 seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He recorded 29 of his 200 career sacks in his four-year tenure in Washington.
http://redskins.com/story.asp?ContentID=12551
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 6:05 pm
by ANT7088
He has to retire, we need the money
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 6:15 pm
by gibbsfan
ANT7088 wrote:He has to retire, we need the money
PLEASE BRUCE PLEASE WE NEED THE MONEY!!!!!!! YOU,RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 6:19 pm
by Jake
Well, I think we have to cut him to save 6.5 mil and then he can retire.
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 6:23 pm
by vze4s6xm
Bruce you can't possibly be waiting on a phone call from anyone. C'mon Bruce we need the money!
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:07 pm
by Steve Spurrier III
I don't know the exact numbers, but we save more money if he retires on his own instead of us cutting him. I bet he makes us cut him, but I sure hope he retires himself...
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:07 pm
by ii7-V7
Steve Spurrier III wrote:I don't know the exact numbers..
About 2 million!
Chad
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:09 pm
by ferryrich
thats $2m EXTRA.
If he retires we save about 6.5m, if he doesn't retire and we cut him, we're liable for 1.5m of that. We'd still save about 5m on the cap this season
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:25 pm
by Redskins4Life
Maybe Snyder should just give him a portion of his what would be salary and have him retire as a Redskin. That way we would save about 2 mil in cap room and he we wouldnt have a cap penalty next year for cutting him.
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:06 am
by JPFair
Maybe Dan Snyder could give him some "moving expenses" and then he can publicly retire.
Come on Bruce, do the right thing!!! Leave while you're still on top!
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:58 am
by BossHog
just to clear up a few things...
Cutting bruce guarantees us a savings of $6.5 million.. not $5M
Cutting him after june 1 (not really an option in our cap situation)... we'd save another 1.2 million of his remaining 2.335M signing bonus.
if he retires... we could save it all, which would be $6.5M + $2.335M = $8.885M
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 1:03 am
by skinsfaninroanoke
For Goshsakes... and the fans' sakes Bruce - retire - for an old Hokie fan - hang the #$@%*@#$ cleats up man...
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 1:10 am
by HogInBlacksburg
Isn't that like the fourth time you've told us that, Boss?
Since Bruce is 'leaning' toward retirement...maybe we should go down to the TPC at Va.Beach and push him into it.
Don't get me wrong, I've followed his entire career and he was awesome. The key word being 'was'.
Come on Bruce...help us out!
We could use that extra 2.335m.
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 1:12 am
by BossHog
he's gonnaact like every other second that he has been a Washington Redskin... like a high maintenance prima donna.
Why retire when he knows that we HAVE to cut him Waaaaay before he's going to 'make an announcement'?
It's worth a couple million bucks for him to wait it out.
Man... I'm just shocked that Bruce is thinking of himself.
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 1:19 am
by skinsfaninroanoke
Well - considering what I have seen of him the past two years I have to say that I have lost all respect for the man.
I was going to go watch his enshrinement into the Hall of Fame when he gets in... as a Hokie fan... but now... he can kiss my @#$
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 1:31 am
by HogInBlacksburg
I hear ya Rich. I met him at the TPC four years ago..right after we signed him. He was great. I was a little surprised at how down to earth he was. My group followed his around the course and we talked to him on almost every hole because we had to wait at each tee box. He asked us if we wanted to play through several times. He needs to retire to work on that golf game.
I agree with you though, he hasn't been a team player ...ever(now that I think about it). It's a shame the way he's acted so selfishly. He needed to retire a while ago.
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 8:59 am
by redskins56
let's be serious about Bru-u-u-u-u-u-u-uce... The only reason he played last season was to get his record. The team's win-loss record meant absolutely nothing to him. He didn't even practice half of the time at training camp, he just sat on Danny Boy's golf cart with Sonny, in his shorts, and under armour.
He's not playing for anybody next season. He was selfish last year, and he won't come back. I say we cut him next week if he hasn't announced his retirement. He put us in some bad spots by failing to put pressure on the QB most of last season, and now we should return the favor.
-Geepz
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:18 am
by SkinsChic
Okay Bruce it's time to sit your old butt down. You've done enough...and gotten your glory...now go, please. Leave us alone.
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:30 am
by DESkins
Maybe Danny Boy can pay him a small stipend to retire from the Redskins so that he can go back to Buffalo and sign a "one day contract" and officially retire as a Bill, which is, after all, the place where he played his only productive ball. I don't want him to retire as a Redskin, not after watching Cornelius Bennett and him on the sideline during SB XXIV talking about "they ain't that tough" while they were getting their @sses handed to them by the 'Skins!
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 10:04 am
by DieselFan
Good Riddance, Bruce. No more piling on the quarterback to receive the "gift" half-sacks.
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 11:00 am
by Wysocki
Bruce better not be put in the "Ring of Honor" either...(unless he retires now)
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 11:15 am
by NC43Hog
Instead of "Leaning Toward Retirement", I hope he "Falls Head First Into It" No offense Bruce, it's just time.
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:55 pm
by skinsfaninroanoke
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:55 pm
by hailskins666
Instead of "Leaning Toward Retirement", I hope he "Falls Head First Into It" No offense Bruce, it's just time.
ROTFALMAO nice...