Will Smith Not Happy

dberce1 · 05-04-2007, 09:08 AM

WILL SMITH NOT HAPPY

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Saints defensive end Will Smith is unhappy with his contract.

The development comes not long after the team's other starting defensive end, Charles Grant, received a seven-year, $63 million deal while limited by the franchise tag.

The difference? Grant played out his rookie contract before getting paid. Smith has two years remaining on his rookie deal, and he's due to make $695,000 in 2007 and $850,000 in 2008.

But he also has received bonus money intend to represent advance compensation for his services over the life of the deal.

With that said, this is one of the consequences of the explosion of the salary cap, and the resulting rise in player salaries. The question for the Saints is whether they will insist that Smith honor his deal, with the understanding that he'll be paid once his current contract expires.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

papz · 05-04-2007, 09:12 AM

He needs to wait his turn... he's going to get his it's just a matter of time. There's no need to air this out in the media. Bad move by Smith.

WhoDat205 · 05-04-2007, 09:14 AM

Of course he's not happy. He's only making 1.6 Mil over the next two years before bonuses and all.

Just once, I want to see the FO of any team in any league say, "you know what? F@#$ you! You signed a contract and you're going to honor it. We're not restructuring. Hold out if you want to, but you're not getting paid."

spkb25 · 05-04-2007, 09:19 AM

i think that after this season we should redo his contract. i can understand where he is coming from but at the same time he needs to play close to near the end of his contract. hopefully we sign him to a new one after this season.

WhoDat205 · 05-04-2007, 09:33 AM

I know it sounds like I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth, but you're right; smith does deserve the big contract more than Grant. And Grant's contract is going to (already has) come back bite us.

BRSaintsFan · 05-04-2007, 09:40 AM

Yeah he deserves it. From his point, if that is what C Grant is worth, then by Smith making the Pro Bowl, logic would say that he should be worth more. And as a player at a premier position, you know that if the team you are on wont pay, then someone will.

SapperSaint · 05-04-2007, 10:10 AM

WHODAT,

Stick to your guns. Yes, Smith is a good player....but whenin the hell are people going to HONOR what they say they are going to commit to doing something.

I'm totally in agreement with you that the FO needs to tell these guys, "Pi$$ off! You signed the contract, when your contract is up then we will talk about more money.".

biloxi-indian · 05-04-2007, 10:16 AM

As Smith is the RDE, he goes up against some of the most premiere LOT (why did we move Brown to LOT?) who are there to protect the blind side...of a right handed QB. As such, Smith's production is at a much higher level IMHO.

ScottF · 05-04-2007, 10:19 AM

I don't know what Smith actually said, so hate to over-generalize and group him with all of the other greedy players out there.

The bottom line is, he signed what he and his agent thought was a fair contract. Suddenly, the guy next to him gets a raise, and he's pissed.

Is he a bigger asset than Grant? Yes.
Does he deserve more money? Not yet.

My thought is that the FO knew this was coming when they signed Grant. The plan for next year might be to cut 3rd and 4th year dead weight and go with the cheaper option of playing our strong draft picks and FA signings.

scott406 · 05-04-2007, 10:44 AM

Of course Will Smith is unhappy. A lot of players are unhappy with there current contracts. With the cap incresing this year a lot of underserving players got fat deals(Ovie Mughelli FB, Atlanta Falcons a six-year contract worth $18 million . The deal includes a $5 million signing bonus.)
I am not saying C Grant is underserving, I am just saying he was paid what the market determined in a given year. In 2 years when Will Smith's contract is up he will be paid a lot more than Grant. The cap is expected to rise anoth 25 million over the next 2 years. The big contracts the Saints have now ( Brees, Bush, Grant, even Jason Daivd) are front loaded. Smith will get his and he deserves it.

05-04-2007, 09:08 AM	#1
dberce1 Chuck Liddells Right Hand Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Prairieville, Louisiana Posts: 1,227	Will Smith Not Happy WILL SMITH NOT HAPPY Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Saints defensive end Will Smith is unhappy with his contract. The development comes not long after the team's other starting defensive end, Charles Grant, received a seven-year, $63 million deal while limited by the franchise tag. The difference? Grant played out his rookie contract before getting paid. Smith has two years remaining on his rookie deal, and he's due to make $695,000 in 2007 and $850,000 in 2008. But he also has received bonus money intend to represent advance compensation for his services over the life of the deal. With that said, this is one of the consequences of the explosion of the salary cap, and the resulting rise in player salaries. The question for the Saints is whether they will insist that Smith honor his deal, with the understanding that he'll be paid once his current contract expires. http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

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05-04-2007, 09:12 AM	#2
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,753	He needs to wait his turn... he's going to get his it's just a matter of time. There's no need to air this out in the media. Bad move by Smith.

05-04-2007, 09:14 AM	#3
WhoDat205 Prediction Pain Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,082 Blog Entries: 2	Of course he's not happy. He's only making 1.6 Mil over the next two years before bonuses and all. Just once, I want to see the FO of any team in any league say, "you know what? F@#$ you! You signed a contract and you're going to honor it. We're not restructuring. Hold out if you want to, but you're not getting paid."

05-04-2007, 09:19 AM	#4
spkb25 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 13,101	i think that after this season we should redo his contract. i can understand where he is coming from but at the same time he needs to play close to near the end of his contract. hopefully we sign him to a new one after this season.

05-04-2007, 09:33 AM	#5
WhoDat205 Prediction Pain Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,082 Blog Entries: 2	I know it sounds like I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth, but you're right; smith does deserve the big contract more than Grant. And Grant's contract is going to (already has) come back bite us.

05-04-2007, 09:40 AM	#6
BRSaintsFan 100th Post Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 449	Yeah he deserves it. From his point, if that is what C Grant is worth, then by Smith making the Pro Bowl, logic would say that he should be worth more. And as a player at a premier position, you know that if the team you are on wont pay, then someone will.

05-04-2007, 10:10 AM	#7
SapperSaint Pink Nightmare Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 3,028 Blog Entries: 7	WHODAT, Stick to your guns. Yes, Smith is a good player....but whenin the hell are people going to HONOR what they say they are going to commit to doing something. I'm totally in agreement with you that the FO needs to tell these guys, "Pi$$ off! You signed the contract, when your contract is up then we will talk about more money.".

05-04-2007, 10:16 AM	#8
biloxi-indian Site Donor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 1,706	As Smith is the RDE, he goes up against some of the most premiere LOT (why did we move Brown to LOT?) who are there to protect the blind side...of a right handed QB. As such, Smith's production is at a much higher level IMHO.

05-04-2007, 10:19 AM	#9
ScottF 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6,324	I don't know what Smith actually said, so hate to over-generalize and group him with all of the other greedy players out there. The bottom line is, he signed what he and his agent thought was a fair contract. Suddenly, the guy next to him gets a raise, and he's pissed. Is he a bigger asset than Grant? Yes. Does he deserve more money? Not yet. My thought is that the FO knew this was coming when they signed Grant. The plan for next year might be to cut 3rd and 4th year dead weight and go with the cheaper option of playing our strong draft picks and FA signings.

05-04-2007, 10:44 AM	#10
scott406 Registered Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Westbank Posts: 72	Of course Will Smith is unhappy. A lot of players are unhappy with there current contracts. With the cap incresing this year a lot of underserving players got fat deals(Ovie Mughelli FB, Atlanta Falcons a six-year contract worth $18 million . The deal includes a $5 million signing bonus.) I am not saying C Grant is underserving, I am just saying he was paid what the market determined in a given year. In 2 years when Will Smith's contract is up he will be paid a lot more than Grant. The cap is expected to rise anoth 25 million over the next 2 years. The big contracts the Saints have now ( Brees, Bush, Grant, even Jason Daivd) are front loaded. Smith will get his and he deserves it.