New contract for DE Smith in the works

pakowitz · 04-25-2008, 10:47 PM

Saints DE Will Smith has opted not to attend the team’s offseason workouts thus far in an expression of his desire for a new contract, but our source in New Orleans says negotiations have not been contentious and there’s reason to believe a deal will be agreed to in the near future. The Saints have a history of locking up key players with long-term deals and rarely lose one of their own because of contract negotiations gone awry. Just last year New Orleans signed DE Charles Grant to a seven-year, $63 million deal after he had voiced his displeasure when the club initially used the franchise tag on him. That said, the team’s front office does not want to look like a pushover that’s willing to dole out megadeals to anyone who asks for one. The Saints view Smith, however, as a player who has earned it. He has averaged nearly 8½ sacks in his four seasons and will be paid a salary of about $1 million for the ’08 season, which is a relative bargain for a player of his caliber. The Saints are committed to crafting a new contract, and the process could speed up following the Vikings’ signing of DE Jared Allen to a six-year, $74 million deal. That provides a ceiling for the terms of Smith’s next agreement. Allen, who entered the league in 2004, the same year as Smith, has averaged almost 2½ sacks per season more than Smith.

04-25-2008, 10:47 PM	#1
pakowitz The Dark Overlord Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: dirty south Posts: 3,450	New contract for DE Smith in the works Saints DE Will Smith has opted not to attend the team’s offseason workouts thus far in an expression of his desire for a new contract, but our source in New Orleans says negotiations have not been contentious and there’s reason to believe a deal will be agreed to in the near future. The Saints have a history of locking up key players with long-term deals and rarely lose one of their own because of contract negotiations gone awry. Just last year New Orleans signed DE Charles Grant to a seven-year, $63 million deal after he had voiced his displeasure when the club initially used the franchise tag on him. That said, the team’s front office does not want to look like a pushover that’s willing to dole out megadeals to anyone who asks for one. The Saints view Smith, however, as a player who has earned it. He has averaged nearly 8½ sacks in his four seasons and will be paid a salary of about $1 million for the ’08 season, which is a relative bargain for a player of his caliber. The Saints are committed to crafting a new contract, and the process could speed up following the Vikings’ signing of DE Jared Allen to a six-year, $74 million deal. That provides a ceiling for the terms of Smith’s next agreement. Allen, who entered the league in 2004, the same year as Smith, has averaged almost 2½ sacks per season more than Smith.
	I Live In Beastmode!