Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure

Danno · 02-18-2013, 08:01 AM

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter
Saints will ask LB Jonathan Vilma and DE Will Smith, two players the NFL linked to its bounty scandal, to restructure their contracts.
https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter

No surprise. I kinda saw that coming after the Payton interview.

I agree.

lee909 · 02-18-2013, 08:13 AM

Not surprised about Vilma but it will be interesting to see what happens with Smith.I hope it's not any longer than a year otherwise its going to be the same next year.

Danno · 02-18-2013, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by lee909

Not surprised about Vilma but it will be interesting to see what happens with Smith.I hope it's not any longer than a year otherwise its going to be the same next year.

I think re-signing Smith is a good thing. He's our best DE (albeit Jordan is closing fast) and I'm of the opinion you don't cut your best player at a position unless you have better options.

We don't know if Hicks can be that 16 game DE in this league yet. Having a veteran like Smith around will only help. Smith played that 3-4 DE spot quite a bit under GW and on certain packages under Spags, so the coaches do know what he brings to the table.

He may not be the final answer at DE, but we damn sure could do a lot worse than Will Smith.

Seer1 · 02-18-2013, 08:14 AM

Good! Win-win for the Saints.

One sentence and Richard Cranium still had to add in a bounty dig...

halloween 65 · 02-18-2013, 08:34 AM

How are we ever going to change the D with the same players that under-perform. Bring in some new-blood at those positions. Even when Williams was the DC if it were not for the turnovers in 09 our D still stunk! I have a hard time believing we will get better keeping players well past their prime. In a 3-4 Vilma will be eaten alive, Smith will be kept for depth purposes but I don't think he's starting material in a 3-4 or a 4-3 either. I truly love my Saints and only want the best for us and them but being blind and actually being able to see are 2 totally different things.

alleycat_126 · 02-19-2013, 05:44 AM

Originally Posted by halloween 65

How are we ever going to change the D with the same players that under-perform. Bring in some new-blood at those positions. Even when Williams was the DC if it were not for the turnovers in 09 our D still stunk! I have a hard time believing we will get better keeping players well past their prime. In a 3-4 Vilma will be eaten alive, Smith will be kept for depth purposes but I don't think he's starting material in a 3-4 or a 4-3 either. I truly love my Saints and only want the best for us and them but being blind and actually being able to see are 2 totally different things.

A full blow up and retool of this Defense is a long, time consuming process....San Fran ran through a whole coaching staff before it got to that type of defensive front. If you look at the state of this team, we just don't have the time to blow this d all the way up, and then redo it before BREES skill set diminishes. I understand wanting to keep some Veterans around..... And too I bet there are still some spite issues.... Some I would love to have you around when I stick it to this B*&^% Goodell.... You should be talking about who he didn't ask to restructure and why...... Harper..... Greer..... those guys are making big money to......

halloween 65 · 02-18-2013, 08:39 AM

Also, might as well sign Ellis to a huge contract for all the ole gang can be here. Why not??

Danno · 02-18-2013, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by halloween 65

Also, might as well sign Ellis to a huge contract for all the ole gang can be here. Why not??

We aren't giving them a huge raise, we're asking them to restructure, which I hope and assume includes a reduction in yearly salary.

When we sign or draft someone better, I'm all for releasing them.

CharityMike · 02-18-2013, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Danno

We aren't giving them a huge raise, we're asking them to restructure, which I hope and assume includes a reduction in yearly salary.

When we sign or draft someone better, I'm all for releasing them.

Well usually when you hear "restructure", that means change the way they will get there current contract money. No way in the world is Smith worth his contract.

Now if it would have said they will be asked to take a "reduction", that would be better. The contract would still be re-dun and could have still been structured to give the majority in bonus.

Danno · 02-18-2013, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by CharityMike

Well usually when you hear "restructure", that means change the way they will get there current contract money. No way in the world is Smith worth his contract.

Now if it would have said they will be asked to take a "reduction", that would be better. The contract would still be re-dun and could have still been structured to give the majority in bonus.

Very true. Smith only has 2 years left on his contract and the cap hit is nearly the same for each year so I don't see how restructuring helps us at all. It has to be a renegotiation or extension at a reduced price.

His 2013 cap hit is 14.5 million.
His 2014 cap hit is 13.9 million.
He's an UFA in 2015.

Simply restructuring doesn't help us at all. I suspect its an extension at a lower rate.

Vima is in the last year of his contract so a simple restructuring doesn't help anyone anywhere anyhow.

02-18-2013, 08:01 AM	#1
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,747	Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter Saints will ask LB Jonathan Vilma and DE Will Smith, two players the NFL linked to its bounty scandal, to restructure their contracts. https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter No surprise. I kinda saw that coming after the Payton interview. I agree. RockyMountainSaint likes this.

02-18-2013, 08:18 AM	#3
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,747	Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure Originally Posted by lee909 Not surprised about Vilma but it will be interesting to see what happens with Smith.I hope it's not any longer than a year otherwise its going to be the same next year. I think re-signing Smith is a good thing. He's our best DE (albeit Jordan is closing fast) and I'm of the opinion you don't cut your best player at a position unless you have better options. We don't know if Hicks can be that 16 game DE in this league yet. Having a veteran like Smith around will only help. Smith played that 3-4 DE spot quite a bit under GW and on certain packages under Spags, so the coaches do know what he brings to the table. He may not be the final answer at DE, but we damn sure could do a lot worse than Will Smith.

02-18-2013, 08:14 AM	#4
Seer1 Site Donor Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bayou Bayfield CO Posts: 4,722	Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure Good! Win-win for the Saints. One sentence and Richard Cranium still had to add in a bounty dig...

02-18-2013, 08:34 AM	#5
halloween 65 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Grand Haven, Michigan by way of a little Mississippi River town in Louisiana Posts: 5,893	Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure How are we ever going to change the D with the same players that under-perform. Bring in some new-blood at those positions. Even when Williams was the DC if it were not for the turnovers in 09 our D still stunk! I have a hard time believing we will get better keeping players well past their prime. In a 3-4 Vilma will be eaten alive, Smith will be kept for depth purposes but I don't think he's starting material in a 3-4 or a 4-3 either. I truly love my Saints and only want the best for us and them but being blind and actually being able to see are 2 totally different things. FinSaint and K Major like this.

02-19-2013, 05:44 AM	#6
alleycat_126 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Katy, Tx a suburb of Houston Posts: 2,089	Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure Originally Posted by halloween 65 How are we ever going to change the D with the same players that under-perform. Bring in some new-blood at those positions. Even when Williams was the DC if it were not for the turnovers in 09 our D still stunk! I have a hard time believing we will get better keeping players well past their prime. In a 3-4 Vilma will be eaten alive, Smith will be kept for depth purposes but I don't think he's starting material in a 3-4 or a 4-3 either. I truly love my Saints and only want the best for us and them but being blind and actually being able to see are 2 totally different things. A full blow up and retool of this Defense is a long, time consuming process....San Fran ran through a whole coaching staff before it got to that type of defensive front. If you look at the state of this team, we just don't have the time to blow this d all the way up, and then redo it before BREES skill set diminishes. I understand wanting to keep some Veterans around..... And too I bet there are still some spite issues.... Some I would love to have you around when I stick it to this B*&^% Goodell.... You should be talking about who he didn't ask to restructure and why...... Harper..... Greer..... those guys are making big money to......

02-18-2013, 08:13 AM	#2
lee909 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Watford England Posts: 8,855 Blog Entries: 1	Not surprised about Vilma but it will be interesting to see what happens with Smith.I hope it's not any longer than a year otherwise its going to be the same next year.

02-18-2013, 08:39 AM	#7
halloween 65 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Grand Haven, Michigan by way of a little Mississippi River town in Louisiana Posts: 5,893	Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure Also, might as well sign Ellis to a huge contract for all the ole gang can be here. Why not??

02-18-2013, 08:42 AM	#8
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,747	Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure Originally Posted by halloween 65 Also, might as well sign Ellis to a huge contract for all the ole gang can be here. Why not?? We aren't giving them a huge raise, we're asking them to restructure, which I hope and assume includes a reduction in yearly salary. When we sign or draft someone better, I'm all for releasing them.

02-18-2013, 10:41 AM	#9
CharityMike Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mid City, New Orleans Posts: 3,556	Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure Originally Posted by Danno We aren't giving them a huge raise, we're asking them to restructure, which I hope and assume includes a reduction in yearly salary. When we sign or draft someone better, I'm all for releasing them. Well usually when you hear "restructure", that means change the way they will get there current contract money. No way in the world is Smith worth his contract. Now if it would have said they will be asked to take a "reduction", that would be better. The contract would still be re-dun and could have still been structured to give the majority in bonus.

02-18-2013, 10:54 AM	#10
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,747	Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure Originally Posted by CharityMike Well usually when you hear "restructure", that means change the way they will get there current contract money. No way in the world is Smith worth his contract. Now if it would have said they will be asked to take a "reduction", that would be better. The contract would still be re-dun and could have still been structured to give the majority in bonus. Very true. Smith only has 2 years left on his contract and the cap hit is nearly the same for each year so I don't see how restructuring helps us at all. It has to be a renegotiation or extension at a reduced price. His 2013 cap hit is 14.5 million. His 2014 cap hit is 13.9 million. He's an UFA in 2015. Simply restructuring doesn't help us at all. I suspect its an extension at a lower rate. Vima is in the last year of his contract so a simple restructuring doesn't help anyone anywhere anyhow.

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