I would keep Pierce over Smoot.

Last year I would have said that they would need to keep Smoot because shutdown corners, or anything close, are few and far between, but I don't honestly believe we need shutdown corners. I think Springs is good enough to lock down one side of the field and you can plug people in on the other side. I think they should definitely focus on Pierce.

That said. 6 years, 30M isn't that much money. I think, if that's what he's asking for, they should consider giving it to him.

As for Champ. Can you blame him for wanting to win? Last I checked, he's in the playoffs, we're not. I don't blame Champ for not wanting to be here. I'm just glad he fell off a bit since he left because he deserves whatever he gets. I don't think Redskins fans should be upset with him, we got a great running back for him and he got what he wanted.

[QUOTE=jdlea]Last year I would have said that they would need to keep Smoot because shutdown corners, or anything close, are few and far between, but I don't honestly believe we need shutdown corners. I think Springs is good enough to lock down one side of the field and you can plug people in on the other side. I think they should definitely focus on Pierce.

That said. 6 years, 30M isn't that much money. I think, if that's what he's asking for, they should consider giving it to him.

As for Champ. Can you blame him for wanting to win? Last I checked, he's in the playoffs, we're not. I don't blame Champ for not wanting to be here. I'm just glad he fell off a bit since he left because he deserves whatever he gets. I don't think Redskins fans should be upset with him, we got a great running back for him and he got what he wanted.[/QUOTE]


I'm upset because I bought his jersey, and then he left! J/K

It's not like the Broncos just walked into the playoffs. They barely got in.

What bothers me about Champ is that he's always talking bad about the franchise, the owner, the front office. I mean, I understand that he wanted to leave, but he doesn't need to talk shit.

As for the great running back we got, unfortunately there are alot of people here who think that our RB isn't great! :confused:

Springs at the other corner who has to be top 10 CB already really lowers the teams need to retain him and as much as I would like him back if he asks too for too much then he becomes a luxary we cannot afford. If we just had Smoot and Wilds for example then he could ask the moon.

The other issue is how important is he in the locker room? he was here when the locker room just gave up last year and the year before and if he is sick of the loosing then maybe he should have stepped up to do something about it before .....

....Just a thought...

in the daily press today, samuels said that he wanted to be here, and was confident that he and the organization would work something out. i interpret that as he might be willing to restructure, that could be big.

Lets hope Samuels restructures his contract - it certainly sounds like he would like to stay.

Contrast that with Smoot's message, which almost seems to be a polar opposite.

I think they should let Smoot test the FA market - why not? If he can get top 10 money somewhere else, he should take it.

Where's the HOPE SO option! 8)

If Smoot wants to stay great I'm all for it. I've never been in favor of begging, pleading or shaming someone in staying where they don't want to. If Smoot leaves for greener pastures, so be it, but if he leaves for an NFC east team, I hope he's prepared to deal with Thomas or Jansen planting him in the dirt on running plays.

i really don't care if we lose him. he had a good rookie season then i thought he dropped off . this year he played pretty good but i feel it was the defense more than it was smoots individual talent. if the skins can re-sign him for a good deal then thats ok but i wouldn't give him a huge contract.

The entire key to the resurgence of the Redskins defense has been the same ethic that defined all of Joe Gibbs' past teams - that players play as a team with a vibrant spirit of unity. Anyone as the players point out can make a play at any time. It makes it exciting for everyone. They were all hyped to try to get the #1 defense ranking for example - a team goal. Gregg Williams said that the players were almost disappointed the other night when the final defensive meeting of the year ended - they wanted it to continue! That is the spirit that informed all of Joe Gibbs' teams and what made them great.

So prostrating yourself to try to re-sign a player who may ask for too much money, who isn't thinking of the team first - that doesn't fly in Redskin land under Joe Gibbs. That's why they traded Champ Bailey. And if Smoot wants to demand excessive money, really we let him go, no question. Gregg Williams says he would be happy to start Wilds, he thinks so highly of him, and Rufus Brown is a player as well, and Walt Harris is at the least very solid.

Mark Maske said the other night on Channel 5 that he thinks Smoot will be re-signed. Perhaps Maske thinks that Smoot is playing games with public negotiating by being pessimistic about re-signing. He has earned a solid paycheck, but not a bank breaking one.

[QUOTE=Shane]The entire key to the resurgence of the Redskins defense has been the same ethic that defined all of Joe Gibbs' past teams - that players play as a team with a vibrant spirit of unity. Anyone as the players point out can make a play at any time. It makes it exciting for everyone. They were all hyped to try to get the #1 defense ranking for example - a team goal. Gregg Williams said that the players were almost disappointed the other night when the final defensive meeting of the year ended - they wanted it to continue! That is the spirit that informed all of Joe Gibbs' teams and what made them great.

So prostrating yourself to try to re-sign a player who may ask for too much money, who isn't thinking of the team first - that doesn't fly in Redskin land under Joe Gibbs. That's why they traded Champ Bailey. And if Smoot wants to demand excessive money, really we let him go, no question. Gregg Williams says he would be happy to start Wilds, he thinks so highly of him, and Rufus Brown is a player as well, and Walt Harris is at the least very solid.

Mark Maske said the other night on Channel 5 that he thinks Smoot will be re-signed. Perhaps Maske thinks that Smoot is playing games with public negotiating by being pessimistic about re-signing. He has earned a solid paycheck, but not a bank breaking one.[/QUOTE]


Nice post Shane. I agree w/ everything you said.

I hope we do re-sign Smoot but not for Champ money. I'll just have to get a Pierce jersey, (whether Smoot stays or not). We didn't lose a step against the Vikings without Fred and I think the defense will be top notch next season too. Pierce was a huge part of that, he was the leader of the D. And from what he has said, he expects to be back next season. That's a true Skin!!!!

[QUOTE=Shane]The entire key to the resurgence of the Redskins defense has been the same ethic that defined all of Joe Gibbs' past teams - that players play as a team with a vibrant spirit of unity.[/QUOTE]

Why didn't that work with the offense?

Hello fellow 'Skins fans. I am currently a subscriber to the Warpath newspaper and I figured I would jump aboard. It has hard to find Redskins fans where I live (Indianapolis), so I am excited to be around fellow fans for once in a long time.

As far as the Smoot situation, I can honestly say that I wouldn't miss him if he leaves. Smoot plays with heart and provides positive energy to the defense, but he doesn't command the type of money that he desires. He is not and will never be a "shut-down corner" and IMO there are only a very few players, if any, that can claim such a description. If I'm not mistaken, wasn't it Springs (when healthy) who drew the assignments to cover the oppositions #1 receiver, leaving Smoot to handle the #2? If he leaves, we will be ok. The physical Walt Harris is a solid replacement to play the other side with Springs. Plus with the advent of Sean Taylor, it is going to take pressure of of the corners anyway. Smoot needs to get off his "Deion Sanders wannabe" horse, and get back to earth and realize the type of player he really is.

Teams paid ridiculous amount of money for CB's in 2004. Do you think Denver feels like Bailey played up to the level they paid him? It seems like everytime I watch Denver play, Bailey is getting burned left and right. Also, Troy Vincent was switched to Free Safety, Antoine Winfield had an average season....I really doubt any team is willing to pay top dollar for a CB in 2005. Especially in Smoot's calibur. Don't get me wrong, I would love to keep Smoot around, but he is not worth the money he's asking for.