Smoot picked the wrong time to be haggling over money, especially considering how Williams has shown that he can pretty much plug in any guy and his system will have success. I'd love to see Smoot come back, but 14 mil is waaaay too much for him. 12 sounds a bit generous and I don't see the Skins budging too much, I mean what will they have left to give Ade Jimoh?

The only way Smoot could have garnered a 14 mil signing bonus from the Skins would have been if A) he played for another team and B) we struggled in coverage this year and C) he was one of the top free agent corners. Snyder doesn't pay that much for home grown talent, other than Lavar, and Snyder has shown that he'd much rather spend big bucks on free agents and rookies.

It is early in negotiations, and I don't begrudge Smoot at all for trying to max out his value. But I don't see another team giving him that much money up front, he's asking for more than we gave Springs and I'd have a hard time saying that he's better than Springs right now. Hopefully he re-signs, he's a warrior and a Skin.

In the end, speaking on emotion only. I just wish things would get resolved. I wish either party budge just enough for him to come back. The intangibles he brings to the team are almost as valuable as his talent level.

I would really hate to see Smoot go. I must admit at first I thought he was all talk...but he really seemed to improve, especially when Williams came into town. I like his style and I hope we can get him signed...however I feel after the year Pierce has had...it's very important to keep him...

Looks at these bonuses:

Griffin - 10.8 million
Washington - 9.5 million
Springs - 13.3 million

Are you telling me that Smoot is a better player than these three guys? Forget about it.

If he wants 14 in guaranteed money, he should make a pro-bowl or something.

Let Smoot talk his smack somewhere else.

Regarding Bailey, they were willing to give him what he wanted - he didn't want to play for us and made that pretty clear up front.

I also feel his agent may be pushing him harder. I understand SMoot can be saying this. I hope we get the deal done. I think part of the problem is Smoot has seen so many people come in and get truckloads of money he think's it his shot.

Now - are we given the chance to match an offer? Or is he an UFA?

He will be a UFA and someone will pay for him. There are not a lot of high profile UFA CB's this year and someone needing one will pay. I really think we are making a mistake in nt paying i know its a lot. Our schedule favors our other CB's since the teams we play this year really do not have flashy number two's much less number one's. So we may be able to get away with it this year. But I want Smoot to be here, like many people do I'm sure.

I want Smoot to stay, but we need to start being more responsible with our cap space. I always liked Smoot because he always talked like he loved the Redskins. To be blunt, 10 million would be enough for me to stay a Redskin forever even if I was offered more. See, the problem is Smoot never worked outside the NFL so the numbers mean something very different in his head. He is living in a fantasy world. He way get the cash, but he missed the point about what a "true Redskin" is.

Smoot shouldn't be getting less than Springs. Period!

I tihnk it would be fair to offer him the same as Springs. Otherwise its a huge inslut to him. Springs had a great year this year but is also getting old. Smoot is still young and our own talent, I understand why he think he should get just a little more than springs.

I still think the main reason he wants so much isnt because he is worth that much, but becuase he was ripped off the first four years of his contract. I think he only made like two million over four years and now he needs to recoup that. He has been a cheap player for us so far.

Smoot wont sniff 14mil from anyone else the 10 mil we offered is very fair, he will come back to earth when he realizes nobody's going to give him that kind of money.

I truly hope smoot stays in DC. He's not worth TOO MUCH money, but is easily worth 14 mill contract. He knows the system and the players, he makes plays regularly and sacrifices his body unlike a Deion or many other corners. How much we pay friggin Deion? PAY SMOOT, WE WANT HIM BACK!!!
I know Dan is a rich guy, but hey I'd throw $20 in to keep Fred Smoot.
Is it illegal for fans to donate toward a signing bonus? I bet we could raise a million in fan donations to help keep smoot. Anyone else down?

its not a 14 million dollar contract, its a 14 million dollar bonus, and probably a 40 or 50 million dollar contract.

Im poor right now, he doesnt need my money, but if you do it and it keeps smoot, ill buy you a beer, lol

Here are the results of AP's All Pro voting for the cornerback position:
[INDENT]Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay, 17; Champ Bailey, Denver, and Lito Sheppard, Philadelphia, 15; Chris McAlister, Baltimore, 12; [COLOR=Red]Shawn Springs, Washington, 10[/COLOR]; Torry James, Cincinnati, 8; Nate Clements, Buffalo, 6; Dunta Robinson, Houston, 3; Dre' Bly, Detroit, 2; Gary Baxter, Baltimore, 1; Patrick Surtain, Miami, 1; Marcus Trufant, Seattle, 1; Andre Dyson, Tennessee, 1; Sam Madison, Miami, 1; Deshea Townsend, Pittsburgh, 1; [COLOR=Red]Fred Smoot, Washington, 1[/COLOR]; Antonio Winfield, Minnesota, 1.[/INDENT]If you believe these voters are knowledgeable (and given that they cover professional football for a living and I don't, I would make that assumption), Fred Smoot is anywhere from the 10th to the 17th best cornerback in the league. It's been reported that we've made an offer to him that would make him one of the 10 highest paid cornerbacks in the league. Draw your own conclusions.

Incidentally, Shawn Springs received the 5th highest number of votes, for those of you who think it would be unfair for Smoot to make less than Springs.

Theres no way Smoot right now is a better corner than Springs, therefore he doesn't deserve Springs money.