[sportscurmudgeon]

I agree that Fred Smoot is soomeone that the Skins need to sign up to a long term deal. He is a solid CB.

But the defense that has been so effective this year has a lot of players who will be free agents at the end of the season and it might not be so smart to sign one of them if that means losing most if not all of the others.

Here is a partial list of the free agents that the Skins ought to want to re-sign:

Pierce: He is an unrestricted free agent this time around. Last summer, he took less money to come back for a one year deal and the promise he would get playing time in Gregg Williams' scheme. He got more than "some playing time" and has shown himself very well. He is going to cost a lot more than his "less than $1M" contract this year. If the Skins want him for a cheap cap number next year, they will have to shell out a hefty signing bonus and a long-term contract...

Marshall: All he does is what his job is to do. No flash; no style points.

Sale'va: Played far better than anyone had any reason to expect.

Haley: Who cares if he stays or goes? You can find people like him on the waiver wire any day of the week.

Clark: A solid if not spectacular safety. He is making league minimum now; that will not be the case next year.

Evans: Solid all year on the DL. He made a far bigger contribution than Philip Daniels did.

Here's the real sticky point. What shall we do with Ade Jimoh? Do we dare risk losing him to an NFC East team and have to face him TWICE a year? Talk about an important off-season decision...