[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by BrudLee

Smoot was one of the top CB's in free agency. There isn't a better alternative in his price range out there. Our DB's will be worse for his leaving.

That being said - and here's a good piece of knowledge for draft day as well - best available doesn't mean great. It doesn't mean good, or awesome, or irreplaceable. It means best available, and that shouldn't affect overall value. For years, this team has overpaid for the "best available" talent, without worrying how it would affect our overall pay structure. Is Smoot measurably better than Springs? Not really, so we offered them similar deals. He got more elsewhere, so we lost him. But since we have already determined that we have 1 corner of similar value, and 1 corner who we have a great deal of faith in (Harris), and 1 promising youngster (Wilds), and ADE-Freaking-JIMOH, we decided to explore the future without breaking our bank. That's a good thing, and that's what I celebrate - not the loss of a player I enjoyed watching and who helped our team every week.

Yes we have been the kings of buying "the best available" without regard for actual value. Bruce Smith comes to mind...