News on Fred Smoot from St. Paul Pioneer-Press

[sportscurmudgeon]

Here's what Charlie Walters of the Pioneer-Press has to say about Smooty:

Team officials won't talk, but a little birdie says the reason Vikings controversial cornerback Fred Smoot was in full uniform on the Metrodome sideline but didn't play a down Sunday in the team's season-ending victory over the Chicago Bears is because he blatantly disregarded the team's curfew the night before, on New Year's Eve. Word is Smoot placed a couple of pillows under his bed's blanket as a decoy at the team hotel.

Smoot is under the impression the Vikings will have him back next season. But considering his alleged involvement in the Vikings' infamous Lake Minnetonka boating escapade, and the emergence of free agent Brian Williams, plus missing curfew, it will be interesting to see whether team owner Zygi Wilf tolerates Smoot for another season or makes a statement by trading him.

Working in Smoot's favor is that he received a $10.8 million signing bonus a year ago as part of a six-year contract, and the salary cap hit the Vikings would take by letting him go would be huge.