Quote:
Originally Posted by mooby
This. Part of being the first man to ever come back from a previous career-ending injury most likely means the amount of people who believe you can come back from it is a small circle at best. Like if he had failed, nobody would've been shocked just because of the severity.
I'm sure he used it as motivation and I'm happy he proved us all wrong, but it still doesn't change our need to get younger and better. Nobody still knows if his leg can still hold up under an entire season.
I hope after he retires he doesn't hold any ill will against us for our position, I think maybe he just got caught up in the moment.
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I don't read acrimony, I think he was just telling the truth. The primary concern of the FO--long term durability--about his return, proved sound, as he was not durable and a shell of his former self, which was hardly some superstar. Love Smith character, but he isn't an elite player before injury. Another horrible THE DAN move time to move on from. Truth though is Smith held the power because of HORRIBLE contract THE DAN gave him. Guy's getting paid like a superstar and he isn't.
He is being selfish wanting to still play. He is not durable or dependable because of durability, and simply won't got the distance for a full season. But he can afford to talk the smack because he holds Washington FT hostage with HORRIBLE contract. Guy still has $5.4M signing bonus against cap next two years, $10.8M to cut him this year, money he's been paid. He is due 18.75M ad 20.75M this year next, salary in addition to bonus, and counts 24.4M and 26.4M against cap next two years. What he is really talking about in these statements he made is not last year, but the next two years. Of course Washington doesn't want to pay a guy who is above average at best, even if never injured, 70% of what Mahomes, Wilson, Rodgers, etc. make. Even with no injury Smith isn't worth even half of what he's making. You could have Tyrod Taylor or one of 6 other mediocre QBs for $6-$10M a year and have a better QB than Smith. As the season draws close, it becomes musical chairs, and guys face the reality of how little they make NOT playing at all. Early in FA, they are comparing their "small" $6M offer to Rodgers, Wilson, etc. Late in FA, they are comparing $4M to $100K as an announcer or some other real-world job.
It will only take one bad slide or hit, no matter how healthy Smith looks, for him to become functionally useless like he was late in year. But what does he care? You think he isn't going to call Washington's bluff and try and cash out for another $50.8M over next two years and hobble off into the sunset? You cut Smith, he isn't worth $5M on the open market. They have to cut him, unless he agrees to 75% or more pay cut, but why should he? Smarter for him to get cut and be a backup on a contender and walk away with a ring. HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE contract, even if he never gets hurt. Be two more years before we're fully free of all THE DAN'S horrible meddling. And yet another example of why you draft a QB, make sure he's flourishing in your building before paying King's Ransom contracts. The huge cost of QBs, especially guaranteed money, is yet another argument for draft and develop.