NFL - Sports Rumors

Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:18 pm EDT

Saints DE Smith skipping offseason workouts

By Joe Zedalis

Will Smith

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New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith, apparently unhappy that the team has yet to restructure his soon-to-expire contract by giving him an extension and raise, is not participating in the team's off-season conditioning program, Coach Sean Payton said Wednedsay.

Smith, who watched last year as fellow lineman Charles Grant signed a seven-year contract that could eventually be worth $63 million, played for a base salary of $695,000 in 2007.

The club's first-round draft choice in 2004, Smith's original contract earned him $20 million in bonuses, and by reaching certain incentives, Smith is scheduled to earn just more than a million this season in the last year of his contract.

Source: Times-PicayuneNew Window

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30 Comments

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  1. Steely Mcbeam
    1. Posted by Steely Mcbeam Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:10 pm EDT

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    I wish I could sit out of work for awhile.
  2. DougM
    2. Posted by DougM Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    One of the best Ohio State products in recent years- The man deserves to get paid. He is one of the best outside rushers in the league and is getting paid less than a rookie.
  3. New York King
    3. Posted by New York King Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:28 pm EDT

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    He should get the money , but not doing it this way , if he don't get the money then he need to do his job and sign with a team that will pay him a lot , he should not become another Chad Johnson....
    Lets Go JETS!!!!!!!!!!!
  4. B-DERRTY
    4. Posted by B-DERRTY Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:09 pm EDT

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    i'm sorry, but did yall notice his production this past season. i guess he was waiting on his actual contract year to have a good season.
  5. mike k
    5. Posted by mike k Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    the browns should go after him. GO BROWNS WHOOP
  6. Shawn27
    6. Posted by Shawn27 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    He's hardly Chad Johnson. He hasn't gone on radio or television shows and openly tried to force a trade. He's sitting out of an offseason conditioning program which is likely voluntary. This is no different than not working overtime at work to "help out" when it's very busy. I love the way everyone always wants to complain about NFL players doing things they do on their own jobs. The truth is, it's simple jealousy. If the majority of fans put in as much work as an AVERAGE NFL player does at their own jobs, they'd be millionaires, too. The man has a right to be paid a fair wage for his level of talent. If the Saints aren't willing to do that, they should expect to have an unhappy camper.
  7. yankeesrule2009
    7. Posted by yankeesrule2009 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

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    if you were decent they'd pay you
  8. adam h
    8. Posted by adam h Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    who really cares any way, it's just entertainment. If he shows up and I'm entertained great, if not, thats cool too. I really don't care about these types of stories. Play for the money you signed for and shut up.
  9. greg
    9. Posted by greg Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:27 pm EDT

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    I come on here day in and day out i always read what people put on here, it seems to me that alot of people always puts down the saints. I bet when the saints was winning in 2006 i bet that all of you jumped on that band wagon, but when they had a so so year like last year yall started booing them again, either you are a die hard saints fan or a want to be saints fan.I have been a saints fan for well over 40 years and i will be one until i die. Let's see how we will do this coming year we have added alot of good people to go along with what we had. I think that the players have a goal in mind, and the coaches have a gold in mind winning is the only goal they should have .The saints has spend some good money on players, and i don't see them letting smith go any where, they just maybe waiting on the draft to talk with smith......who that now talking bout them saints!!!!!
  10. Sean C
    10. Posted by Sean C Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:10 pm EDT

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    Its the Raiders fault. After signing sub-par Tommy Kelly to a ridiculous amount of money, every defensive lineman who is better than him is saying, why aren't I making that much?
  11. Oldman
    11. Posted by Oldman Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:44 pm EDT

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    Show Will da Money
  12. cajunman
    12. Posted by cajunman Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:48 pm EDT

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    will smith need the money for one reason he play hard
  13. landon a
    13. Posted by landon a Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:34 pm EDT

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    I am guessing the average education for most of these posters are GED level at best? C'mon folks, learn how to write! Have you ever heard of a thing called "spell check"?
    Smith does deserve to get paid - he is an amazing athlete and really good for the club house! Saints in 08 for sure!!!
  14. david
    14. Posted by david Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    play better,get paid better.
  15. lazy
    15. Posted by lazy Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:30 pm EDT

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    the saints would cut him and not feel the least bit guilty about it (see Joe Horn). Hold out for your money Willie
  16. wendy a
    16. Posted by wendy a Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    ter
  17. wendy a
    17. Posted by wendy a Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    Big Sarge says, He'll have a new contract before the regular season kicks off. 2 to 1 says that this statement by the Picayune came from a source outside of New Orleans media base and they are regretting printing it. I firmly believe that our local media doesn't harass our celebrities or cause team/player conflicts. Thats the job of you bloggers because our city is classier than that.
    GEAUX SAINTS ! Saints vs Colts in the Super bowl !
  18. Brandon A
    18. Posted by Brandon A Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    he's pretty good and probably deserves more than he makes but he signed a contract so he should shut up and play for the money he agreed to. if he has a good year he'll get paid accordingly when he hits the free agent market. he's definitely not one of the top 5 in the league so i don't think he'll get really rich when the time comes but someone will probably throw way more money than he's worth at him in an attempt to get better.
  19. L
    19. Posted by L Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:36 pm EDT

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    This is becoming a recurring problem. The Saints aren't at fault here, neither is Will Smith, or even the NFL. It's the NBA and MLB giving their players gauranteed money that has NFL players with their hands out year after year. It's crippled franchises in the NBA and MLB and it's starting to do the same in the NFL (i.e. Texans' David Carr & Browns' Tim Couch/Courtney Brown). The NFL is losing parity within the league.
  20. Dub
    20. Posted by Dub Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    he already got his money up front 20 million signing bonus that why is base salary is low. He will get paid more after this year but shut up and play.
  21. Stephone W
    21. Posted by Stephone W Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:41 pm EDT

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    Will Smith signed a contract that he need to fullfill. i think it's about the Saints signing Bobby McCray from Jacksonville Jaguars that's going to push him or Grant for the starting job and he figure Charles already got paid and this guy could make the Saint's go in a driffrent direction in the 2009 season to keep from paying the money he will be looking for.
  22. MIKE C
    22. Posted by MIKE C Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    Will you gotta get to the QB before you get the contract. The Saints had a great stat year against the run last year. Cuz no one ran the ball against them! They had all day to sit in the pocket & throw the deep ball! Escpecially to who ever Jason David was covering. Big money DE get Big Time sacks! Step it up Will & you'll get Paid!!!!!! Geaux Saints!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  23. mudbug 419
    23. Posted by mudbug 419 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:49 pm EDT

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    If you have a contract, honor it!!!. The Saints need to recognize his efforts and work on a NEW contract but until it isd completed, Smith should abide by the original one. $ 20 million certainly is not small change
  24. Darryl S
    24. Posted by Darryl S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    Will was the sack leader for the Saints last year and Grant got like 2 so the Saints have no choice but to pay him and they will.

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