Fred Smoot Press

[hitmandm]

One of the biggest FA busts in a long time?

http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/sports/16317679.htm

Halfway out the Vikings' door

A look at five veteran players who might be moving on

BY DON SEEHOLZER

Pioneer Press

Staying home for the playoffs for the fifth time in the past six years, the Vikings will ring out another disappointing season Sunday when they face the St. Louis Rams at the Metrodome.

That game also could mark the end of the line for some players who will be making perhaps their final appearances in Vikings uniforms.

The team got an early start on its offseason housecleaning Sunday by releasing wide receiver Marcus Robinson.

Here's a capsule look at some other players who might be playing elsewhere in 2007:

QB BRAD JOHNSON

On paper, the 15-year veteran would appear to be the perfect transition quarterback until rookie Tarvaris Jackson proves he's ready to start. But too much has happened this season for the relationship to continue.

Benched three times before finally being replaced as the starter, Johnson has received a conspicuous lack of public support at times from coach Brad Childress and never did get an upgrade on this season's $1.2 million salary.

A good soldier, Johnson hasn't made any waves, and he is under contract through 2008, but it's hard to see him returning next season or the Vikings really wanting him back.

At 38, his starting days probably are behind him, but Johnson could appeal to teams in search of a veteran backup and likely will ask to be released after the season to explore those opportunities.

CB FRED SMOOT

For a little more than 18 minutes Thursday night at Green Bay, Smoot was in line to be the unlikely hero of a victory that saved the Vikings' season.

That 47-yard interception return for a touchdown wasn't enough, though, to keep his team from a 9-7 loss, and it won't be nearly enough to earn the veteran cornerback another season in Minnesota.

Signed to a six-year, $34 million contract in 2005, Smoot has had two seasons here marked by problems off the field and spotty play on it, and he would be riding the bench if rookie Cedric Griffin weren't sidelined by a neck stinger.

The size of his contract will make Smoot difficult to trade, but given the market for cornerbacks in the NFL, he will end up somewhere, and the Vikings will be rid of one of the bigger free-agent busts in recent league history.

[Stew]

Id take Smoot back, and Johnson as our back up QB. It would be like a class reunion, and everyone with a Smoot Jersey could take it out of the closet, dust off the mothballs and rock it again... not worrying about the measily 90 bucks they spent on a replica. If both Smoot and Johnson came cheap (Smoot would have to agree to the trade and then agree to a massive restructure of contract) then I would be all for both of them, and let me clarify..... Id want Brad Johnson ONLY as a back up... only as a back up. We could get Smooty Smoot, and if it was at a reasonable price, we could get that Eagles nickleback that everyone said was snubbed for the probowl. Now that is making the most of your money.

[Weganator]

come home smoot.... we will take u back for vet min....

[Aghar]

The size of his contract will make Smoot difficult to trade, but given the market for cornerbacks in the NFL, he will end up somewhere, and the Vikings will be rid of one of the bigger free-agent busts in recent league history.

Need we say anymore than this? :doh:

[Goaldeje]

The size of his contract will make Smoot difficult to trade, but given the market for cornerbacks in the NFL, he will end up somewhere, and the Vikings will be rid of one of the bigger free-agent busts in recent league history.


Yeah. Whatever. I believe that distinction goes to Archuleta. Morons.

[fdarugar]

Bring Freddie back, he would be a great nickle corner...I hope we make him one of our first targets in FA. I would be fine with an inexpensive corps of Hood/Rogers/Smoot/(insert anybody but Kenny Wright)

[Xameil]

why don't we do a swap...they take Arch we'll take Smooooooooot back.

[Geoff_K]

ONLY if he comes cheaply ... no big money for him ....

[jeronimobrat]

why don't we do a swap...they take Arch we'll take Smooooooooot back.

Not a bad idea...Really!

[casey56]

Id take Smoot back, and Johnson as our back up QB. It would be like a class reunion, and everyone with a Smoot Jersey could take it out of the closet, dust off the mothballs and rock it again... not worrying about the measily 90 bucks they spent on a replica. If both Smoot and Johnson came cheap (Smoot would have to agree to the trade and then agree to a massive restructure of contract) then I would be all for both of them, and let me clarify..... Id want Brad Johnson ONLY as a back up... only as a back up. We could get Smooty Smoot, and if it was at a reasonable price, we could get that Eagles nickleback that everyone said was snubbed for the probowl. Now that is making the most of your money.

I'd take Smoot back but I absolutely would not take Johnson back. After his antics in our MNF opener this year, I hate his guts. Watching him scream obscenities after that TD pass just pisses me off. Then there was the whole Skins jersey thing on the way out of FedEx. That guy's a world-class jerk.

[909997]

archuleta for smoot

[Xameil]

Not a bad idea...Really!


seems too logical doesn't it? ;)

[RedskinzOwnU]

I do hope we can bring Smoot back. He was a good corner for us. This could be an example of a player being taken out of the "right situation," and being put in the wrong one. He has a better chance of reviving his career here than anywher else. Minnesota thought he was a shut-down corner. I think any of us could have told them that he is not. But, he is a solid player, and if used properly can be very effective. GW clearly knew how to use him.

[scruffylookin]

I'd love to have Smooooooooooooooooot back.

Come on home Fred.

Loved that guy when he was here. He played with all his heart and was a funny guy off the field.

75% of the world is covered by water.
The rest is covered by Smoooooooooooooooooooooot. :)

[ChampSkinsFanatic]

We want him back, but does The Redskins organization?

[redsand521]

Then there was the whole Skins jersey thing on the way out of FedEx. That guy's a world-class jerk.

Huh? I think I missed that. What happened?

[gayformoss]

i would absolutly love to have smoot back

he is a true Redskin

[Joe Sick]

Can you guys imagine having Smoot and Portis doing press conferences together?

It would be funnier than half the stuff on network TV!

[Johaun]

Would love to have Smoot back. Leave the problems in MSP and come back home!

[Santana_89]

I'd be happy to have Smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot

back and give up Adam Archuleta in return.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I would take him back at a reasonable price too.

Does this outcome make anyone rethink their position that the Redskins were cheap when it came to re-signing him??

I think it's pretty clear now that they were offering him a pretty fair contract to stick with the team that drafted him...

I think it's pretty obvious that Pierce was offered fair value as well. Sorry if that hijacks the thread...just wanted to point that out!

[meek]

I'd be happy to have Smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot

back and give up Adam Archuleta in return.

I'm having trouble deciding who is worse...Smoot at tackling or AA in coverage. Now if only we could combine the two into one Smooletta, now that guy could be a heck of a player. Or maybe he wouldn't be able to cover or tackle. Its a gamble I know. :whoknows:

[Bang]

i would absolutly love to have smoot back

he is a true Redskin


Uh, yeah...

You know the Vikings offered him only 600k more to leave?
Thatr was the difference between his "true" team, and the one who courted him.

600k.. peanuts in NFL money.

Some "true redskin"... pennies bought his loyalty.

Screw Smoot.
I don't know why on earth you guys like to go diving back into the dumpster AFTER you take out the trash...

~Bang

[casey56]

Huh? I think I missed that. What happened?

I don't know whether he brought the jersey or some fan gave it to him, but on his way out of the stadium to the bus he was wearing a Brad Johnson Redskins jersey. Sort of a "screw you" to the organization.

[RedskinsSuperBowl21]

As long as he does NOT throw any parties involving boats and the potomac river:doh:

....but if he does COUNT ME IN!:cheers:

more on topic...he could very well be the veteran corner we need to help carlos rogers grow a pair..................of hands :laugh:

[Waleo32]

Yeah. Whatever. I believe that distinction goes to Archuleta. Morons.

Actually Smoot has been pretty bad over 2 seasons! AA has had only 1 year with us. Smoot is more mouth than talent!

[TotalRecall]

Fred Smoot sucks. Why take him back?? Jimoh would be a better corner than Smoot and that's no lie.

[monkforhall]

Love Smoot. He brings a swagger to the Defense that we need. He can also catch the ball. If we can generate a pass rush next year, he could be dangerous for him. Too bad it sounds like he will cost a lot. Oh well. SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!

[headhunter39]

i think if we could get a deal for him then go for it, but definetly not the 5.5 mil hes making now. the vikings pulled a dan snyder and they too got burned. hmm seems like a lot of gambling goes into signing new players

[headhunter39]

I don't know whether he brought the jersey or some fan gave it to him, but on his way out of the stadium to the bus he was wearing a Brad Johnson Redskins jersey. Sort of a "screw you" to the organization.

to ours or the vikings, because he said he likes the redskins

[trez]

I dunno...Carlos Rogers and Fred Smoot does NOT sound like an intimidating CB duo. It sounds terrible, actually. I'd take Freddie back as a nickel back.

[Murdering Purple Turds]

Fred Smoot sucks. Why take him back?? Jimoh would be a better corner than Smoot and that's no lie.

JIMOH?!?!? OK. I have NEVER EVER flamed anyone's thoughts on this board, but that is EASILY the most uninformed comment I have ever seen.

Jimoh sucks. Not as in sucks a little, like Leon Lett's SAT scores, but a LOT, like Ade Jimoh.

If you opened up a folding chair and put it in the secondary, you'd have a better chance that the opposing WR would trip over it and miss his route than that no-talent hack defending a pass.

I'm not defending Smoot, even though I think he WOULD be a good addition here...I mean at least he can tackle, unlike many of the others on our defense.

But please, the only starting job Ade Jimoh should have is the breakfast shift at Burger King.

[casey56]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6308972?FSO1&ATT=HMA


Smoot broke his jaw in 5 places in a car accident over the Christmas break. Yikes...

[Stew]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6308972?FSO1&ATT=HMA


Smoot broke his jaw in 5 places in a car accident over the Christmas break. Yikes...


Smoot and someone like Samuels would not only solidify the secondary, it would solidify its depth. You keep Springs, Start Samuels and Springs, or Samuels and Rogers, and rotate Springs and Smoot. We would have to restructure both Smoot and Springs, but we would be disgustingly frustrating to other teams offenses. I think that if Carter can continue into next season playing like he is playing now, then that will take some heat off of the Secondary.

[SkinsTerps26]

smoot just suffered a broken jaw in a car accident so who knows how he will recover, see big ben 06' season

[The Full Monty]

Yeah. Whatever. I believe that distinction goes to Archuleta. Morons.
At least Smoot got a pic...

[ChampSkinsFanatic]

smoot just suffered a broken jaw in a car accident so who knows how he will recover, see big ben 06' season

I just saw that to, I hope he gets better

[Taylor 21]

Just like AA didnt fit the defense here, Smoot didnt fit the defense over there. Bring him back to washington.

[isle-hawg]

Just like AA didnt fit the defense here, Smoot didnt fit the defense over there. Bring him back to washington.

Agree. Trotter came to us for big money only to be a flop and return to Philly to resume pro-bowl caliber play. It would ge a great pick up to get Smoot back (at a resonable price and NOT giving up any draft picks).

[Skins11]

I would loooooove some Smoot back. Some pressing problems at corner would be solved.

[Skins11]

smoot just suffered a broken jaw in a car accident so who knows how he will recover, see big ben 06' season

He'll be fine. Remember, Ben also had an appendectomy. Also, both of Ben's setbacks happened pretty soon before the season started.

[ozskin]

I love it Brad Johnson came back as our back up. I'd get some more wear out of my Johnson jersey.

[Chick_in_B&G]

I'm having trouble deciding who is worse...Smoot at tackling or AA in coverage. Now if only we could combine the two into one Smooletta, now that guy could be a heck of a player. Or maybe he wouldn't be able to cover or tackle. Its a gamble I know. :whoknows:

Considering our secondary gives up the most passing plays of 20 yards or more, I would say we need a lot of help in coverage. His tackling can be worked on and improved. Smoot was a good leader on the field and his teammates seemed to have liked him in the lockeroom.

[Chick_in_B&G]

I dunno...Carlos Rogers and Fred Smoot does NOT sound like an intimidating CB duo. It sounds terrible, actually. I'd take Freddie back as a nickel back.

No, Smoot isn't #1 CB material, but he could serve as a better nickelback over Kenny Wright. Actually, Smoot could push Carlos for the #2 spot since Rogers has still hasn't proved that he's a reliable starter.