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View Full Version : DE Antonio Smith Signed, 5 yrs $12.5 Million Guaranteed


bono
02-28-2009, 02:30 PM
NFL Network saying Antonio Smith just signed 5 years, $35mil with $12.5 mil guaranteed

Keith
02-28-2009, 03:02 PM
Adam Schefter (http://blogs.nfl.com/category/adam-schefter/)
DE Smith signs with Texans (http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/28/de-smith-signs-with-texans/)

Posted: Adam Schefter (http://blogs.nfl.com/category/adam-schefter/) | Adam Schefter | Tags: Antonio Smith (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/antonio-smith/), Arizona Cardinals (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/arizona-cardinals/), Houton Texans (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/houton-texans/)
Cardinals free-agent defensive end Antonio Smith is now a member of the Texans. Smith signed a five-year, $35 million deal that includes $12.5 million in guarantees on Saturday.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/28/de-smith-signs-with-texans/

More salary info:
Smith, a part-time starter in Arizona, will earn $15.5 million in the first year, $19.4 million in the first two years, and $24 million over the first three.

http://blogs.nbcsports.com/home/archives/2009/02/antonio-smith-signs-with-texan.html

Smith came to Houston on Friday night and spent Saturday meeting with Texans coach Gary Kubiak and his assistants while general manager Rick Smith negotiated a five-year, $35 million contract with Antonio Smith's agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Of that, $12.5 million is guaranteed.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6286086.html

painekiller
02-28-2009, 03:22 PM
http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/28/de-smith-signs-with-texans/

More salary info:

http://blogs.nbcsports.com/home/archives/2009/02/antonio-smith-signs-with-texan.html



http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6286086.html

Well I hope the coaches know what they are doing, cause this smells of an overpayment. An average player at best getting danged good money.

nunusguy
02-28-2009, 03:33 PM
Well I hope the coaches know what they are doing, cause this smells of an overpayment. An average player at best getting danged good money.

Honestly I don't want to be negative, but that's also basically my sentiments about this deal.
However, there is hope because Smith & Kubiak so far have been consistantly disappointing with their FA selections and the simple law of averages tells us thats bound to turn around at some point. Maybe this is the guy who exceeds expectations instead of falling short of them ?

bckey
02-28-2009, 03:43 PM
I just hope that the Texans pay Demeco more than this. Anything less will be insulting. I'm good with the signing but I want the players that have been here and given the Texans 110% to get paid. Keep em happy.

WMH
02-28-2009, 03:49 PM
Call me clueless....BUT....is $12.5MM guarranteed really all that out of whack? Comparing to some of the other contracts that are getting thrown around right now, I had guessed that it would come in somewhere in the $15MM range in order to land him....

IMO, this doesn't seem all that bad, gives us an LDE to be a more productive option than Weaver, and gives us alot more options come April.

painekiller
02-28-2009, 03:59 PM
Call me clueless....BUT....is $12.5MM guarranteed really all that out of whack? Comparing to some of the other contracts that are getting thrown around right now, I had guessed that it would come in somewhere in the $15MM range in order to land him....

IMO, this doesn't seem all that bad, gives us an LDE to be a more productive option than Weaver, and gives us alot more options come April.

I would rather see guys like Cochran (hurt all the time) and Bulman get raises then an underacheiver get over $10M. I know this contract has to do with Bush and his time in Arizona, so this signing needs to be on his shoulders.

BTW giving Ryans and Robinson the money big is now something this team has to do. Ryans has been to the Pro Bowl and Dunta was on the verge when he got hurt. I mean they gave the back up TE a nice payday, pay your two defensive leaders.

Bigtinylittle
02-28-2009, 04:04 PM
Call me clueless....BUT....is $12.5MM guarranteed really all that out of whack? Comparing to some of the other contracts that are getting thrown around right now, I had guessed that it would come in somewhere in the $15MM range in order to land him....

IMO, this doesn't seem all that bad, gives us an LDE to be a more productive option than Weaver, and gives us alot more options come April.

I am very optimistic about this signing. Supposedly he can move inside on passing downs. If he does that, we don't even need to THINK about a tackle with our first day picks. Or a DE. And because we resigned Wilson, we don't need a first day pick there either.

As a result, we now have more freedom to go with BPA in the draft, whether we move down or not.

dalemurphy
02-28-2009, 04:05 PM
I would rather see guys like Cochran (hurt all the time) and Bulman get raises then an underacheiver get over $10M. I know this contract has to do with Bush and his time in Arizona, so this signing needs to be on his shoulders.

BTW giving Ryans and Robinson the money big is now something this team has to do. Ryans has been to the Pro Bowl and Dunta was on the verge when he got hurt. I mean they gave the back up TE a nice payday, pay your two defensive leaders.

Why would you call Smith an "underachiever"? He was a 5th round project that improved vastly the past 2 1/2 years. Arizona fans and coaches consider him a hard worker and a guy that gives good effort. Furthermore, he played extremely well in the playoffs.

Antonio Smith had to wait for 5 years and produce before he got paid. That's the nature of the NFL. If Cochran and Bulman produce the next year or two then they'll get a payday as well. If the Texans start handing out raises to its ERFAs and RFAs, then that would put them at a competitive disadvantage with the rest of the NFL.

dalemurphy
02-28-2009, 04:09 PM
I am very optimistic about this signing. Supposedly he can move inside on passing downs. If he does that, we don't even need to THINK about a tackle with our first day picks. Or a DE. And because we resigned Wilson, we don't need a first day pick there either.

As a result, we now have more freedom to go with BPA in the draft, whether we move down or not.

This draft is pretty wild. We're going to go into it without any glaring needs to address and yet we should have at least 8 picks. As a Texan fan, this is a very, very foreign feeling.

I know we need to address safety, Rb, interior Ol at some point- but we have talent in all those players which would allow us the flexibility of addressing it later in the draft. I know a lot of people are gungho about getting a LB with the first pick (which is fine with me) but I actually think we have a strong and deep group: Demeco, Adibi, Diles, Bentley, Thompson, Coley

barrett
02-28-2009, 04:16 PM
By the nature of FA, you cannot sign a young starter without overpaying.

Fonz the Boss
02-28-2009, 04:36 PM
This signing clears some questions in the draft.... With Antonio Smith getting that ridiculous contract dont expect the Texans to draft Everett Brown, Brian Orakpo, or even Aaron Maybin. Now that they have their pass rusher (even though Im not too optimistic about his future) it makes sense to trade down and get an extra pick. Patriots seem like a good candidate seeing that they own three 2nd round picks. I say the Texans trade their 15th overall pick to the Patriots for the Patriots' 23rd overall pick and the last of their three 2nd round picks..... It makes sense for the Patriots if they want to land Brown, Orakpo or Maybin. One of those three will definitely be there at 15.

Arky
02-28-2009, 06:56 PM
Wow, guess Smith will be canceling the visits to the other teams... :eek: Just heard about this right now...

I"m optimistic about this, too... avg. of 4.5 sacks/yr over the last two, a young man coming into his prime - I think this will (hopefully) separate him from the older, injury prone busts this team has regrettably signed in the past...

painekiller
02-28-2009, 07:54 PM
If Cochran and Bulman produce the next year or two then they'll get a payday as well. If the Texans start handing out raises to its ERFAs and RFAs, then that would put them at a competitive disadvantage with the rest of the NFL.

I agree with this statement. And I am sorry if it came across I want to pre bump the guys who are homegrown. I think Cochran and Bulman can be as effective as this FA, and like many times, I might be wrong about the new guy. I hope I am wrong about him, and he answers our need.

WMH
02-28-2009, 09:11 PM
I hope I am wrong about him, and he answers our need.

I think we are ALL hopeful of this....

Nconroe
02-28-2009, 09:19 PM
I guess my first impression was its a bit high, but I think FA's all are high, thus building through draft is best way to get better. Hopefully Antonio will be the DE we need and we can now draft BPA with a bunch of draft picks.

popanot
02-28-2009, 10:49 PM
Gee... I guess we aren't getting Peppers now.




;):D

James
03-01-2009, 12:20 AM
I dont think this signing is a guarantee that we wouldn't take a top flight DE. Smith can theoretically slip to the inside for certain downs, a great depth of talent on the DL just helps you overcome wear and tear (see NYG two years ago).

coloradodude
03-01-2009, 01:22 AM
This is a very good signing.

Too much money? Yes...no...I really don't care because it's someone elses Monopoly money. Now let's address the linebackers.

jcp
03-01-2009, 08:09 AM
Seems like a very frontloaded contract if 15.5 million actually comes off the books in year one. Maybe they are trying to dry up 09 cap space to the benefit of future years.

I'm no cap guru though...maybe Keith can dissect the cap ramifications.

Keith
03-01-2009, 10:16 AM
I want to know more details on the contract, but first blush, this is about what I expected him to sign for. Good defensive ends get PAID in this league.

Weaver was given $12 million guaranteed, too, but recall that his guarantee was split in half - $6 million signing bonus and $6 million option bonus due a year later. Hopfeully I'll get better confirmation at some point as to how Smith's guarantee adds up.

If the Texans get the Smith that played well in the playoffs, then this will be a great deal. If he has trouble adapting, then look out.

I think hopes ought to be much higher than just in thinking Smith is a Weaver clone. Weaver was coming over from a 3-4 system and was never thought of as much of a disruptive penetrator (at least that I can recall). Smith is re-teaming with a familiar face in Frank Bush. The Cards mixed things up (Smith played all over it seems), so perhaps the transition to the Texans won't be as daunting.

Some quotes (http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=5169) from the sheet at the official:
on playing for Texans defensive coordinator Frank Bush) “I was excited to play for coach (Bush) again because from the beginning of my career, he always kept me grounded. He always kept me hungry, making me work. ...

(on the defense’s style of play in Houston compared to the Arizona defense) “Basically, the only difference will be that I will be a left end now, solely a left end. They basically play almost the same style as far as when you talk technique, speed up the field but still using your hands; not necessarily a reading defense and not necessarily an up-the-field defense.” ...

WMH
03-01-2009, 10:35 AM
I want to know more details on the contract, but first blush, this is about what I expected him to sign for. Good defensive ends get PAID in this league.

Weaver was given $12 million guaranteed, too, but recall that his guarantee was split in half - $6 million signing bonus and $6 million option bonus due a year later. Hopfeully I'll get better confirmation at some point as to how Smith's guarantee adds up.

If the Texans get the Smith that played well in the playoffs, then this will be a great deal. If he has trouble adapting, then look out.

I think hopes ought to be much higher than just in thinking Smith is a Weaver clone. Weaver was coming over from a 3-4 system and was never thought of as much of a disruptive penetrator (at least that I can recall). Smith is re-teaming with a familiar face in Frank Bush. The Cards mixed things up (Smith played all over it seems), so perhaps the transition to the Texans won't be as daunting.

Some quotes (http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=5169) from the sheet at the official:

Mclain's blog indicates that the guarrantee is all in the signing bonus..?..?


"Smith didn't cost a lot, either. His five-year deal is worth $35 million, but the only guarantee is his $12.5 million signing bonus. "

Keith
03-01-2009, 11:34 AM
Mclain's blog indicates that the guarrantee is all in the signing bonus..?..?


"Smith didn't cost a lot, either. His five-year deal is worth $35 million, but the only guarantee is his $12.5 million signing bonus. "

Not sure yet whether McClain is right. His track record is less than perfect when it comes to this stuff.

That said, it very well could be all signing bonus. It could also be roster bonus. It could be a combo of sign, option, and roster. Sometimes the media reports take a shorthand version (or are given one from the agent) when discussing these amounts.

ETA - Also forgot to mention that the Texans could guarantee his base salary for 2009 (and beyond). Once I get the base salary info (hopefully early next week), then we'll be better able to piece this deal together.

mussop
03-01-2009, 11:54 AM
Gee... I guess we aren't getting Peppers now.




;):D

Were still getting him! Hes going to play OLB and put his hand down on passing downs. :cool:

NBT
03-01-2009, 12:54 PM
We had two chances to get Peppers, slim & none.

mussop
03-01-2009, 02:18 PM
We had two chances to get Peppers, slim & none.

Once we get a 1st and 3rd from Buffalo for OD we can trade OUR 1st and third for Peppers. It will be like trading OD for Peppers and moving up 4 slots in the draft in the 1st and 3rd. You see its all going to come together. :o

dadmg
03-02-2009, 12:26 PM
In a fit of wild procrastination, I actually read a Peter King column (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/03/01/freeagency/3.html) this morning. And while I don't give a damn about Peter King's non-existent player evaluation skills, I did find a quote in his blurb about Antonio Smith to be quite interesting:

I think the best deal of the weekend was Antonio Smith, the versatile defensive lineman for the Cardinals -- and the best defensive lineman they had, one of their former coaches told me at the Super Bowl (emphasis added by dadmg) -- going to the Texans for $7 million per. "I think it's going to be an electrifying year for our defensive line. We [Mario Williams and Smith] are going to be a great pair. We're going to cause a lot of havoc for offensive linemen,'' Smith said.

This is not a good signing by the Texans for the money. It's a great signing.

I hold Darnell Dockett in pretty high regard, so to hear an Arizona coach consider Antonio their best lineman does boost my opinion of him a bit. Hopefully his play will convince me to come all the way around.

RunninRaven
03-02-2009, 05:20 PM
I've read several places where Arizona fans claim that Smith was double teamed a great deal this past season, much like Mario was these last two years. Playing opposite M. Williams, I think Antonio will get a nice breath of fresh air realizing he only has one man to beat on pretty much every down. Could be a lot of fun to watch.

dalemurphy
03-02-2009, 06:40 PM
I've read several places where Arizona fans claim that Smith was double teamed a great deal this past season, much like Mario was these last two years. Playing opposite M. Williams, I think Antonio will get a nice breath of fresh air realizing he only has one man to beat on pretty much every down. Could be a lot of fun to watch.

I'm very excited about the Smith signing. However, I'm not crazy enough to expect teams to slide their protections away from Mario because Smith is on the other side.

coloradodude
03-03-2009, 12:52 AM
Smith has a great burst. I agree that this is an excellent signing.

What about the LB's? Who are we targeting?

RunninRaven
03-03-2009, 07:02 AM
I'm very excited about the Smith signing. However, I'm not crazy enough to expect teams to slide their protections away from Mario because Smith is on the other side.

That was exactly my point. A. Smith will only have one man to beat on most plays because teams will be focusing on Mario.

nunusguy
03-03-2009, 07:40 AM
Smith has a great burst. I agree that this is an excellent signing.

But I dunno, where's the production ? Didn't Tim Bulman (who got "NO STARTS IN 2008") have as many sacks as Smith ?

cadams
03-03-2009, 08:30 AM
But I dunno, where's the production ? Didn't Tim Bulman (who got "NO STARTS IN 2008") have as many sacks as Smith ?

not sure on that stat, but Smith slid over to dt in passing situations last year i believe, which will absolutely cut down on sacks.

jppaul
03-03-2009, 09:59 AM
Hopefully, without lessening the pressure...

Keith
03-04-2009, 08:35 PM
Smith's contract details look pretty straightforward from what I can tell. Here are the base salaries:

2009 $3,000,000
2010 $3,900,000
2011 $4,600,000
2012 $5,500,000
2013 $6,000,000

Add them up to a simple $12.5 million signing bonus, and the numbers seem to fall in line with the media reports. I'll try to get these into the cap page later tonight or tomorrow.