Getlteman, Rivera, Smitty

So, if "the status quo isn't good enough", what in the hell is this? This is improvement?

 

Okay, I get the Gettleman marking his territory, and don't like it either but there is wording in that deal somewhere that triggers his future money and that money is huge. Even more than this year. I think it's fair to say that we can reasonably expect Smitty's skills to erode at an unknown rate, so that is even less production per dollar.

Something had to be done. What I'm really unhappy with is what should have been done, was not.

 

No, there isn't, and no, it isn't.

No, nothing had to be done. You've posted three times in this thread suggesting that keeping him for 2014 somehow guarantees '15 and '16 where there is nothing in any article, nothing in any news report, and nothing on spotrac indicating anything of the sort. Not only that, but the suggestion doesn't even make sense because I can't think of any NFL contract that ever included such a thing. He does have a player option for 2016 and his contract does get more expensive in 2015, but 2015 is when you privately approach him about a pay cut or restructured extension.

Now if you have some information contrary to every single thing the media has been publishing about the Steve Smith situation then feel free to share it, but somehow I really doubt that you have exclusive knowledge of his contract that no one else on the planet has managed to notice. Barring that, there is absolutely no financial reason that the Panthers should be making this move. It actually hurts the cap rather than helps it, not only in 2014 but 2015 as well.

 

I think I know where you're getting confused. Steve's $3 million in guaranteed salary voids if a $3 million option bonus is exercised, and the option bonus would kick $2 million of that into future seasons. That's not a big deal, and there is nothing whatsoever in the contract about 2015 or 2016 becoming guaranteed. So cutting Steve Smith now forces the team to eat $2 million extra than he would cost just by keeping him, and even if he's designated a June 1st cut it's still no benefit financially when you add in the cost of replacing him. Cutting him after this season is the only thing that would have made financial sense. Cutting him now makes absolutely no fucking sense financially.

 

Is this a Smith for Nicks thing? Hmm...and btw FUCK them for removing the jerseys from the website. Classless. I like Nicks when Nicks cares but not sure that is an upgrade...probably not.

 

Inexcusably classless.

 

I know its a VERY tough call but maybe we should have let Hardy test the market. Our DEs are making ridiculious coin. And we will have to pay Cam soon.

 

I would have let Hardy walk and drafted his replacement at 28. I realize we're not a playoff team in '13 without him, but the fact remains he only dominates against inferior players.

 

Agree at least with the franchise its a one year rental at worst. Plus, should keep him motivated. Pass rushers make money so its not a terrible move.

 

Although I have picked up something as far as learning how to interpret these contracts over the years, I'm just not real interested in the dollar details of the NFL or pro sports in general. So I'm intentionally vague when referring to them, since I'm no authority and can't claim to know.

I saw something somewhere, around combine time when this came up. Don't know where, don't want to hunt until I find it because it may not have even been accurate. Wouldn't we need to see the actual contract to really know what they say, anyway? Who sees that? Not me for damn sure. I only see what people "say" on the net or over the air.

Bottom line, he needed to restructure at some point because he wasn't gonna be paid what was in that deal. When he restructured, someone's choice and not mine. If he even would.

There was a podcast with Newton from 750AM I think, that addressed the 5 million in guaranteed money. Also maybe Rosinski or the host said, or someone, that he has stated on the air more than once that he would not re-do his deal or take a paycut or something along those lines.

I really think this was coming this year or next and get that. I also get that Smitty can choose how to react. Refuse to negotiate, take a release, retire, whatever. What I don't get is the logic of all that is not money related. I don't get Gettleman's bumbling in front of the media about a player who is under contract's status. I don't get how cutting Smitty makes us better in any way, etc. How can that be a football decision given what we have on the roster? That part sucks and I am pretty pissed about it like many others. Me, personally, hoped that he'd massage his contract to let him play in '14 and retire without it fucking up the team's budget.

That locker room stuff, I have no clue and no way to know, but we were 12-4 so how bad could it have been?