Patriots sign Will Smith

Rusty13

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 3, 2007
5,351
I like it. The typical veteran, situational pass rusher that BB loves.
 

Ed Hillel

Wants to be startin somethin
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2007
43,559
Here
Hopefully he has something left in a limited role, and I don't think this can hurt. At one point the was an all-GALAXY DEFENDERRRRR (well, kind of). Spurts of that would be great.
 

Leather

given himself a skunk spot
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
28,451
Ed Hillel said:
Hopefully he has something left in a limited role, but I don't think this can hurt. At one point the was an all-GALAXY DEFENDERRRRR (well, kind of).
 
How good is he against a wild, wild, west coast offense?
 

Stitch01

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
18,155
Boston
Good depth signing.
 
Will be happy if we get slightly more than from Trevor Scott or Shaun Ellis for the vet min.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,298
deep inside Guido territory
I'm not counting on Smith for anything.  I'll be surprised if he makes it on the 53 to start the season.  If he is, that means they didn't address the need well enough in the draft.  If Will Smith is the 3rd DE come Miami, then BB did not do well enough to upgrade that position.
 
Dec 10, 2012
6,943
Only one year with less than 5.5 sacks (other than last year when he lost his ACL). Rob Ryan wanted him as an OLB in a 3-4.
 
 
I think he can make the team, the knee is the main question.
 
Can't wait for the season to start, Buenvenidos a Miami.
 

( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)

T&A
SoSH Member
Feb 9, 2010
5,302
Providence, RI
RedOctober3829 said:
I'm not counting on Smith for anything.  I'll be surprised if he makes it on the 53 to start the season.  If he is, that means they didn't address the need well enough in the draft.  If Will Smith is the 3rd DE come Miami, then BB did not do well enough to upgrade that position.
 
 
That's too harsh.  I think it's much more realistic to say that if Will Smith is the 3rd DE by the end of the season then either the position got wrecked with injury or a draft pick did not pan out.  There is nothing wrong with a rookie DE being on the Jamie Collins learning curve and not becoming a regular contributor until late in the season/playoffs.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,298
deep inside Guido territory
( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) said:
 
 
That's too harsh.  I think it's much more realistic to say that if Will Smith is the 3rd DE by the end of the season then either the position got wrecked with injury or a draft pick did not pan out.  There is nothing wrong with a rookie DE being on the Jamie Collins learning curve and not becoming a regular contributor until late in the season/playoffs.
I just don't trust Smith coming off that injury.  Bigger guys coming off ACLs at his age don't have a good track record.  I'm all for the risk, just don't be surprised if it doesn't pan out and this board is clamoring for the proverbial pass rusher yet again.  It needs to be properly addressed in the draft.  Will Smith is an Andre Carter replacement and nothing more.  I'm just not counting on the old Will Smith to show up.
 

( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)

T&A
SoSH Member
Feb 9, 2010
5,302
Providence, RI
I think we are basically saying the same thing.  I was just reacting to what you said about week 1.  Will Smith being the 3rd DE in week 1 and Will Smith being the 3rd DE in week 16 are two very different things, espcially if they are expecting to fill the position out with a rookie(s). 
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,298
deep inside Guido territory
( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) said:
I think we are basically saying the same thing.  I was just reacting to what you said about week 1.  Will Smith being the 3rd DE in week 1 and Will Smith being the 3rd DE in week 16 are two very different things, espcially if they are expecting to fill the position out with a rookie(s). 
Yes, I can see your point there. 
 

Granite Sox

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 6, 2003
5,055
The Granite State
phragle said:
Camp fodder. Another body at LB so it doesn't look like such a pressing need come draft day.
Immediately becomes the betting line favorite for the annual "Geez, it's HARD here in New England... I'm retiring" role.
 

Shelterdog

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Feb 19, 2002
15,375
New York City
phragle said:
Camp fodder. Another body at LB so it doesn't look like such a pressing need come draft day.
 
I'd say longshot rather than camp fodder.  Camp fodder is a guy who's healthy but probably isn't good enough: Smith is good enough if he's able to come all the way back from his injury and he's in great shaped and he didn't decline-maybe he's the next Mark Anderson--but at his age with his injury he might not even be able to get on the field. 
 

soxfan121

JAG
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
23,043
Shelterdog said:
 
I'd say longshot rather than camp fodder.  Camp fodder is a guy who's healthy but probably isn't good enough: Smith is good enough if he's able to come all the way back from his injury and he's in great shaped and he didn't decline-maybe he's the next Mark Anderson--but at his age with his injury he might not even be able to get on the field. 
 
Smith is more of an Andre Carter type than an Anderson, but your point is still a good one. 
 
If he is healthy, he might be a good sign. If he isn't healthy, it doesn't matter.
 

dcmissle

Deflatigator
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 4, 2005
28,269
Bill Polian is a little too self congratulatory for me, but he made a number of interesting points during an extended interview on ESPN this morning.

One was that when a team moves up, you almost always know who they are aiming for. This is the result of the intense study of other teams' rosters.

If that is true, then Smith or anyone else as camouflage seems overhyped. The other teams know his condition. They will perceive him, accurately, as a relative long shot with no downside. If he works out, it would be a big plus, but you can't plan on him working out.

Another interesting story was what happens when trade offers for picks come in. Very often, everyone is very happy. But Polian said that he then emphasized to the staff and coaches to be careful what you wish for. If you were dropping down 5 spots, there had better be 4 guys that you really want at that stage of the draft because 3 of them are almost certain to be gone after you trade. If you drop 10 places, there had better be 8, and so forth. Because the whole point of this is to accumulate good players, value can be overdone. Sometimes you can be bailed out when you find yourself not liking anyone at your spot, and a team calls with a trade proposal. But you can't count on being bailed out.
 

Corsi

isn't shy about blowing his wad early
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 3, 2010
12,955
Boston, MA
The following is the contract signed by veteran defensive end Will Smith with the Patriots, per a source: 
 
Length: 1 year 
Total value: $920,000 
Base salary: $855,000 
Roster bonus: $50,000 (if on roster for first game of regular season) 
Offseason bonus: $15,000 
Salary cap charge: $635,000 
 
ANALYSIS: This deal qualifies for the minimum salary benefit, which is when the salary-cap charge is lower than the base salary. The minimum salary benefit is geared toward helping longtime veterans land jobs (despite making significantly more than rookies) by lowering their salary-cap charge as long as the base salary is at the minimum level and the total in bonuses is $65,000 or lower. This deal also includes an injury split that would lower Smith's salary to $423,000 should he land on a reserve list. As the deal reflects, the Patriots don't assume much risk here.
 
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4762410/1-year-deal-for-de-will-smith?ex_cid=espnapi_public
 

SeoulSoxFan

I Want to Hit the World with Rocket Punch
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jun 27, 2006
22,089
A Scud Away from Hell
Not much enthusiasm was seen here when Anderson and Carter were signed. Fanene elicited much more. With a min. salary what's not to like about taking a chance on Smith? None, from this side of the Han.