[Buckskin86]

Money matter: As pointed out here last week, the monster deal the Saints signed with franchise defensive end Charles Grant last week, a seven-year contract with a maximum value of $63 million if the five-year veteran hit every incentive in the package, is certain to have teammate Will Smith knocking on the door of New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis. Regarded by most personnel men as the better player of the two, Smith has two years remaining on his rookie contract, so it might be tough for the three-year veteran and 2004 first-round pick to get management's attention. Unless, of course, he dodges some of the offseason workouts and maybe the start of training camp. That would subject him to fines, but Smith might have to take drastic measures to get the Saints' brass to the bargaining table.

Grant's contract paid him an initial signing bonus of $12 million and calls for an $8 million roster bonus next spring. The base salaries are $700,000 (2007), $750,000 (2008), $1.85 million (2009), $4 million (2010), $4.5 million (2011), $5 million (2012) and $8 million (2013). There are $100,000 offseason workout bonuses in 2007 and 2008 and workout bonuses of $250,000 each from 2009-2013. The contract also includes roster bonuses of $500,000 for 2011, $1 million for 2012, and $5 million for 2013. Grant has an extremely livable cap charge of $2.8 million for 2007, but that skyrockets to an exorbitant $10.85 million in 2008. New Orleans will reduce that by converting the $8 million roster bonus Grant is due next spring into a signing bonus, which will then allow the team to prorate it. Chances are Grant will never see the $19.5 million in total compensation in the final two years of the contract. But the deal still pays $23.75 million in its first three seasons, $28 million in the first four and $33.25 million in the first five years. You can bet those are numbers Will Smith knows very, very well.

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