DE Will Smith (National Champion, Super Bowl Champion, Pro-bowler; R.I.P.)

[Buckskin86]

MICHAEL DOHERTY / Observer-Dispatch
Will Smith, a Thomas R. Proctor and Ohio State graduate, now with the NFL's New Orleans Saints, talks to media members in 2006 at Utica's D'Alessandro Stadium.

Utica?s Smith to host camp May 17
Observer-Dispatch
Posted May 08, 2008

UTICA ? New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith and his foundation, ?Where There?s a Will, There?s a Way,? will host their second annual football camp & combine on Saturday, May 17, at Thomas R. Proctor High School?s D?Alessandro Stadium.

The camp and combine are being held free of charge.

Utica’s Smith to host camp May 17 - Utica, NY 13501 - The Observer-Dispatch

 

[Buckskin86]

Smith Not Happy: DE Will Smith has yet to report to the team's offseason conditioning program because he wants a new contract, and his agent Joel Segal isn't unfamiliar to the Saints. He negotiated deals for Reggie Bush, He'll be negotiating new deals for Smith and WR Marques Colston soon. The two sides are in talks, and the deal is expected to be boxed in by the six-year, $63 million contract signed by teammate Charles Grant and the six year, $74 million deal just signed by Vikings DE Jared Allen.

Smith, 26, was the consummate teammate last year, playing through the season despite his teammate Charles Grant having just signed his new contract. Smith earned only $695,000 in 2007, part of his rookie contract signed in 2004. Smith outplayed Grant over the past two seasons and is the team's best defensive player. He has earned more than $20 million in his contract so far and is scheduled to make $1.3 million in 2008.

This weekend Smith is hosting a free football camp at his high school, Thomas R. Proctor High School, in Utica, NY.

NewOrleansProFootball.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Will Smith comes home to give back
By RON MOSHIER
Observer-Dispatch
Posted May 17, 2008


UTICA ? No, Will Smith didn?t have to come home again.

So why did he?

?For the kids,? said Smith, the New Orleans Saints defensive end and former Thomas R. Proctor High School star whose foundation hosted Saturday?s second annual, ?Where There?s a Will, There?s a Way,? football camp and combine at D?Alessandro Stadium.

?This is something I never had, and I want to help make it a little better for other kids.?

By the looks and the sounds, it?s working.

A punt, pass, and kick competition for children ages 5-12 was added this year, followed by lunch and an afternoon camp and combine for players entering grades 7-12.

The 26-year-old Smith, named to the NFL Pro Bowl two years ago ? when the Saints reached the NFC Championship Game ? considered the turnout promising, to say the least.

?It?s gotten bigger, absolutely, and hopefully it will keep getting bigger,? he said. ?We?ll sit down and try to figure out how we can make it better for the kids. We?re always trying to make it better, to improve.?

Will Smith comes home to give back - Utica, NY 13501 - The Observer-Dispatch

NBC-WKTV News Channel 2 - Local News - Video - NFL Star Will Smith Holds Football Camp At Proctor High

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Unhappy Smith a no-show at workouts

Saints' defensive end holding out for new long-term contract

Thursday, May 22, 2008 By Mike Triplett


As expected, Saints defensive end Will Smith is not participating in the team's organized team activities while he holds out for a long-term contract extension.
Smith, who turns 27 July 4, is entering the final year of his contract and is expected to earn more than $1 million this season, including incentives.
"He and I had a chance to visit about a month and a half ago, and you'd like to have all your players here. But it's not unusual," Saints Coach Sean Payton said. "I think you just go around the league, and each team has a player or two maybe that's unhappy with his contract. And so in the meantime our focus is on the players that are here. And we're full speed ahead."

Cont...

 

[Buckskin86]

Will Smith to attend minicamp
Posted by Jimmy Smith, The TImes-Picayune
May 29, 2008

Saints defensive end Will Smith, who has skipped the team's voluntary offseason program and the first two weeks of the OTA sessions, will attend the mandatory minicamp that begins today at the Airline Drive practice facility.

Players were required to report to the facility by 7 p.m. Thursday and Smith was on his way according to his agent, Joel Segal.

Segal, who also represents wide receiver Marques Colston, said both players will participate in this weekend's minicamp, the first of five practices scheduled this morning.

Smith has been absent from the conditioning program which commenced in mid-March, as well as the organized team activities that began on May 19 in apparent protest of the team's inability to restructure his contract, though both sides have continued on-going dialog aimed at that ultimate goal.

Colston, who has outperformed his original deal and also hopes for a new deal, possibly before this season, has taken part in the offseason conditioning program as well as the OTAs.

Smith, who'll be 27 on July 4, is scheduled to earn just more than $1 million this season in base salary and incentives. His counterpart on the other side of the Saints defensive line, Charles Grant, last year signed a contract extension that could eventually be worth $63 million. Since becoming the Saints' first-round pick out of Ohio State in 2004, Smith has earned $20 million in salary and bonuses.

Smith was traveling on Thursday and unavailable for comment. Saints Coach Sean Payton said last week that he expected Smith to participate in the mandatory practices.

"Obviously Will has been discussing and is interested in a new contract," Segal said Thursday. "He told me he will be at the minicamp and doesn't want to miss the time to work to get better and maintain his goal of attaining a Super Bowl win."

Segal said he was not sure if Smith would remain in New Orleans to work in the voluntary sessions that continue following this weekend's five practices.

Will Smith to attend minicamp - New Orleans Saints Beat - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Posted on Sat, May. 31, 2008
Will Smith shows up for Saints minicamp
Holdout is still possible, he says
By LARRY HOLDER

METAIRIE, La. --A contract dispute didn't stop New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith from attending the team's mandatory minicamp Friday morning as he worked out with the team for the first time this offseason.

Smith didn't make any promises to be back with the Saints for the rest of the organized team activities, though, nor did he rule out a holdout if a new deal isn't in place by training camp.

Smith, a Pro Bowler in 2006, is looking for a new contract as he enters the final year of his deal in 2008, where he will make a little more than $1 million in base salary. Smith had skipped all of the Saints' voluntary offseason workouts up to this point.

"It's a decision (to attend minicamp) that me and my agent talked about," Smith said. "I wanted to be a team guy and be with my teammates. Our main goal is to win a Super Bowl this year, so I wanted to be here and help the team out."

SunHerald.com : Will Smith shows up for Saints minicamp

Smith's new contract should be done deal
Saturday, May 31, 2008
John DeShazier

So far, the Saints almost perfectly have "no big dealed" the absence of a big deal for Will Smith, essentially making a non-issue of a contract situation that could be contentious.

But make no mistake: Smith, one of the top defensive ends in the NFL, wants to be paid like one and should be paid like one. And the fact that he reported Friday for the team's mandatory three-day minicamp, after skipping all of the voluntary workouts, doesn't diminish that at all.

"It's a decision that me and my agent (Joel Segal) talked about," Smith said. "I want to be a team guy, be here for my teammates. The main goal is to win a Super Bowl this year, so I wanted to be here and help the team out."

He's here for now, at least.

"I've got to take it one day at a time," he said of being in New Orleans and working out with the team the rest of the offseason. "We'll see what happens after this weekend."

"Gotta see what happens," he said of reporting to Jackson, Miss., for training camp. "You never know. Got to take it one day at a time."

Smith's new contract should be done deal- NOLA.com

Smith hopes for new deal 'in near future'
By LES EAST
Special to The Advocate
Published: May 31, 2008

METAIRIE ? Saints defensive end Will Smith said Friday that he?s hopeful he?ll have a new long-term contract ?in the near future.?

Smith has stayed away from the team?s voluntary offseason workout program while his agent and Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis work on a new deal to replace his current one, which has one year remaining at a value of slightly more than $1 million.

The Saints? No. 1 draft choice in 2004 participated in the first two practices of the team?s three-day minicamp, which continues with two workouts today and concludes with one on Sunday.

Smith said he?ll decide at the end of minicamp whether he?ll stick around for the remaining two weeks of the offseason program. He wouldn?t speculate on whether he might hold out from training camp if a deal isn?t done by then.

?It?s a slow process and I knew that going into it,? Smith said between workouts. ?I knew it wouldn?t be (quick). I?ve got to see what happens. You never know. I?ve got to take it one day at a time and I?m hopeful that something will get done in the near future.?

Smith said he chose to attend the minicamp because he ?wanted to be a team guy and be here for my teammates,? but he would have been subject to fines if he had skipped the camp.

?That?s all voluntary and you don?t have to be there,? Smith said of the offseason program, which began in mid-March and ends June 12.

?The mini-camp is something you have to be at. It?s important to start off the 2008 season. It?s important. That?s why I?m here.?

Smith said he has been working out five days a week. ?It?s not like I?m missing out on work,? he said. ?I?m always training. My body is my job. Every day I?m working hard and trying to get better.?

Smith, who was a Pro Bowl player two years ago, said he?s confident he and the Saints will reach a fair agreement.

?You just have to take it in small steps,? he said. ?This is not going to happen overnight. It?s going to be a gradual process and we?ve got a lot of time to get something done and hopefully we will get something done in the near future.?

Saints coach Sean Payton wouldn?t comment on details of the negotiation, but said he was pleased with what he saw from Smith.

?He?s in pretty good shape,? Payton said. ?Obviously there?s a transition into football movements. He seems to be handling things pretty well.?

Payton said he didn?t see any evidence that his other starting defensive end, Charles Grant, is being distracted after being indicted last week on a charge of involuntary manslaughter stemming from an altercation outside a night club in Blakely, Ga., in which a pregnant woman was shot to death in February.

?There hasn?t been anything from this end,? Payton said. ?He?s been full speed ahead with the meetings and our itinerary of what we?re doing from a practice standpoint and handling all the other things.?

2theadvocate.com | Featured Saints Stories | Smith hopes for new deal 'in near future' — Baton Rouge, LA

 

[Buckskin86]

New Orleans defensive end Will Smith expresses loyalty to team
Associated Press ? June 1, 2008

METAIRIE ? Underpaid as former Pro Bowl defensive end Will Smith may be, he said his top priorities are showing loyalty to his teammates and helping the New Orleans Saints become a contender ? at least for now.

Smith worked out with the Saints for the first time this offseason when he participated in the first day of the team's mandatory minicamp on Friday.

Smith has stayed away from the team's voluntary workouts, which began in mid-March, apparently in an effort to expedite negotiations on a new long-term contract. He has one year remaining on his current deal, which likely would pay him in the range of $1.8 million next season, depending on which incentives he hits.

"I wanted to be a team guy and be here for my teammates," said Smith, who would have been subjected to fines if he had skipped the minicamp. "The main goal is to win a Super Bowl this year, so I wanted to be over here and help the team out."

Smith said he will wait until after the minicamp concludes Sunday before deciding whether to participate in the final two weeks of the offseason program. He wouldn't speculate on a possible holdout from training camp if a deal isn't done by then.

"You just have to take it in small steps," Smith said. "This is not going to happen overnight. It's going to be a gradual process and we've got a lot of time to get something done and I'm hopeful that we will get something done in the near future."

New Orleans defensive end Will Smith expresses loyalty to team | thenewsstar.com | The News Star

 

[Buckskin86]

Posted on Tue, Jun. 03, 2008
Will Smith at Saints practice, but injured
By LARRY HOLDER
[email protected]

METAIRIE, La. --Although New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith sat out of Tuesday's organized team activities session with a toe injury, the more encouraging part for the team was that Smith was in the building.

Smith ended his boycott of voluntary workouts as he's been with the team the past two days for OTAs. Smith's first offseason appearance with the team was during the weekend mandatory minicamp.

Saints coach Sean Payton was encouraged Smith returned to train in the practice facility, but said a new deal for Smith wasn't yet completed.

"I think when the time comes there will be an announcement," Payton said. "But right now I know Mickey and his agent were working through the contract and trying to sort things out. There's nothing really new to announce."

SunHerald.com : Will Smith at Saints practice, but injured

Smith stays for voluntary workouts

METAIRIE, La. (AP) ? Saints defensive end Will Smith, seeking a contract extension and a major pay raise, attended his first voluntary workout of the offseason Tuesday.

Bothered by a sore toe, Smith stayed off the practice field, but head coach Sean Payton saw Smith's presence at the team's suburban New Orleans headquarters as an encouraging sign.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and Smith's agent Joel Segal "are working through the contract and trying to sort things out," Payton said.

Smith had skipped the team's offseason workouts, which began in mid-March, until last weekend, when he showed up for a mandatory three-day minicamp.

Smith said he decided against holding out during minicamp out of loyalty to teammates and his desire to help the team become a Super Bowl contender. Smith also could have been fined for missing the mandatory practices.

A 2004 first-round draft choice and a Pro Bowl selection in 2006, Smith has one year remaining on his current deal, which likely would pay him in the range of $1.8 million next season, depending on which incentives he hits.

Smith's seven sacks in 2007 led the Saints in that category. He also was among the team leaders in tackles with 66.

However, his salary is far below that of other top defensive ends in the league such as the Indianapolis Colts' Dwight Freeney, who's paid close to $12 million a year.

Smith stays for voluntary workouts - USATODAY.com

 

[starBUCKS]

FOX Sports on MSN - NBA -

New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith has signed a contract extension that will make him one of the NFL's highest-paid defensive players.


Smith signed a six-year deal worth about $70 million, according to a person familiar with the deal who requested anonymity because the terms had not been made public.
The deal makes Smith the NFL's third-highest paid defensive end, behind Kansas City's Jared Allen and Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney.
Smith made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and his seven sacks in 2007 led the Saints. He also was among team leaders in tackles with 66.
"We are excited about getting this long-term contract done with Will," said Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. "We view him as one of our core players and look forward to him having an impact on our defense for years to come." Smith, who received about $20 million in bonuses when signed as a first-round draft choice out of Ohio State in 2004, was expected to earn between $1.8 million and $3 million next season, depending on performance incentives.

Congrats to Will!

 

[Buckskin86]

John DeShazier
Rewarding Smith another wise investment by Saints
Thursday, June 12, 2008
John DeShazier
Place this one in the Money Well Spent file, because of who Will Smith is and who we assume he still will be now that he gets to watch the money pile up.

Place it there, because since Smith joined the Saints, there hasn't been a game day he could have been accused of mailing in, hasn't been a time he has allowed himself to get pudgy or ineffective, hasn't been a moment when he could have been considered anything less than an eloquent and thoughtful spokesman.

The contract extension Smith agreed to Wednesday -- six years for reportedly $70 million -- makes him the third highest-paid defensive end in the NFL. It also makes the Saints a smart franchise, from the standpoint of taking care of its stars and ensuring that they'll be around to form the core that hopefully will lead the team back to the playoffs.

Sure, we saw this one coming from a couple of miles away. Because with Mickey Loomis as general manager, the Saints routinely have identified their most important players and compensated them before they could get to the open market. They similarly locked up running back Deuce McAllister, cornerback Mike McKenzie and defensive end Charles Grant and soon will do the same with receiver Marques Colston.

Rewarding Smith another wise investment by Saints- NOLA.com

 

[Magua]

Congrats Will! Now do like you've been doing and go out there and show em you're worth every penny!

 

[Buckskin86]

SMITH DEAL NOT AS RICH AS ADVERTISED
Posted by Mike Florio on June 13, 2008

Contrary to an Associated Press reports pegging the value of Saints defensive end Will Smith?s contract extension as having a Dwight Freeney/Jared Allen ballpark of six years and $70 million, the reality is that the deal is worth, by our calculations, $61.4 million over seven years. The value increases to $62.3 million if Smith earns a $150,000 workout bonus in each of the six seasons from 2009 through 2014.

The difference is huge. Under the version that presumably was propagated by his agent, Smith would average more than $11.5 million per year. The truth is that the deal has an average value of less than $9 million annually.

The contract contains guaranteed money in the amount of $25 million. If the non-guaranteed 2008 base salary of $700,000 is included, the practical guarantee increases to $25.7 million.

Smith pocketed a $12 million signing for signing his name on the dotted line. He?ll receive a $5.45 million roster bonus in 2009, which is guaranteed for skill and injury. Ditto for 2010, with the roster bonus increasing to $5.55 million. Also, his 2009 base salary of $1.07 million is fully guaranteed, as is $930,000 of his $1.93 million salary in 2010.

The deal also includes up to $3 million in escalators based on sacks.

ProFootballTalk.com - SMITH DEAL NOT AS RICH AS ADVERTISED

 

[BuckNutty]

ESPN - Coaches validate Harrison's rep as NFL's dirtiest player - NFL

A review of data since 2001 shows Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson with a league-high 17 personal fouls. Harrison and New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith are tied for second with 14

Say what you want about Big Willie, the man is consistent.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Scout.com$

All-Time Greatest No. 45: Will Smith.....finished his Buckeye career with 167 stops including 46.5 for loss.....2002 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

 

[Buckskin86]

New Orleans defensive end Will Smith, left, rushes the passer against offensive tackle Jamaal Brown during afternoon practice at Saints training camp Sunday in Jackson, Miss.

Saints DE Smith just does his job
By SHELDON MICKLES
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Jul 28, 2008

JACKSON, Miss. ? There is nothing pretentious about New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith.

Even though he?s arguably the Saints? best defender and recently signed a seven-year, $63 million contract that made him the third-highest paid end in the NFL, Smith simply wants to be known for what he does on the field ? not how much money he makes.

?Everybody asks me about the money,? Smith, the Saints? first-round draft pick in 2004, said with a slight smile. ?I was a first-round draft pick; the money didn?t change me then and it?s not going to change me now.?

Smith, a 6-foot-3, 282-pounder, received about $20 million in bonuses on the rookie contract he received. A solid and relentless pass rusher, he?s led the Saints in sacks the last three seasons and already has collected 33 1/2 in his career.

His sack total includes a career-high 10 1/2 in his breakout season of 2006 when he was chosen to the Pro Bowl. The former Ohio State All-American has started 43 of 82 games in his career and has collected 265 tackles with 12 forced fumbles and six recoveries.

And Smith has done it all rather quietly.

?I guess you could say I?m quiet,? Smith said Saturday after a hot, steamy training camp practice at Millsaps College. ?I just want to stay myself. I?m not a flashy guy. I?m not a flamboyant guy. There?s nothing big about me. I just stay quiet and do my job.?

2theadvocate.com | Sports | The quiet man — Baton Rouge, LA