New Deal and B.S. Reports

Written By: Anthony  Bafaro:

Jason Smith Restructures

On Saturday, Mac’s Sports Blog was the first to report that the Rams and Jason Smith had agreed to restructured terms for the underachieving offensive tackle’s contract.

Smith’s original contract would have paid him $10 million in 2012 and over $12 million in 2013 and 2014, with 2014 being a voidable year.  Under the new contract, Smith’s 2012 base salary goes from $10 million down to $4 million.  However, the actual cap savings for 2012 will be just over $2 million, due to a restructuring of the proration of Smith’s original signing bonus.  The real changes come in the final two years of Smith’s contract.  The 2014 contract year has been eliminated completely.  The 2013 guaranteed base salary of $12 million has been replaced with a guaranteed base salary of $750,000 and an $11.25 million roster bonus—meaning the Rams could cut Smith prior to the 2013 season with virtually no cap penalty.

Jason Smith still has the potential to be a good starting offensive tackle.  No one questioned his physical tools when the Rams drafted him 2^nd overall in 2009.  He appears to finally be healthy, and he’ll be working with Head Coach Jeff Fisher and Offensive Line Coach Paul Boudreau—two coaches with a proven track-record of maximizing offensive line talent.  However, I don’t see any scenario in which Smith’s 2013 option is exercised.  Any team with a right-handed quarterback has no business paying a right tackle $12 million.  Smith will be 27-years-old going into the 2013 season.  If he finally fulfills his potential this year, the Rams may consider signing him to a multi-year extension going into 2013.  However, if they do so, it will be at a price-point associated with a good right tackle, not a franchise left tackle.  If he continues his injury-riddled, lack-lust play, the Rams will simply walk away.

This is a great and somewhat lucky move for the Rams; Smith didn’t have to make these concessions.  The Rams are able to significantly improve their cap flexibility going forward without creating an additional hole for the upcoming season.

Lombardy Speculates on Jackson's Status

NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi was a guest on the April 23^rd edition of Bill Simmons’ “The B.S. Report” podcast and suggested that Steven Jackson was “not happy where he is” and “wants to re-do his contract.”  Our friends at Turf Show Times picked up the rumor, as did Howard Balzer, and message board chaos quickly ensued.

I listen to “The B.S. Report” religiously and I think this is blown out of proportion. It’s not as if Lombardi came on and said, “I have breaking news, Steven Jackson is pissed about the rumors of drafting Richardson, he’s holding out for a new contract.” The conversation started with Simmons and Lombardi debating whether or not the Vikings had a realistic partner to trade down with.

Simmons: “As always I have a solution, I’m the V.P. of common sense. Steven Jackson, we all agree, two, maybe three years left for him at elite level—“

Lombardi: “Well, the problem with Steven Jackson is he wants to re-do his contract. I think he’s not happy where he is, and I’m not sure that the Rams are happy with where he is, and I think they would probably like an adjustment. When running backs start to get nicked up and beat up the end is near and I think ultimately you need someone to come in and fix that for you. I would suspect that the Rams would take the running running back as quickly as possible.”

Lombardi says that Steven wants a new contract as if it’s a fact, but we haven’t heard so much as a whisper of that anywhere else (Jackson did not respond to our request for a comment). Everything else he says is presented as pure speculation. “I think he’s not happy where he is…I’m not sure the Rams are happy where he is…I think they would probably…I would suspect that the Rams…”

Simmons’ entire show is mostly loose conversation, more entertainment than insight.  Until Steven or representatives from the Rams come out and say SJ wants a new contract, I’m not buying it.  The lack of surrounding talent did play a part in preventing Steven from reaching milestones that would have made him a free-agent this year--a scenario which may have put him in position to ride out his final days with one last multi-year deal.  However, this seems to be pretty late in the game for that complaint to surface.  It seems like draft-day smoke more than anything else--anything to create uncertainty about what the Rams plan to do with the 6th overall pick.


Update: at 9:31am, Evan Silva of Rotoworld and NBC Sports reported, "Rams will shop Steven Jackson during draft, but $7M base in '12 & '13.  So much wear on tires.  S-Jax nets 4th round pick, best case."  No source was cited.