Per Cimini: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/ March 18, 2010 5:15 PM Eric Smith back in the fold » By Rich Cimini "S Eric Smith means business. Instead of playing the field as a restricted free agent, Smith signed his one-year tender for $1.176 million, the Jets announced today. With Kerry Rhodes in Arizona, Smith has a chance to win a starting safety job. He'll be competing with the recently-signed Brodney Pool (one year, $1.3 million) and James Ihedigbo. Smith is a player who has grown on Rex Ryan. During the season, Ryan candidly admitted that he thought about trading or cutting Smith last offseason, thinking he'd never fit into his system. Smith gradually won him over and stepped in to the starting lineup for a couple of games when Rhodes was in the doghouse. Smith received the low (original draft-round) tender, meaning the Jets were entitled to a third-round pick as compensation if he had signed elsewhere. Instead of shopping around for the remaining four weeks of the RFA signing period, Smith decided he wanted to be back with the Jets. In case you're wondering, an RFA doesn't have to sign his tender to participate in the off-season program, which begins Monday for the Jets. For the Jets, the biggest question mark is WR Braylon Edwards, who was tendered at the highest level -- first- and third-round picks."
^No surprises there. If an RFA fails to sign, he has to sit out the season. Smith wasn't going to do that. I was hoping this meant he actually was inked to a reasonable new deal.
I got all excited. I thought continuing with our theme of hall of famers we were adding Emmitt. But glad Smith is back, without him I would feel incredibly uneasy about our safety position going into next year.
better to have him in the fold than not, glad to see he wants to play here more than try and get a better offer elsewhere. Rex really is one attractive bastard as a coach isnt he? We are hearing rumors from everywhere that players around the league want to play here.
Well financially speaking his playing here one year is going to get him better offers elsewhere. Its a 1 year contract, where its incredibly likely that hes going to see a decent amount of playing time on the #1 defense in the nfl. Thus giving him a chance to prove himself and land a nice big contract next year.
Haha. That's exactly what first came to my mind, too. For a brief second I thought Goodell gave Al Davis control over the Jets, just as a little retribution for coingate. :rofl:
Ain't no way Ihedigbo starts. Glad E. Smith is re-signed. He progressed throughout the season, being in on tackles at a consistent rate, and making them too, unlike Rhodes.
E. Smith is a very good depth player, a good hitter and has a ton of heart. He is like the Wayne Chrebet of white safeties.
SO, this just increases the chances that during a play we'll have 2 Safties laying on the field knocked the fuk out! I like Smith but we really gotta question our depth @ the position considering their history.
oh alright wasn't aware of a past joke. but could you really imagine that face of kellen clemens being a safety? he looks retarded.
E. Smith is clearly a good backup and role player in Rex's system. He's one of our players who've really shone under Rex. He's like the black Ed Reed.
