I want to know more details on the contract, but first blush, this is about what I expected him to sign for. Good defensive ends get PAID in this league.

Weaver was given $12 million guaranteed, too, but recall that his guarantee was split in half - $6 million signing bonus and $6 million option bonus due a year later. Hopfeully I'll get better confirmation at some point as to how Smith's guarantee adds up.

If the Texans get the Smith that played well in the playoffs, then this will be a great deal. If he has trouble adapting, then look out.

I think hopes ought to be much higher than just in thinking Smith is a Weaver clone. Weaver was coming over from a 3-4 system and was never thought of as much of a disruptive penetrator (at least that I can recall). Smith is re-teaming with a familiar face in Frank Bush. The Cards mixed things up (Smith played all over it seems), so perhaps the transition to the Texans won't be as daunting.

Some quotes from the sheet at the official:

Mclain's blog indicates that the guarrantee is all in the signing bonus..?..?


"Smith didn't cost a lot, either. His five-year deal is worth $35 million, but the only guarantee is his $12.5 million signing bonus. "

Not sure yet whether McClain is right. His track record is less than perfect when it comes to this stuff.

That said, it very well could be all signing bonus. It could also be roster bonus. It could be a combo of sign, option, and roster. Sometimes the media reports take a shorthand version (or are given one from the agent) when discussing these amounts.

ETA - Also forgot to mention that the Texans could guarantee his base salary for 2009 (and beyond). Once I get the base salary info (hopefully early next week), then we'll be better able to piece this deal together.

Were still getting him! Hes going to play OLB and put his hand down on passing downs. :cool:

We had two chances to get Peppers, slim & none.

Once we get a 1st and 3rd from Buffalo for OD we can trade OUR 1st and third for Peppers. It will be like trading OD for Peppers and moving up 4 slots in the draft in the 1st and 3rd. You see its all going to come together. :o

In a fit of wild procrastination, I actually read a Peter King column this morning. And while I don't give a damn about Peter King's non-existent player evaluation skills, I did find a quote in his blurb about Antonio Smith to be quite interesting:

I hold Darnell Dockett in pretty high regard, so to hear an Arizona coach consider Antonio their best lineman does boost my opinion of him a bit. Hopefully his play will convince me to come all the way around.

I've read several places where Arizona fans claim that Smith was double teamed a great deal this past season, much like Mario was these last two years. Playing opposite M. Williams, I think Antonio will get a nice breath of fresh air realizing he only has one man to beat on pretty much every down. Could be a lot of fun to watch.

I'm very excited about the Smith signing. However, I'm not crazy enough to expect teams to slide their protections away from Mario because Smith is on the other side.

Smith has a great burst. I agree that this is an excellent signing.

What about the LB's? Who are we targeting?

That was exactly my point. A. Smith will only have one man to beat on most plays because teams will be focusing on Mario.

But I dunno, where's the production ? Didn't Tim Bulman (who got "NO STARTS IN 2008") have as many sacks as Smith ?

not sure on that stat, but Smith slid over to dt in passing situations last year i believe, which will absolutely cut down on sacks.

Hopefully, without lessening the pressure...

Smith's contract details look pretty straightforward from what I can tell. Here are the base salaries:

2009 $3,000,000
2010 $3,900,000
2011 $4,600,000
2012 $5,500,000
2013 $6,000,000

Add them up to a simple $12.5 million signing bonus, and the numbers seem to fall in line with the media reports. I'll try to get these into the cap page later tonight or tomorrow.