Alex Smith: I don't think anyone is going to be too hard headed

[Carlota69]

Alex Smith says he hopes to remain with Chiefs
By RANDY COVITZ

John Sleezer/ The Kansas City Star
Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith has one year left on his contract, but wants to sign an extension with the team.
Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith still isn’t assured of what his future holds beyond the upcoming season.

But Smith, who has one year left on his contract, let it be known he wants to sign an extension and continue his career in Kansas City.

“I’d love to have it done,” Smith said in a phone interview on Thursday. “I love Kansas City, I love the coaching staff, the players … but when you’re talking about this many years and that type of deal, you want it done right. You want both sides happy, and you want it to be something that is going to last and you can play out. A lot of things go into it.

“With that, there’s still plenty of time. I still have a whole year left, and who knows what will happen?”

Smith said his representatives had discussions with Chiefs general manager John Dorsey until this month when the league goes dormant before camp, which starts for Chiefs quarterbacks and rookies Monday in St. Joseph.

“This time of year, the whole NFL is put on hold because this is the little time coaches and general managers have off, just like the rest of us,” said Smith, speaking from Lake Tahoe, Nev., where he is competing in the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship.

“We’ve continued talks, had open conversation, but no news to report.”

The Chiefs, with about $9.4 million of salary cap space available, are facing a dilemma with Smith, 30, and outside linebacker Justin Houston, 25, entering the final years of their contracts before they would become unrestricted free agents.

It’s possible they sign one of them to a long-term deal and use the franchise tag on the other next spring. This season, the franchise tender was $16.2 million for quarterbacks and $11.4 million for linebackers. Smith is due $7.5 million this year, while Houston, who would earn $1.4 million, did not report to the Chiefs’ voluntary off-season program or mandatory mini-camp.

The Chiefs cleared about $7.5 million in salary cap room that can be used to sign either Smith or Houston when they released cornerback Brandon Flowers last month, but Smith didn’t look at it that way.

“Someone told me that, and that’s not what I thought,” Smith said with a laugh. “I thought, ‘Oh man, we lost a good corner.’ I wasn’t thinking about it from a money perspective. Here’s a guy who has started virtually every game for us last year, so now we have to replace him.”

Smith, acquired from San Francisco in a March 2013 trade, was 11-4 as a starter for the Chiefs last season and the team to the playoffs a year after they went 2-14, tied for the worst record in the league.

He is 30-9-1 as a starter in the last three seasons, having led San Francisco to the NFC championship game in 2011 and helping the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012 before coming to Kansas City, where he established career bests with 308 completions, 508 attempts, 3,313 yards and 23 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.

Quarterbacks such as Tony Romo, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler, who are all in the $18 million-a-year range, don’t have near the track record as Smith.

“We’re getting pretty close to where I’m not thinking about any of that,” Smith said, “but certainly when you’re talking about comparables and what the marketplace is for a quarterback, certainly you’re looking at that, and I feel like my body of work of the last three, four years is right up there with a lot of those guys. No question, when you’re trying to put a value on something like that, you look at a lot of stuff.

“But real soon come Sunday, all that stuff is going to get turned off for me.”

Smith said it can be difficult to compartmentalize worrying about his contract and studying his playbook.

“When I talk to management, we talk about that, and that’s great, and then flush it, and we focus on football and doing what we have to do to help us win,” he said.

Smith said if a contract extension isn’t wrapped up by the start of the season, it doesn’t mean it can’t be done before next March.

“You’re talking about until next March when free agency would potentially start,” Smith said. “It’s a long time between now and then for something to get hashed out.

“Just knowing John (Dorsey) and (head coach) Andy (Reid) … they’re flexible and pragmatic guys,” Smith said. “I don’t think anyone is going to be too hard-headed, and we’re trying to get it done the best way we can"


Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/17/355...#storylink=cpy

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

You understand the double standards. You do.

BTW Smith had the best single game QBR of any QB in the entire post season last year.

Yup. He played very well and pleasantly surprised his doubters.

This suggestion of Covitz's that Tony Romo doesn't have "near the track record of Smith's" is still patently ridiculous and lazy.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Yup. He played very well and pleasantly surprised his doubters.

This suggestion of Covitz's that Tony Romo doesn't have "near the track record of Smith's" is still patently ridiculous and lazy.

I think it was in reference to 30-9-1 the last 3 seasons.

Romo is a .500 QB largely because of timely turnovers and bad decisions.

Don't use the talent around him excuse either. He has played on some loaded teams and has the exact number of playoff wins Smith does.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Dear God, please don't extend him.

[wazu]

Really think the Chiefs should let this season play out. If he kicks ass against this schedule, then I'm on board.

[KCUnited]

Looking at that ESPN projected roster, if I'm Smith, I'd like to ink what's likely the last deal of my career before actually having to put the pads on and play behind that mess.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I think it was in reference to 30-9-1 the last 3 seasons.

Romo is a .500 QB largely because of timely turnovers and bad decisions.

Don't use the talent around him excuse either. He has played on some loaded teams and has the exact number of playoff wins Smith does.

And using team record to judge a QB is stupid and lazy, no matter if it leaves a positive or negative impression.

This is from Bleacher Report, but the guy did the research on Romo's 4th quarter performance and I might as well let you read it from him:

LINK

[Wildcat2005]

I really don't like the way people judge individuals on team records

You should look up Vince Young's winning %

Not defending Romo's mistakes, but would never say he played on teams that were "stacked" like the 49ers have been

For the most part he has carried that team on his back

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by Wildcat2005

I really don't like the way people judge individuals on team records

You should look up Vince Young's winning %

Not defending Romo's mistakes, but would never say he played on teams that were "stacked" like the 49ers have been

For the most part he has carried that team on his back

WTFE, they got Dez Bryant

[Wildcat2005]

Originally Posted by ptlyon

WTFE, they got Dez Bryant

Pretty sure San Fran's defense and running game trumps Dez Bryant

From a roster perspective the Cowboys have been mediocre at best for a while now
Their defense was terrible last year and will probably be worse this year

[ptlyon]

Sorry Wildcat, your humor meter must be broken

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Looking at that ESPN projected roster, if I'm Smith, I'd like to ink what's likely the last deal of my career before actually having to put the pads on and play behind that mess.

No doubt.

This line is shaping up to be a hot pile of garbage. At least he's got wheels, but I'd have to agree with you. Get your money before you take the beating.

[WakkaWakka]

Per Twitter

“@PFCentral: The Chiefs offered around $17 mil a year which has been turned down by Smith's agents. They argue the 30-9-1 record should get them more”

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by WakkaWakka

Per Twitter

“@PFCentral: The Chiefs offered around $17 mil a year which has been turned down by Smith's agents. They argue the 30-9-1 record should get them more”

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

You understand the double standards. You do.

BTW Smith had the best single game QBR of any QB in the entire post season last year.

That worked out well.

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

Dear God, please don't extend him.

This. Be incredibly hard-headed.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by WakkaWakka

Per Twitter

“@PFCentral: The Chiefs offered around $17 mil a year which has been turned down by Smith's agents. They argue the 30-9-1 record should get them more”

Then he can kindly go f*** himself.