Rumors about Geno extension

[douche]

Geno Smith was good for Seahawks last season but not good enough for huge deal

Updated Jan. 28, 2023 at 6:56 pm
Matt Calkins - Seattle Times columnist

A college friend of mine lived in a house in Venice, California, for almost 20 years and generally had at least three roommates. But the tenant turnover rate was high, and to keep his own rent down, he was often tasked with finding new dwellers.

One day when I was visiting, a prospective renter looked at the place and told my buddy that he was in and would have the check for him tomorrow.

“Well, that problem is solved,” I said.

“Nah,” my friend responded. “Until that check is in my hand, none of that meant anything.”

People say a lot of different things for a lot of different reasons. This is true of renters, this is of true high-school athletes giving verbal commitments — and for the sake of this column, this can be true of NFL coaches, general managers and quarterbacks.

The talk is that Geno Smith is going to be the starting signal caller for the Seahawks next year. Ask coach Pete Carroll, GM John Schneider or the QB himself about it, and the answers indicate the Comeback Player of the Year will surely come back to Seattle.

Until that contract is signed, I’d be skeptical. Though Geno has proved himself to be worth good money — he didn’t do enough to earn great money.

The Seahawks were one of the more surprising teams in the league last season in that they vastly exceeded the basement-level expectations engendered by the Russell Wilson trade. To go 9-8 and slip into the playoffs with five rookies starting epitomized over achievement.

The primary factor in that unexpected surge was Smith, a seven-year backup who was thrust into the starting role before leading the NFL in completion percentage (69.8) and finishing fifth in passer rating (100.9).

Phenomenal story … for the first half of the season.

Something happened over the final eight games of the schedule when Seattle went from 6-3 to 9-8. There were losses to the Bucs, Panthers and Raiders — none finished with winning records — that nearly cost the Seahawks what once seemed like an assured playoff spot.

Geno wasn’t terrible over this stretch. He produced passer ratings of at least 103 in four of the final eight games he played. But there were seven interceptions over that stint, too — two of which came on the Seahawks’ first offensive play of the game — and a glaring lack of magic that was customary in the Wilson era.

It was as if the screenwriters went on strike before penning the third act of his script, leaving the rest of Smith’s story in the hands of scabs. And you have to wonder if the boon of Geno’s play last season will turn out to be a burden going forward.

If he was forgettable, the Seahawks’ brass would face an easy decision: Beef up this team through the draft and use the salary-cap space to shore up as many weaknesses as possible. There are a lot of them. From the pass rush (or the front seven in general) to the offensive line to the receiving corps — areas for improvement on this team abound.

If you look at the four teams still alive in the postseason, three have QBs playing on a rookie deal (49ers, Eagles and Bengals), while the Chiefs have the consensus best quarterback in the league in Patrick Mahomes. This is typically how you win in the NFL. Build around a young signal caller or sign one of the top three in football.

Overpaying for Smith — (sportrac.com has his market value at $39.3 million per year) would hamstring the Seahawks more than it would help.

Smith’s postgame interview after the playoff loss to the Niners was as genuine as it was poignant. Asked about his future with the Seahawks he said, “They embraced me at a time when not many people were. I feel like that means a lot to me. I’ve got a lot of loyalty in me, and I want to repay those guys for doing that.”

Carroll and Schneider spoke with equal desire about Smith coming back. But let’s be real: What else were they supposed to say?

The reality is that Smith’s pretty good 2022 was by far the best season he’s produced since being drafted in 2013. That isn’t much to go on.

Geno returning would be heartwarming, no doubt. But if he asks for a lot — it might be asking too much.

[SeattleAddict]

39.3 IS too much. That's bordering on cap-crippling. Imagine the difference if he signs for say, $25m. That extra $14 million can sign a lot of talent. Probably one top-tier FA and a mid-tier FA. If 40m is what he holds out for, I am for letting him walk and collecting that compensatory pick and re-signing (ugh) Lock or somebody like Andy Dalton for a year.

I hate the "first half/second half" argument. The Carolina game was just awful - that was the week the Seahawks shit the bed with no excuse. But the Raiders game SHOULD have been a win, save for the replay booth bullshit. The Buccaneers game was a screwjob, too, scheduling the game at 6:30am?? There was zero reason that game couldn't have started 3 hours later. In fact, the entire thing with playing games in Europe is horseshit... that game played in the US is a Seattle W, IMHO. If those two were won, the second half suddenly would have been 5-3 and nobody would talk about Geno or the Seahawks having some kind of second half collapse.

[Michael K.]

39.3 IS too much. That's bordering on cap-crippling. Imagine the difference if he signs for say, $25m. That extra $14 million can sign a lot of talent. Probably one top-tier FA and a mid-tier FA. If 40m is what he holds out for, I am for letting him walk and collecting that compensatory pick and re-signing (ugh) Lock or somebody like Andy Dalton for a year.

I hate the "first half/second half" argument. The Carolina game was just awful - that was the week the Seahawks shit the bed with no excuse. But the Raiders game SHOULD have been a win, save for the replay booth bullshit. The Buccaneers game was a screwjob, too, scheduling the game at 6:30am?? There was zero reason that game couldn't have started 3 hours later. In fact, the entire thing with playing games in Europe is horseshit... that game played in the US is a Seattle W, IMHO. If those two were won, the second half suddenly would have been 5-3 and nobody would talk about Geno or the Seahawks having some kind of second half collapse.

The problem is? Those things DID happen. We had ZERO ability to stop the run in either game and Geno and the offense was bad for long stretches in both games.

[Gametime]

We are not good enough with him to win. And paying him 30Plus million is crazy right now. Lesser game manager type is better and spend like crazy other places.

Cut:
Mone, Jackson, Shelby, Ben B Kirven, and Jefferson for an extra 23 million in savings.

That give the Hawks 55.5 Million in cap. 10 million has to go to draft picks. That leaves 45 million. And with those cuts our roster is 43 in contracted players.

In those 43. We have no QB, no MLB (no real replacement for Brooks who will be out for half of the season if not more) no other starting LB with Barton a FA, Woods only remaining DT (Crappy Collier finally gone, Mone cut, Jefferson Cut, Ford a FA), and no starting center or guard.

So, breakdown IMO.

Draft and FA has to get.

Starting and backup QB
backup RB
Starting Center
Starting Guard
3rd WR. Dee E. is as injury prone as Penny and Adams and can't play hardly at all.

Starting DE
2 Starting DT
2 Starting LB
1 starting CB (Jackson a FA and Brown???)
Backup S (really a starting safety after a tackle or 2 and Adams gets hurt-----AGAIN)

So, if we sign Geno to a 30 million dollar contract (I know money can be moved around) that only leaves between 13-18 million dollars and or draft picks to get:

At least 6 starters and 5 backups. Is that enough money and draft capital to replace so many in one season? I know we hit homeruns on last years draft. But, that would mean 12 of the 22 starters are rookies or 2 year players if we only have 12 million to play with. Wow

[HawkandMariner88]

Guys here's an interesting little nugget to mull over. Don't know how much attention this is getting, just thought it would be worthwhile to bring it up here.

https://gridironheroics.com/should-seah ... in-fields/

[SeattleAddict]

Guys here's an interesting little nugget to mull over. Don't know how much attention this is getting, just thought it would be worthwhile to bring it up here.

https://gridironheroics.com/should-seah ... in-fields/

Naw... why would the Seahawks trade for an entirely questionable QB that is going to be due a new contract in what, a year? If he turns out to be good, it just pushes the salary problem back for a season, at the cost of probably a couple high draft picks, and we get an athletic QB that throws a bunch of interceptions because he is bad at post-snap reads? And if he turns out horrible, then we lose both a semi-proven starter AND draft picks, setting us back another 5 years.

If that's what they wanted, they could have signed Kaepernick.

PC wants a QB that takes care of the ball. It's why Geno won the job over Lock, and why they won't be going after a turnover machine like Fields. If they DO make a move for a QB, it'll be a conservative vet.

[trharder]

Guys here's an interesting little nugget to mull over. Don't know how much attention this is getting, just thought it would be worthwhile to bring it up here.
https://gridironheroics.com/should-seah ... in-fields/

The article says the source of the rumor is Warren Sapp, who I've never thought of as a cutting edge insider...
I did not watch this guy this year so I don't know what the rest of him looked like, but his highlight tape is exactly what I would
like to see for the Seahawks. Man that would be fun. When Fields evades a sack, where the defense normally would stay in
coverage, when it's Fields, they better have one eye looking back because he's just as likely to turn the sack into a 20 yard or
more gain. That unique situation also creates wide open receivers when the defense is forced to track down the now running Fields.
It did remind me of olden days RW, but bigger and faster...

[Michael K.]

That unique situation also creates wide open receivers when the defense is forced to track down the now running Fields.
It did remind me of olden days RW, but bigger and faster...

RW could complete the throw to that open receiver though! LOL

Fields had five games where he completed less than 52% of his throws. Three where he completed less than 48%, inlcuding a stinker to finish the season against Detroit where he was 7 of 21! Paying this guy would be lunacy. He will never be a QB. Lamar was the next greatest thing to, remember? Now he won't even take the field because he is afraid to get hurt before his pay day, and he KNOWS that with his style of play? He's getting hurt. Same with Fields.

Fields threw for 2,242 yards in 15 games. Yep, less than 150 yards passing per game!
17 TDs and 11 picks. So, yep, barely a TD per game to go with plenty of INTs.
Sorry, non of that screams young Russ.

He had some exciting runs. He was also banged up, and will be forever because he is a Running Back playing QB. Watching a Bears game was like watching a HS football team run the single wing. It was gross. Sure, there were highlight reels where he broke free and did crazy shit. He was also 3 and 12 as a starter and the Bears lost the last 8 games he played QB. He was sacked 55 times and fumbled 9. Somehow the team didn't lose any of his fumbles, but not a great sign.

I don't want anything to do with Fields.

[douche]

If they DO make a move for a QB, it'll be a conservative vet.

Isn't that what Geno is?

In other news, Shanahan said there's no way Garoppolo is back for the Niners next season.

[SeattleAddict]

If they DO make a move for a QB, it'll be a conservative vet.

Isn't that what Geno is?

In other news, Shanahan said there's no way Garoppolo is back for the Niners next season.

that's EXACTLY what Geno is. Which is why they Seahawks have re-signed him 15 times, why he had such a good season, and why they'll sign him again.

But if they don't sign him (which I can only imagine if he demands superstar money), then any move they made would be for a conservative vet, then draft a hotshot rookie.