Hunt confirms talks with Alex Smith for new contract
 

Clark Hunt confirms Alex Smith, KC Chiefs are talking new contract
By Joel Thorman  @JoelThorman on Feb 12 2014, 7:53a 254

The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs confirmed that the team is speaking with Alex Smith's reps about a new deal.

When we last left Alex Smith, he said he wasn't sure if the Kansas City Chiefs and his reps were talking about a new contract. Now Clark Hunt confirms that, indeed, the two sides are talking about a new deal.

Hunt, who made the national media rounds during Super Bowl week, talked with Bob Fescoe and Josh Klingler on 610 Sports on Tuesday morning and there were questions about Alex Smith, who has one year left on his current contract.

But ... Hunt briefly discussed the negotiations anyway, even breaking some minor news.

"We have begun the dialogue with his representatives," he said. "Where it goes or whether it's something that gets done here in the offseason or during the season or perhaps even at the end of the season, I really don't know how that's going to play out."

This shows you that it's "when" Alex gets a new deal, no longer "if".

As far as I know, this is the first time anyone with the Chiefs have publicly confirmed that they are talking with Alex's camp about a new long-term deal. And, by the way, Hunt indicated that long-term, to him, means 3-5 years, which is about what we thought.

Hunt left the door wide open as to when this deal could get done. He mentioned this offseason, during next season or even at the end of next season. That's quite the range, which suggests that they're not very far into this negotiation process.

I'm as anxious as anyone to find out what those numbers will look like. We don't have any idea what kind of deal they're talking about. $12 million per year? $17 million? Bueller?

Alex Smith's stats, the trade, his Pro Bowl appearance, all the wins, playing his best in the playoffs ... he has a lot going for him, which all adds up to large numbers on a contract. Add in the fact that quarterbacks are just really expensive to begin with and there are reasons to believe this will get very pricey.

On the flip side, Alex Smith isn't Aaron Rodgers, out there winning games on his own. Everyone thinks paying Jay Cutler $100+ million is insane and many people will think it's crazy to do the same to Alex.

I guess what I'm saying here is that I don't know how this thing will go. I will predict, however, that this negotiation will not get contentious and it will not be filled with leaks. We shall wait.

H/T Chiefs Spin

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2014/2...efs-clark-hunt

Whatever happens, let's hope we get this shit right..

So it begins.

This shocks, nobody.

Hopes:

1) They mirror the Cutler deal in structuring, with an easy out after 2015 season.

2) Money is less than what was given to Cutler

Yeah, hopefully they structure it so it'd be easy to cut him after 2015.

Yes.

Fears:

1) Money is bigger than Cutler

2) There is no easy out until after year 3

3) Smith doesn't elevate his play, team can't improve cast around him enough

I hope it gets done this offseason, and he continues the growth he shoed over the last half of last season.

If he continues to grow next season and this doesn't get done before that, he becomes more costly.

aka the dreaded Cassel contract lol

Relax, guys. Damn. LOL

Alex Smith is a play maker, this is good news.

http://usatthebiglead.files.wordpres...game.gif?w=500

Game results aside, I almost passed out from shock and disbelief when he launched that perfect bomb to Avery. Stepped up from the pressure and just launched right into his chest.

AND we need him to show continues growth.

Why? Franchise tag him for two years after this year. No reason to give him a new contract right now. Call it good.

If anybody should be in talks for a new contract, it should be Jamaal Charles.

That's the truth. A "what the ****?!?" moment to be sure.

You want to pay him 16 million for a year? Brilliant.

That would be a mega-expensive franchise tag.

Flip side:

If he regresses at all or can't sustain his play from the second half of the season over a full year, and the contract is done before then, it is a costly mistake (if there is not an easy out).

I continue to be amazed that people praise Alex Smith so much for this play.

He did his job on this play and delivered the throw ... but you SHOULD expect ANY NFL QB to make that throw when his WR has toasted the defender by 5-6 steps.

The great part of this play was Avery toasting the DB, not the delivery of the ball.

That's a throw ANY competent NFL QB makes (and before you reference Matt Cassel, remember I said COMPETENT).

You want to pay him for Five years for just as much?

That was just one of many great plays that game, just say you don't like him and probably never will... that way atleast people know where you're always going to be coming from when discussing Smith.

Hey...wait a minute...

I thought Alex Smith sucks and always will. WTH is going on here? :p

I thought it was an absolute perfect throw. How many times throughout the years have we seen Chiefs QB's either under-throw or over-throw that exact play? Yeah Avery burnt the DB but Alex hooked it up.

More shcked Avery caught it...

Chiefs should see how he plays the first half of the year-if he is sucking then let him move on.

Hopefully we draft a QB this year.

He made a lot of great plays in that game. And a lot of plays he was criticized (by me, by others, by people in san Francisco) for NOT trying to make in the past. The nice TD throw to Knile Davis, the Favre-esque flip to Sherman, stand out in that regard.

I just think it's odd that people look at that throw and think it's a "great play" ... when the guy he's throwing to is SO wide open, any QB in the NFL should be able to hit him for a TD. Making throws to guys with 2-3+ steps downfield and no safety help behind them has never been a criticism of Alex.

I've got no problem with extending Alex Smith. It makes sense. I think the money, years, and structure of the contract are important, because the Chiefs have to UPGRADE the talent on both sides of the ball around him to get where we all want to see them go.

I'm optimistic about his growth and future here, but still cautiously optimistic in that regard. His play from the Chargers game on was solidly top half of the NFL QB play. Still not elite, but in that next range.

Would love to see that play out over a full season, because it's good for my team. Just not completely sold on a 6-game sample size.

This.

If he plays consistently at the level he played at against Indy, how much growth does he need vs consistency in playing that way?

Not saying he shouldn't or won't get better.

We've seen it a lot, because the Chiefs have had sub-standard QB for nearly a decade. Ever since Green was concussed, basically. And had sub-standard QB play for the better part of a decade before that (Montana retirement through trading for Green).

KC being a QB wasteland for most of the past two decades seems to blind some folks to what even an average NFL QB should be able to accomplish.

:thumb:

It is a good play on Alex's part by making the defender miss him while keeping his eyes down field and putting the pass where it is supposed to be.

But you're right..it isn't an amazing pass...it is a great play though.

:deevee:

Smiff is a damn good QB... Alot better than I thought he would be...

Pay him, I would take him as the Raiders QB

Sure. A good play. But a play any decent NFL starter should be able to make. Take two steps up in the pocket while keeping the eyes downfield and making a throw to a guy who has 5 steps.

I'm not saying it's a "nothing" play. Just that Chiefs fans - because they haven't seen it very often - think that play is more special than it was. When it really should be a play any NFL starting QB can accomplish.

Why does Charles need a new contract?

That says a lot because you're a dumbass

Top QB's miss that throw all of the time, Brady alone missed atleast a dozen like that this year... see NPaynes post above, yes Avery got open but it means nothing if Smith doesn't lay out a perfect pass.

Any NFL starting QB can...but not every starting QB does...at least on a regular basis. Missed reads, Bad throws, not making the defender miss all happen.

But I don't disagree that the play is made more of than it is when taken on its own.

I'll put it this way: If Alex Smith is a college QB who misses that throw, and he's being evaluated for the NFL draft, he would get ripped apart by draft analysts for missing it.

Especially the hallowed Mike Mayock, whom I've seen freak out about just such a play SEVERAL times over the years.

I once heard Russ Lande (whom I don't think is that great but used to work with) sum it up really well: "If a QB can't hit a guy in stride when he's got more than 2 steps on the defender, he has no business calling himself a QB in the NFL."

Yeah, sometimes guys miss throws. But when they do, it is freak-out time (and deservedly so).

I don't disagree with you, it's a throw that I'm used to seeing QB's from other teams make. Maybe that is why I was so excited to see Alex make that throw, we rarely see the big home run play like that from the Chiefs.

Nothing to disagree with here really, and as you said earlier, maybe a lot of the thrill was that we were starved for air it out plays like that... so no, it was nothing earth shattering.

But it sure was nice to see Smitty throw for distance WITH accuracy... thus putting the kibosh on the "rag arm" talk.

I bet there's deferred money from his football career in that deal.

Cheaters.

Don't worry Casshole opted out of his contract and is now available for you guys. He will fit in perfect there. :thumb:

5 years and 60 million would probably do it-and you have the cap room for such an awesome contract!!

Sure. The rag arm descriptions were never really accurate.

Most who expressed concern about his ability to throw it downfield always were questioning his WILL, not his skill.

That throw doesn't address THAT particular critique... but it does show him making a play you need competent NFL QBs to make. So that part is great.

Not happening

Just remember where you heard it on the day he signs for the Silver and Black. :thumb:

Why not? Talent and good decisions are not necessarily your hallmarks.

yEA... The Chiefs have been barn burners in this category:thumb:

http://tireball.com/uploads/averytd.gif

The majority of NFL QBs are not consistent at climbing the pocket and delivering throws down the field like this in high-pressure/playoff games.


Alex isn't consistent at this either but this was a step in the right direction.

Surprisingly, it seems even NFL qbs struggle climbing the pocket like that

:old:

I still think it makes a certain amount of sense to wait another year before going down this road. A higher sample size of games is going to lead to a more accurate gauge of his production in this offense, which will result in a more fair contract for both sides.

And THAT was a 50 yard pass in the air.

What a manager ! What a manager !

I don't think it's surprising. It's not exactly the easiest thing to do, especially when most QBs are taught to roll out and run/throw OB/avoid the sack.

Good things come in 3's! Matt Leinhart, Matt Flynn, and Matt Cassel!

I wouldn't be in any hurry on a new deal. I'd let him play and see how things go by mid season. His price may go up if he is doing really good but if he starts to show regression & last season was much about our competition then we wont be stuck with him for 2015 or longer.

he avoided the rush and kept his eyes downfield
didn't panic and rush the throw

It makes sense to do it now if upper management feels he's on the verge of having a breakout season. Alex was hand-picked by Andy so I'm assuming they feel he is.

If we sign him to a deal for 13-15 /year and he breaks out this season, we will have avoided having to negotiate the deal later in which he could be looking for upwards of 18 /year.

Of course, I have no idea what actual numbers they're throwing around but the difference between inking a contract now and after a breakout season would be significant.

If they are going to push for more offensive weapons this offseason then the price might go up quite a bit.

You think they're going to give him a contract that pays 16 million a year? Gtfo of here.

I like alex smith, I think the guy is a baller. That being said, I really would like to see us wait till next year to extend him just to make sure he can repeat. Not saying he cant, but I think waiting imo is a better idea. Unless our front office has 100% decided we are going the next decade with smith I think the latter is the better option. I don't think waiting hurts his ego either, plenty of teams wait till there stars contract years like Brees and Cutler. Brees was almost franchise tagged remember??

Lets wait till next year, who knows it may benefit alex by waiting if he wins us the superbowl next year and if that happens I dgaf what we pay. Winning a superbowl in 5-10 years is hard enough as it is, ask the 20+ teams who haven't been there in a decade (;

I love how people take his career best game and project that as his new norm.

After Schaub's game against Jacksonville last season, did you expect him to have an 8000 yard passing season?

Uhm? you should re-read the quote u quoted.... he's saying if he DID play at that level game in and game out how much change would he really need? Hes not saying that he normally plays like that.. ???

It is unreasonable to expect him to play at that level on a consistent basis. No one expects him to throw for 6000 yards and 60+ TDs with no interceptions over the course of the season. If no one expects that, don't make it the basis of an argument that he is already good enough.

Do they still tie incentives into players contracts?

I don't think anyone is or should be expecting him to play at that level every game.. if he does then he is going to be better than peyton manning and Tom brady (in the stats column) and hold every record in passing for the next 250years..

I was against this mother ****er from the beginning, but we have to roll with him now. Let's get him some actual receivers and see what the **** he can do.

That was a beautiful pass on a rail under pressure right in the bread basket. No wobble. Manning doesn't make that throw. At least, not that pretty.

I don't know what that means, but it's certainly not a run of the mill play.

But I'm a Chiefs fan. So there's that...

We've seen what he can do. Were you not watching during the playoffs?

let's get an actual defense and then see what Alex Smith can do

Here is my logical prediction for his contract amount...

6 years, 90 million with 43 million guaranteed all in the first 3 years.

I say that because it seems that the guaranteed money for these new quarterback deals seems to be based pretty closely on te amount that consecutive franchise tags would cost (with a little discount given from the players side, but not much)...but Alex isn't negotiating without a current contract to figure in...he is still under contract in 2014 for 7.5 million.

In any contract negotiation, both sides propose what they want and do their best to back their sides argument with relative value of other players from similar situations.

In 2014, the franchise tag for quarterbacks is 16.2 million...so a similar figure should be expected for 2015. When you tag a player a second time, the amount is 120% of the last tag amount. If a player is tagged a third time, he gets 144% of the initial tag amount.

So Tom Condon is probably asking for the full amount of what Alex would get if he was on the tag for 2 years after the 7.5 next year...in guaranteed money.

7.5
16.2
19.3
--------
43 million

That's gonna be damn close to the guaranteed amount, IMO.

In most of these deals Condon has worked for his other clients (Matt Ryan, Tony Romo, Matt Stafford, etc) the guaranteed money was just about half the total amount of the contract.

6 years, 90 million....43 million guaranteed all in the first 3 years.

That's my educated guess.

If we were to wait, I'd bet almost anything the deal would be almost identical to Cutlers deal...probably more.

Smith is 100% a team guy and this dude has been paid BIG time when rookie QBs/number one picks still got paid mega millions. He will take a honest contract while leaving room for playmakers.. bank it

I can honestly say, there's no feasible quarterback I'd rather have than Alex, Rodgers and Brees aren't going anywhere let alone to KC, Brady would have to drag Belichick with both heels planted all the way across PA, OH and IL to even get here.

He played exactly as I envisioned, and the D played exactly as I feared.

Our problems are TE and Free Safety, [with a soupcon of keeping our dominant pass rushers healthy]. Another WR in a WR rich offseason would be nice as well.

Secure, Alex. He won't disappoint, unless you're a pedantic troll.

Agree. I really worry about our pass rush though. You really think it is an injury thing?

And Avery caught the ball.

This. Of course, I believe I have said something similar.