Hunt confirms talks with Alex Smith for new contract

[Mr. Laz]

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

[Jakemall]

Originally Posted by milkman

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.

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.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by npayne1978

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.

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.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by BWillie

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.

[Jakemall]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

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).

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.

[mikey23545]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

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).

[R8RFAN]

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

Pay him, I would take him as the Raiders QB

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Jakemall

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.

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.

[notorious]

Why does Charles need a new contract?

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by 3rd&48ers

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

Pay him, I would take him as the Raiders QB

That says a lot because you're a dumbass

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

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.

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.

[Jakemall]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

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.

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.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by scott free

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.

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).

[Big Poppa Payne]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

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.

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.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

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 not 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).

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.

[Hammock Parties]

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

Cheaters.