Steve Smith Gets New Deal

[gr8slayer]

Panthers signed WR Steve Smith to a three-year contract extension through 2012.

Financial terms haven't been disclosed, but he'll get a big signing bonus on top of the extension. In a market paying Drew Bennett and Kevin Curtis $5 million-per-season, Smith's old six-year, $28 million deal made him one of the NFL's most underpaid players. His old remaining salaries were $3.15 million (2007), $3.6 million (2008), and $4.2 million (2009).

[justasportsfan]

we may have to do the same if both JP and Lee lights it up this year.

[gr8slayer]

we may have to do the same if both JP and Lee lights it up this year.
Yeah, but it will be well worth it if they do light it up.

I think Evans should be priority though at this point.

[JPFBillsFan]

This is a good measuring stick for Lee....I think its a extremely fair deal for one of the best WR's in the NFL....

Lee should garner the same type of deal

[W1DER1GHT]

Yeah, we have to get Lee locked now. The cash he will get on the open market would be crazy. J.P. will be a bit easy to get done, IMO, because not many teams have a real need for a quarterback. Of course things do change from year to year, but I think Lee will be harder to get done, and we need to start to work on it now.

[TacklingDummy]

Lee Evans: 2007: $773,750, 2008: $1,005,000, 2009: $1,236,250, 2010: Free Agent

If Smith is one of the most underpaid WRs than Evans most be the most underpaid.

If the Bills don't lockup Evans to a long term deal soon I think Lee will hold out after this year.

[OpIv37]

Lee Evans: 2007: $773,750, 2008: $1,005,000, 2009: $1,236,250, 2010: Free Agent

If Smith is one of the most underpaid WRs than Evans most be the most underpaid.

If the Bills don't lockup Evans to a long term deal soon I think Lee will hold out after this year.

at the very least he'll go FA to see what he can get on the open market. I think the amount of money being thrown around is going to make it harder and harder to lock up players before their contracts expire because EVERYONE is going to want to at least test the FA waters.

[streetkings01]

Lee Evans: 2007: $773,750, 2008: $1,005,000, 2009: $1,236,250, 2010: Free Agent

If Smith is one of the most underpaid WRs than Evans most be the most underpaid.

If the Bills don't lockup Evans to a long term deal soon I think Lee will hold out after this year.I doubt he'll hold out, but he does have a option in his contract to void the last year. We would be wise to try and lock him up now with a deal around 7 years 42 million with 15 million guaranteed just to start.

[gil]

I agree we need that Lee is "underpaid" and we should redo his deal - but how crazy is it that with 4 years left on his contract he received as the 13th overall pick, he is now considered underpaid - it's not like you don't expect that pick to produce as much as he has.

[TacklingDummy]

I agree we need that Lee is "underpaid" and we should redo his deal - but how crazy is it that with 4 years left on his contract he received as the 13th overall pick, he is now considered underpaid - it's not like you don't expect that pick to produce as much as he has.

Actually only 2 years left. Lee can void 2009 and it safe to say he will void 2009 if he is only making $1,236,250.

[justasportsfan]

at the very least he'll go FA to see what he can get on the open market.

won't happen. He'll never make it to 2009 as a bill if he's not locked up.

[TacklingDummy]

Maybe another reason the Bills drafted Edwards is because JP and Lee will probably both be seeking new deals after this season and the Bills can only afford 1 of them. In that case keeping Lee would be the right move.

[justasportsfan]

Maybe another reason the Bills drafted Edwards is because JP and Lee will probably both be seeking new deals after this season and the Bills can only afford 1 of them. In that case keeping Lee would be the right move.If JP seeks fr a new deal, it's probably because he's got probowl nos. But how is that when you think he sucks?

[TacklingDummy]

If JP seeks fr a new deal, it's probably because he's got probowl nos. But how is that when you think he sucks?

Always a slim chance.

Personally I don't expect JP to be starter after this year.

[gr8slayer]

Always a slim chance.

Personally I don't expect JP to be starter after this year.
How do you figure?

[DynaPaul]

Good for him. Smith definitely deserves it.

[G. Host]

I agree we need that Lee is "underpaid" and we should redo his deal - but how crazy is it that with 4 years left on his contract he received as the 13th overall pick, he is now considered underpaid - it's not like you don't expect that pick to produce as much as he has.

Why shouldn't almost all player hold out for more money? It is an unnatural bubble and players should live with the deals signed for they negotated them. Players who underperform continue to get paid due to the signing bonuses hence those who over perform should need to play as well. The Galloway holdout where they get a full year of service for less a half year work is one of the dumbest agreements the NFL made.

[YardRat]

This is a good measuring stick for Lee....I think its a extremely fair deal for one of the best WR's in the NFL....

Lee should garner the same type of deal

If they haven't disclosed the financial details yet, how can you determine whether or not it's a fair deal? They may have thrown crazy money at him.

[patmoran2006]

Steve Smith.. Its nice to see someone get a ****load of money that actually DESERVES every penny of it.

As for Evans, I'd be trying to lock him up now; but Im sure his agent is smart enough to know he's on the verge of BIG things in this league and isn't going to just take any ole' extension offer. I dont care what we have to do to keep him happy, our offense will go to **** without Lee Evans. Clements and Fletcher may be replacable. Evans is definitely NOT.

[ZacGriffi~82]

Evans cannot leave. End of story. He is one of, if not the best thing to happen to this team in the past 10 years.

[dolphan117]

IMO he deserves a lot of credit for not *****ing about his old deal even when he was clearly being underpaid. The dude has been a top 5 receiver for the last 2 years playing on a deal that paid him like a below average number 1 and even less then some number 2's. He deserved this payday.......... If anyone in the NFL truly deserves to get millions thrown at them for doing what most of us love to do for free.