Post by lazarus on Jun 6, 2003 11:05:42 GMT -5
Loomis says team is considering ex-Bengal Smith
Thursday June 05, 2003
By Brian Allee-Walsh
Staff writer
Saints officials are exploring the possibility of signing former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Akili Smith, General Manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday.
Smith, the third overall pick in the 1999 draft, was released Monday by first-year coach Marvin Lewis after four inauspicious seasons in Cincinnati.
Smith, 28, had three years remaining on his original seven-year deal. He lost his starting job to Jon Kitna in 2001 and became expendable when the Bengals made Southern California quarterback Carson Palmer the top overall pick in the 2003 draft.
Loomis said he spoke with Smith's agent, Kennard McGuire, to gauge the player's interest in the Saints, whose top two quarterbacks are Aaron Brooks and Todd Bouman.
Bouman was acquired from the Minnesota Vikings in March for a sixth-round pick. The team's other quarterbacks are J.T. O'Sullivan and Chris Finlen.
"Aaron is our starter," Loomis said. "We just want to see if Akili would come here and compete for a roster spot. He was a No. 1 pick a few years ago so people must think he can play.
"But we have not made him a contract offer. We're on a little fact-finding mission and have made contact with his agent. That's all."
Smith, 6 feet 3, 220 pounds, never justified his lofty selection in Cincinnati. Last season he started one game, completing 12 of 33 passes for 117 yards and one interception in a 35-7 loss to Tampa Bay.
Overall, Smith completed 215 of 467 passes for 2,212 yards with five touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He started 17 of the 22 games in which he played for the Bengals and posted a 52.8 quarterback rating.
CENTER OF ATTENTION: A year ago, the Saints invested a second-round draft pick on Ohio State offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley with the purpose of having him start at center one day.
That time may come sooner than anyone in the organization anticipated, particularly if management decides not to re-sign free agent center Jerry Fontenot.
Saints coach Jim Haslett, offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy and offensive line coach Jack Henry are preparing for life after Fontenot during a series of 14 coaching sessions.
Bentley, who was named to several all-rookie teams at right guard in 2002, and left guard Kendyl Jacox have been sharing work at center during the offseason in Fontenot's absence.
"Some day LeCharles will be our center," Haslett said. "I don't know when that will be. It's hard for a young guy to play center in this league, especially in our system, based on what we do. We make a lot of calls. We don't let the quarterback direct all the protections; we let the center make them. So it takes some time to step in to this system. That's why we're trying to be patient with LeCharles. But he's a great talent."
Bentley said it makes no difference to him where he plays, "as long as I'm out there, I'm fine."
"They expect a lot out of their centers here," Bentley said.
TICKET UPDATE: The team has surpassed last year's season-ticket base of 40,000 and is moving toward its intended goal of 50,000, according to Saints executive vice president of administration Arnold Fielkow. More than 10,000 of the 40,000-plus season tickets sold are new purchases, Fielkow said. For ticket information, call (504) 731-1700, TicketMaster at (800) 877-0898 or go online at www.neworleanssaints.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
HORN OF PLENTY: Saints wide receiver Joe Horn is due a $1.5 million roster bonus today as part of his new three-year, $12.8 million contract, according to NFL Players' Association documents. The contract through the 2005 season includes a $5.1 signing bonus to be paid in six installments. He receives $1 million now, $1 million on Sept. 15, $500,000 on Nov. 15, $1 million on Jan. 15, 2004, $1 million on Sept. 15, 2004, and $600,000 on Oct. 15, 2004. He will make annual base salaries of $700,000, $700,000 and $3.8 million and a $1 million roster bonus in March 2005. His 2003 cap figure of $5,312,500 is the largest on the team.
. . . . . . .
Brian Allee-Walsh can be reached at ballee-walsh@timespicayune.com or at (504) 826-3805.
Thursday June 05, 2003
By Brian Allee-Walsh
Staff writer
Saints officials are exploring the possibility of signing former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Akili Smith, General Manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday.
Smith, the third overall pick in the 1999 draft, was released Monday by first-year coach Marvin Lewis after four inauspicious seasons in Cincinnati.
Smith, 28, had three years remaining on his original seven-year deal. He lost his starting job to Jon Kitna in 2001 and became expendable when the Bengals made Southern California quarterback Carson Palmer the top overall pick in the 2003 draft.
Loomis said he spoke with Smith's agent, Kennard McGuire, to gauge the player's interest in the Saints, whose top two quarterbacks are Aaron Brooks and Todd Bouman.
Bouman was acquired from the Minnesota Vikings in March for a sixth-round pick. The team's other quarterbacks are J.T. O'Sullivan and Chris Finlen.
"Aaron is our starter," Loomis said. "We just want to see if Akili would come here and compete for a roster spot. He was a No. 1 pick a few years ago so people must think he can play.
"But we have not made him a contract offer. We're on a little fact-finding mission and have made contact with his agent. That's all."
Smith, 6 feet 3, 220 pounds, never justified his lofty selection in Cincinnati. Last season he started one game, completing 12 of 33 passes for 117 yards and one interception in a 35-7 loss to Tampa Bay.
Overall, Smith completed 215 of 467 passes for 2,212 yards with five touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He started 17 of the 22 games in which he played for the Bengals and posted a 52.8 quarterback rating.
CENTER OF ATTENTION: A year ago, the Saints invested a second-round draft pick on Ohio State offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley with the purpose of having him start at center one day.
That time may come sooner than anyone in the organization anticipated, particularly if management decides not to re-sign free agent center Jerry Fontenot.
Saints coach Jim Haslett, offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy and offensive line coach Jack Henry are preparing for life after Fontenot during a series of 14 coaching sessions.
Bentley, who was named to several all-rookie teams at right guard in 2002, and left guard Kendyl Jacox have been sharing work at center during the offseason in Fontenot's absence.
"Some day LeCharles will be our center," Haslett said. "I don't know when that will be. It's hard for a young guy to play center in this league, especially in our system, based on what we do. We make a lot of calls. We don't let the quarterback direct all the protections; we let the center make them. So it takes some time to step in to this system. That's why we're trying to be patient with LeCharles. But he's a great talent."
Bentley said it makes no difference to him where he plays, "as long as I'm out there, I'm fine."
"They expect a lot out of their centers here," Bentley said.
TICKET UPDATE: The team has surpassed last year's season-ticket base of 40,000 and is moving toward its intended goal of 50,000, according to Saints executive vice president of administration Arnold Fielkow. More than 10,000 of the 40,000-plus season tickets sold are new purchases, Fielkow said. For ticket information, call (504) 731-1700, TicketMaster at (800) 877-0898 or go online at www.neworleanssaints.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
HORN OF PLENTY: Saints wide receiver Joe Horn is due a $1.5 million roster bonus today as part of his new three-year, $12.8 million contract, according to NFL Players' Association documents. The contract through the 2005 season includes a $5.1 signing bonus to be paid in six installments. He receives $1 million now, $1 million on Sept. 15, $500,000 on Nov. 15, $1 million on Jan. 15, 2004, $1 million on Sept. 15, 2004, and $600,000 on Oct. 15, 2004. He will make annual base salaries of $700,000, $700,000 and $3.8 million and a $1 million roster bonus in March 2005. His 2003 cap figure of $5,312,500 is the largest on the team.
. . . . . . .
Brian Allee-Walsh can be reached at ballee-walsh@timespicayune.com or at (504) 826-3805.