216 - Trey Smack - K - Florida

[Joemailman]

None of those explanations explain handing him the million. If he requested his release I would request he refund the march roster bonus first. That seems fair to me. If he wants to hold onto that money then tough. Ride out camp while we see what the kids got. As for him being an ahole, he was an ahole when we first signed him, extended him and gave him the roster bonus.

Why are you making such a big deal about 1/3 of 1% of the salary cap? I get you don't like Gute, but this is really a non-issue.

[pbmax]

None of those explanations explain handing him the million. If he requested his release I would request he refund the march roster bonus first. That seems fair to me. If he wants to hold onto that money then tough. Ride out camp while we see what the kids got. As for him being an ahole, he was an ahole when we first signed him, extended him and gave him the roster bonus.

What if they paid him a million as a hedge against not getting their preferred kicker(s) in the draft?

[bobblehead]

None of those explanations explain handing him the million. If he requested his release I would request he refund the march roster bonus first. That seems fair to me. If he wants to hold onto that money then tough. Ride out camp while we see what the kids got. As for him being an ahole, he was an ahole when we first signed him, extended him and gave him the roster bonus.

[Bretsky]

I wouldn't be surprised if McManus saw the writing on the wall and asked for his release. If so, I can see where Gute might be willing to release the guy who blew a playoff game and now doesn't want to be here.

n
To me, there are two real possibilities here

1. He asked for his release and GB granted it so he could find something else.
2. Maybe he was just an Ahole and when the opportunity to get Smack came along we just wanted to move on. He obviously had a bad thing or two occur that ended his stints at other spots. Maybe we just didn't want him back if we had another real option. NO evidence on that; just a hunch


ALSO, the ST coach, per Wilde and Tausch really loved Smack and made a push for him.

[Joemailman]

I wouldn't be surprised if McManus saw the writing on the wall and asked for his release. If so, I can see where Gute might be willing to release the guy who blew a playoff game and now doesn't want to be here.

[Sparkey]

Post June 1 designation to save 2.6m on this years cap. Did not do it sooner as they had know way to know that they could draft Smack in the 6th round.

[bobblehead]

Well that didn't take long. So it's Smack vs. Lucas (61 yard FG) Havrisik.

I just don't get this one. First off, you paid McAnus a cool million just recently. So we earned the right to hold onto him through camp I would say. What happens if Smack falls on his Anders and sucks? No reason whatsoever to cut Anus.

Second, don't you WANT the kid to feel pressure? I mean taking all the pressure off of him hardly tells you how he is going to react with game on the line ffs. A huge leg is nice but nerves make great kickers. Ability to block out the pressure. Taking it off of him for no reason whatsoever is braindead. Sometimes I really wonder what Gutes is thinking.

Can ANYONE explain to me why cutting McAnus right now made sense??

[pbmax]

He must not have insulted anyone or dated any coaches daughters during rookie camp to impress this fast.

[Joemailman]

Well that didn't take long. So it's Smack vs. Lucas (61 yard FG) Havrisik.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

McAnus released, it seems.

Time to watch some aphrodisiac vids and Smack off!

[texaspackerbacker]

Somehow, I don't think it will be a tie. Either Smack will be consistent and clearly beat McManus because of a stronger leg, or else he will be inconsistent, and McManus will keep the job sorta by default. I'm rooting for Smack, but I'd say it's 50/50 who wins out.

[run pMc]

I just wonder what they'll do if both McManus and Smack are both lights out in training camp and preseason. I think McManus was almost perfect last preseason.

Didn't McManus make something like 30 kicks in a row before the playoffs (incl XPs)? I think tie goes to the cheaper, younger player... you never know though.

I could easily see them go with keeping both on the roster, then cutting Smack and putting him on the PS Day 1 of the regular season. I'd worry he'd get poached in that situation though, which makes me think they'd prefer him over McManus who could have a bounceback year a la Mason Crosby but he's never had the leg that Smack does... and hitting from 50+ is becoming a thing in the league now.

[Joemailman]

I just wonder what they'll do if both McManus and Smack are both lights out in training camp and preseason. I think McManus was almost perfect last preseason.

[run pMc]

I like having a kicker who goes by the name Trey. In a mediocre draft I suspect Gute saw little if any difference between late 7th round picks and guys who would be available as UDFA's.

Gutekenst said something to this effect in his post-draft presser. This was not considered an especially great draft class, and this year's R7 talent was basically most year's UDFA talent.

Smack was the only kicker with a draftable grade by most "experts" and his college production is waaayyy better than Anders Carlson. The $1M bonus to McAnus was before they thought they'd draft this guy, and it's not a prohibitively large amount by GB standards (considering they paid Trevon Diggs half that). If Smack wins the job (he'll be given every opportunity to) they might be able to find a trade partner for McAnus; if McAnus wins it they can PS Smack. This sucks for the substitute teacher Havrisik the most.

I'm fine with the pick. GB didn't win games vs. CLE, DAL and CHI because of kicking last year alone, and they have lost in the playoffs numerous times recently because of it. Hanging onto McAnus (who is a mediocre-to-good kicker at best) just because of the Anders nonsense is not reason enough to keep him.

[Fritz]

We'll see how he adjusts for wind conditions, but a strong leg is a strong leg.