Dr Z
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Bucs' Smith looks to corner market
Dwight Smith, who has mostly played safety, says he'll seek a CB's pay in free agency.
By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer
Published December 15, 2004
TAMPA - In January 2003, as the nickel cornerback, Dwight Smith picked off two Rich Gannon passes and sprinted into the end zone in Super Bowl XXXVII.
A few months later, he responded to the Bucs' need for help at safety and switched positions.
Then, in the months before the season, Smith's hopes for a new contract were dashed when the Bucs couldn't work out a deal.
Through it all, Smith has shown up on game day, made his share of big plays and taken his lumps, too. He has played hurt and played hard.
But the fourth-year pro's intentions are clear: He's looking forward to free agency and wants to be a cornerback.
"I'm going on the free-agency market as a corner," Smith said. "You've got all these guys who I know I am a better corner than, and I see them getting $9-million, $8-million up front. And you want me to take a safety salary because you moved me to safety? I can't fathom it! It's not that I'm greedy, it's that you want to be paid what you're worth."
Smith, 26, a third-round pick out of Akron in 2001, has emerged as one of the Bucs' rising stars. After his Super Bowl performance, the Bucs realized they needed to keep Smith on the field and make the best of his cover skills and physical play.
When Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson left in free agency, the Bucs asked Smith to move to safety, and he obliged. He played the 2003 season under his rookie contract, finished with a career-high 85 tackles and five interceptions and seemed poised for a new contract.
The Bucs opted to go in a different direction, and Smith has played the 2004 season under a deal paying $418,000. In November, the Bucs signed third-year safety Jermaine Phillips to a four-year, $9-million contract that came with a $1-million signing bonus.
It is a development not overlooked by Smith.
"When you go about your business and do everything the team asks you to do, you can feel good about yourself," Smith said. "It would have been different if I didn't show up or if I was not playing well because they didn't want to extend me. I came and did everything they asked me to do. Now, if they want to drop the ball and not repay me for my services, then that's on them.
"The fans will have their say on that, but I have to keep my mind on football and keep it right. I have a family to take care of."
A fierce competitor, Smith wants the Bucs to turn around their fortunes and make the playoffs. As much as any of his teammates, he wants to win and win now. But he also knows what's ahead in free agency.
"Honestly, it's exciting," Smith said. "When you're an athlete, you only have two chances to really determine your destiny, to decide what you want to do and where you want to go. That's when you're leaving high school to go to college and when you're going on the free-agent market. You don't get those opportunities a lot.
"Of course, I would have loved to have been signed here, now, or right after the season, to stay here, but it's always great to get out there and see what people think about you and what your value is. To be honest, you want to weigh your options."
Smith has picked up where he left off last season. He has 77 tackles and two interceptions and is tied with linebacker Derrick Brooks with a team-high three forced fumbles.
New agent Drew Rosenhaus said Smith "feels that he can be a starting cornerback in this league" and knows his client would prefer to return to the Bucs.
"You always try to re-sign with your team, but we don't have a crystal ball," Rosenhaus said. "We'll do our best to work things out with (the Bucs)."
Traditionally cornerbacks garner more lucrative contracts than safeties.
Entering this season, the average salary of the NFL's five highest-paid cornerbacks - the number teams used when tagging franchise players - was about $6.8-million. That number was about $4.1-million for safeties. In a perfect world, Smith said, the Bucs would get on a playoff run, and he would sign a contract extension to keep him in a Bucs uniform for many more years. But he understands there are no certainties in the NFL.
"This is a business, and we have to look at it the way it is," Smith said. "When I got here, my coach was Tony Dungy and Tony got let go and it's not because he can't coach, or he's a bad guy. Sometimes, your time is just up in the places you have been.
"That's how you have to look at it. If the Bucs don't feel like I'm worth what I'm asking for or they can find a guy to do what I'm doing, more power to them. I thank them for giving me the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl, to play in the NFL. I can't be mad at them for the decisions they make on the business end. I have to live my life."
And the Bucs have to be conscious of their salary cap, particularly considering the money they have tied up in starting corners Brian Kelly ($2.8-million) and Ronde Barber ($3.25-million) in 2005.
"It's not like I'm going to ask for a Champ Bailey deal, where he got $19-million. I'm not asking for that," Smith said. "I'm just asking for you not to pay me as a safety, pay me as a (corner). I do more for this team than what another safety does for his team."
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And another thing.............man I hope the Browns
don't get hold of Charlie. They really have a way of wrecking a QB.Don't worry Z-P, when is the last time you have seen the Browns make a good pick?
Charlie will be picked by a team that has done their homework.
If the Browns wanted a good "MAC" QB they would have picked Big Ben.
I'm hoping Charlie will be picked by a team I can root for because the NFL team I root for won't.
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Brookhart not eyeing Pitt post
First-year Zips coach pleased with situation
By David Lee Morgan Jr.
Beacon Journal staff writer
Given that University of Akron coach J.D. Brookhart spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Pittsburgh under Walt Harris, some might think the first-year Zips coach would be an automatic candidate to fill the void created when Harris decided Sunday to become the coach at Stanford.
``Naw,'' he said when asked if he was interested in returning to Pitt. ``I'm thrilled to be here (in Akron). We did some good things this year and I think we have a great thing going.''
Brookhart led the Zips to a 6-5 record and a 6-2 record in the Mid-American Conference. The Zips had a late-season opportunity to win the MAC East Division championship, but lost to Miami.
Before taking the Akron position, Brookhart was the wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator at Pitt. He coached All-American Larry Fitzgerald, who was the 2003 Heisman runner-up and won the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver.
Harris talked with Brookhart shortly after accepting the position at Stanford.
``I think this is a great opportunity for Walt,'' he said. ``It's a chance for him to go home.''
Harris, who has compiled a 51-43 record in eight seasons at Pitt, grew up in San Francisco and played at the College of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.
This season, the 58-year-old Harris led the Panthers to an 8-3 record. Pittsburgh was the co-Big East champion.
Harris recently was named the Big East Coach of the Year, an award he also won in 1997.
On Sunday afternoon, Harris met with his players to announce the news.
Pitt starting junior fullback Tim Murphy, a former Buchtel star, wasn't surprised by Harris' departure.
``Everybody on the team kind of had a feeling he wasn't going to be here because (the school) didn't give him a contract extension,'' Murphy said.
The 19th-ranked Panthers earned a BCS bid and will play Utah on Jan. 1 in the Fiesta Bowl. Harris will coach the team in the Fiesta Bowl.
``He expressed to us how much he wanted to coach us in the bowl game for the last time,'' Murphy said. ``So I don't think this is going to be a distraction. I think we'll play even harder for him so we can give him a win before he leaves.''
One name that has surfaced as a possible replacement for Harris is Dave Wannstedt, a former Pitt player and assistant coach who resigned as head coach of the Miami Dolphins after a 1-8 start this fall.
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Every year the world endures that eternal question.
Who is the #1 college football team in the nation?
In 1989, the Tom Bowl stepped up to answer that question.
Before the BCS
Before any talk of a playoff system
There was... The Tom Bowl.
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Posted on Thu, Dec. 02, 2004
Senior Bowl opens NFL door to Frye
By David Lee Morgan Jr.
Beacon Journal staff writer
Another great job of a "cut and paste" from GoZips.com a day later. Way to go YSU guy (David).
The Beacon has one crack staff.
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Kiper said Frye would likely be the 2nd overall quarterback taken in the Draft which they say will put him in the first 20 overall selections.
Let's say that statement is true.
JP Losman (Bills pick) was chosen with the 22 pick overall (4th QB taken).
Most contracts now a days are based on the previous years contract plus a percent increase.
With that in mind Charlie is looking at about 5.5 million guaranteed.
Way to go Charlie. Take note future recruits...Come to Akron, get 5 mill.
PS Charlie, if you want 7 mill bonus and a 30 million dollar contract, contact me. I only charge 7%.
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From talks of getting fired to talks of moving on...
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Just wondering if it might help our bowl chances at all that Brookhart was COY and Charlie POY for the conference?
A COY, no, I have never turned on a bowl game and said,
"man I want to see if John Copper can do it"
But I have watched many bowl games to check out an individual
that I thought might be drafted by my favorite NFL team.
Charlie back on Mel's board. He was off for a while. Top QB taken ?
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This seems to be of interest to some:
Seven current I-A schools averaged less than 15,000 in home attendance this season.
Rank TeamAverage111. Louisiana-Monroe 14,717112. Eastern Michigan 14,387113. Ball State 14,300114. Middle Tenn. St. 13,388115. Can't State 12,877116. Buffalo 12,185117. San Jose State 10,948 Also Florida Atlantic 9,415 Florida International 7,366Source: NCAA
Go Michigan State !!!
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If it comes down to Michigan St having to beat Hawaii in Hawaii 11:30 pm Saturday on ESPN2,
the stats don't look too good for us. I think Michigan St is favored by 6 right now.
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Nov 27th Mock Draft
Charlie Frye to back up Farve? Wasn't that Tim Couch's job at one time???
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GoZips -- you may be right, but one thing is for certain if you throw enough things against a wall -- eventually something will stick. Sad thing for you is Roger Brown has found a way to make a career out of it. Good luck!
Now that's funny
I would highly doubt Walt Harris is going to get fired after the payday he just scored.
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Oh to be blessed with that naivete' we call "fan".
GoZips makes it a point to be on solid ground before he pontificates.
Where I obtain my information is not for you to know. All you need to know (and you can verify this) is that I am correct far, far more often than I am wrong.
I don't care if Jeff Long drove to your house and told you in person
"don't tell anybody, but we are going to fire Walt Harris and rehire
a guy that used to be here that we let go that just stole our back-up QB
that has been a head coach for 1 year in the MAC to coach our team"
You are had better lay of the mushrooms dude!
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Have faith in JD (he may be the new HC at Pitt next year)
I would LOVE to know where you got this information from.
Is this your opinion?
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Good time to be a Zip fan. Everything seems to be going our way right now.
Weather clears up for kickoff (kleeek here)
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I just can't believe the BJ sent a photographer all the way down there to take a photo ! WOW
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If you want to find out who will win just play the game on your x-box at home. That is just as relevant.
Go back and figure out all those numbers for the Marshall
game before Akron beat them. Write it down on a piece of paper, wad it up, and
then throw it out the window !
If you like these numbers so much, bet em !
AVERAGE SCORE VS. COMMON OPPONENTS
Miami: 36-18.8 (+17.2)
Akron: 31.2-21.6 (+9.6)
Final Score Miami 27.6 Akron 20
Difference 7.6, the spread is 8, so take Akron and the 8. you can order your new car today.
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I agree, thank you to the players and coaching staff for their hard work. Keep it up.
Thank you to the AD and his staff for setting our standards at a higher level.
I'm just giddy over the fact that we can have a discussion and read about bowl games.
NOBODY could have predicted this.
Perfect world Akron pounds OSU in a bowl game.
Next to perfect, Akron pounds Pitt in a bowl game.
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Hope this is good luck. Zips 8.5 underdog against Miami.
Over / Under 57
Zips
Odds makers -
Can't home. Hands down.
I thought it was some kind of special occasion for them to pull out those ugly things.
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Part of the credit for that should go to former Akron coach Lee Owens, who recruited the likes of John Fuller, Domenik Hixon, Dwayne LeFall and Frye, who all have emerged as team leaders.
I had to look up what the Randel EL you were speaking of.
I can't believe I am about to defend Terry Pluto but, he is right,
Lee did recruit Charlie and Hixon. How much credit he should get for the victory can be questioned.
I agree with you, in the same situation I don't think Lee's staff comes through there.
I wonder how long before we stop referencing Lee's coaching ability with every win or loss?
For those of you that don't read the Beacon here is the whole article:
Discipline helps Zips succeed
By Terry Pluto
Hang on to the ball -- or bear crawl.
That's one of the messages that Akron Zips football coach J.D. Brookhart delivers to his players.
If you have the ball in practice, hold it tight.
``You never know when one of the coaches or even the managers will come up behind you and try to knock it loose,'' Brookhart said. ``It could happen in a drill, or maybe just when you least expect it.''
And if you fumble?
Down on all fours, and get ready to crawl for a while. Works great for a bear. Of course, the rest of us do much better on two legs.
``It's about discipline,'' Brookhart said.
And what are the results of that focus?
``(In Mid-American Conference play) our turnovers are excellent. We've forced three more than we've made.''
That's just part of the reason the Zips are the MAC's surprise team, owning a 5-1 league record and tied for the East Division lead with Miami and Marshall. The Zips have won four in a row, including Friday's stunning 31-28 victory over powerful Marshall at the Rubber Bowl.
In that game, the Zips kept their cool after falling behind 28-7 in the third quarter. Marshall seemed to wilt and appear disorganized as Zips quarterback Charlie Frye led an amazing fourth-quarter comeback.
Brookhart praised the composure of his players.
``We have the fewest penalties in the MAC,'' he said. ``I'm proud of that, too. It comes from practice. If you jump offside, you do grass drills.''
That means you run in place until a coach whistles, then you drop to the ground. Then you get up -- and then go down again.
``No fun,'' Brookhart said.
The coach said his team has grown so football savvy, the offense can start plays with different snap counts -- something that requires tremendous concentration. Brookhart said he could never do that when he was coaching previously at Pitt.
Part of the credit for that should go to former Akron coach Lee Owens, who recruited the likes of John Fuller, Domenik Hixon, Dwayne LeFall and Frye, who all have emerged as team leaders.
``Frye, Fuller and some other guys never wavered,'' Brookhart said. ``We had some seniors who sort of had one foot in with what we were doing, one foot out. But they hung in there, and now they are leading the underclassmen, too. These seniors have a real sense of urgency to do something special.''
Brookhart talked about defensive lineman Kiki Gonzalez, ``who would quit in some of the drills during the spring. Now, he's pushing himself hard and pushing the other guys.''
Brookhart knows he did not inherit a team in turmoil. The Zips were 7-5 last season, 5-3 in the MAC. They lost their top receivers and runners, but did have future NFL draft pick Frye returning at quarterback and some experienced linemen back, too. The Zips had no excessive academic or behavioral problems.
Brookhart wanted to put his own stamp on the team, to stress ``accountability,'' one of his favorite words.
Miss a class or study hall, be ready to run at 6 a.m. In the office and at meetings, players wear no caps. They dress neatly.
Brookhart said when he was a young assistant at Pitt, coach Walt Harris had several rules that seemed like nothing more than nitpicking.
``I told myself I wouldn't do that,'' he said. ``But now that I sit in that head coach's chair, I do it. And I understand why Walt did it. You want to establish a culture, a mind-set.''
He believes these qualities helped the Zips come back from a 1-4 season start, where they were crushed at Penn State (48-10), Virginia (51-0) and Northern Illinois (48-18).
``These are tough-minded guys,'' he said. ``They have been through a lot. They have a high desire (to please), to succeed. Our defense had felt like step-children for years. Now they are helping us win games. I'm proud to coach this team.''
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The play made me explode out of my seat (In Vegas on TV)
Vegas eh? Didn't have to go all the way to Vegas to bet on the game.
Hope you took the Zips straight up and got 4:1 odds like me.
I honestly forgot about my bet until after celebrating on the field.
I was walking out of the stadium and thought, oh yeah, I just won money on that game.
Now you know the game was good for me to forget about money
Hey Z-P, did you see me on ESPN2 with Charlie in Vegas? No kidding.
JD not mentioned as Pitt candidate
in Akron Zips Football
Posted
3 coaches already in hunt for Pitt job, none named JD
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
By Ray Fittipaldo and Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pitt's search for a football coach to replace Walt Harris has begun, and at least three coaches have surfaced as candidates for the job.
Former Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears coach Dave Wannstedt, Oklahoma University defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and Houston Texans defensive backs coach Jon Hoke have received phone calls from Pitt athletic director Jeff Long, but no formal interviews have been set as of last night. Others could be contacted in the coming days, according to sources familiar with the coaching search.
Wannstedt, who resigned from the Dolphins a month ago, has ties to Pitt. He was an offensive lineman for the Panthers from 1971-73 and an assistant coach from 1976-78. Before becoming an NFL head coach, Wannstedt also coached at Oklahoma State, Southern California and the University of Miami and was defensive coordinator under Jimmy Johnson with the Dallas Cowboys.
A Baldwin native, Wannstedt is working as an analyst on Fox's NFL broadcasts.
Hoke, the defensive backs coach with the Texans under former Steelers coach Dom Capers, has spoken by phone with Long and has an interest in the job. He could not be reached for comment.
Before spending the past two seasons with the Texans, Hoke was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Florida under Steve Spurrier. He also has coached at Missouri, Can't State, San Diego State and Bowling Green.
Spurrier wanted to hire Hoke as his defensive coordinator at South Carolina, but Hoke turned him down to remain with the Texans.
Long has known Hoke almost his entire life. The two were high school teammates together at Fairmont East High School in Kettering, Ohio, near Dayton.
Pelini, 37, has never been a head coach, but he has extensive experience as an assistant in the NFL and college. He is currently the co-defensive coordinator at Oklahoma and spent the 2003 season as defensive coordinator at Nebraska under Frank Solich. Before that, Pelini spent nine seasons as an NFL assistant with San Francisco, New England and Green Bay. A native of Youngstown, Ohio, he played at Ohio State.
Other coachers who have expressed interest in the job are Solich and Carolina Panthers defensive line coach Sal Sunseri, a Pitt graduate with extensive college coaching experience at Michigan State, Louisiana State and Louisville. He has the support of several influential people at Pitt.
Solich, a Johnstown native, spent this past season out of coaching after getting fired at Nebraska. Solich spent six seasons as coach of the Cornhuskers, compiling a 58-19 record after serving as a longtime assistant to former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne.
According to Solich's agent, Jack Mills, Solich is interested in interviewing with Long. Solich, 60, is currently under consideration to be hired at Ohio University. He was en route to Athens, Ohio, last night for a second interview with the Bobcats today.
Solich spent the past year visiting with friends and colleagues in the college game and the NFL in an attempt to stay in touch with the latest trends. He still lives in Lincoln, Neb.
Paul Rhoads, Pitt's defensive coordinator, is expected to be interviewed, but Rhoads said yesterday he and Long have not spoken about the job and that he does not know when or if an interview will take place.
Jerry Glanville, the former coach of the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons, is interested, too. Out of coaching for a decade, Glanville said Pitt is a great opportunity.
"I don't know if they have any interest in me at all," said Glanville, who has spent the past 10 years in broadcasting for Fox, CBS and HBO. "But I'm very much interested. I watch a lot of football. They have their quarterback coming back. I think they have a chance to be pretty good."
Glanville also is interested in the vacancy at New Mexico State, among other college jobs.
source