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Will Smith | Linebacker

Team: New Orleans Saints
Age / DOB:  (31) / 7/4/1981
Ht / Wt:  6'3' / 282
College: Ohio State
Contract: view contract details
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Will Smith was running with the Saints' first-team defense at outside linebacker in OTAs this week.
Smith and Martez Wilson were with the ones, while Junior Galette and Victor Butler were with the twos. As we pointed out days ago, this attempt by the Saints to move 6-foot-3, 282-pound Smith to stand-up edge rusher is quite comical. Galette and Butler are younger and much more talented at this stage of their respective careers. Smith, due $3 million, is a candidate to be released. May 23 - 2:46 PM
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune

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Date:
Will Smith - LB - Saints

Saints GM Mickey Loomis says Will Smith will start off at outside linebacker in OTAs.

Smith is 6-foot-3, 282 pounds. It's a comical attempt to fit Smith into the Saints' new 3-4 defense, and an experiment almost certain to end in failure. Aside from a few snaps at weak-side linebacker as a rookie, Smith has spent his entire career as a base 4-3 end. Due a non-guaranteed $3 million after restructuring his contract, Smith is a candidate for trade or release.
Source: Larry Holder on Twitter
May 20 - 9:30 AM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

Saints DE Will Smith took a $6 million pay cut to stay with the team.

His base salary was chopped from $9 million to $3 million. Smith essentially now has a two-year, $14.4 million contract, though in 2014 his salary skyrockets to $10.4 million. Smith will be 33 then, so 2013 will almost certainly be his last season in New Orleans. Smith's pass-rush ability has evaporated.
Source: ESPN.com
Mar 13 - 3:07 AM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

As expected, the Saints have asked DE Will Smith to accept a "big pay reduction" in salary for 2013.

Smith is owed $10.15 million in including salary and bonuses. The Saints might not take him back at half of that price. New Orleans is transitioning to a 3-4 defense, and Smith has been a base 4-3 end his entire career. In all likelihood, Smith is going to be released, saving the Saints salary cap space.
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter
Feb 18 - 2:13 PM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

The New Orleans Times-Picayune considers DE Will Smith and LB Jonathan Vilma poor fits for the Saints' new 3-4 defense.

"They might not be part of the Saints' future plans," writes Mike Triplett. Smith and Vilma are almost certain to be offseason cap casualties. Their diminishing skills coupled with their inflated salaries are a perfect recipe for release. Smith is due $10.15 million for 2013, while Vilma is owed $6 million in the final year of his deal.
Related: Jonathan Vilma
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune
Jan 24 - 8:42 PM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

The New Orleans Times-Picayune considers Saints DE Will Smith and LB Jonathan Vilma both likely to be released in the offseason unless they are amenable to "substantial pay cuts."

Both players are on the wrong side of 30, and due a combined $15.9 million in 2013. Vilma has made little impact as he's played through New Orleans' never-ending bounty drama, while Smith has graded out as one of the worst 4-3 ends in the league in Pro Football Focus' ratings. If either is back with the Saints in 2013, it will be at a substantially-reduced salary.
Related: Jonathan Vilma
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune
Fri, Dec 21, 2012 06:07:00 PM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

CBS' Jason La Canfora reports all four suspended players from the Saints' bounty case will meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday.

Saints RE Will Smith, Browns SLB Scott Fujita, free agent DT Anthony Hargrove and Jonathan Vilma might finally learn their ultimate fate after their suspensions were temporarily overturned on appeal last Friday. A settlement that includes reduced bans for all four players may be the most likely outcome.
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter
Wed, Sep 12, 2012 03:18:00 PM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

In a stunning development, players suspended for their roles in the Saints' 2009-2011 Bounty Scandal have had their bans overturned on appeal.

Perhaps the most notable suspension lifted is RE Will Smith's. The Saints' best pass rusher will be able to start Sunday against the Redskins. Browns SLB Scott Fujita and Saints MLB Jonathan Vilma, among others, are now eligible to play football. Vilma has been away from the Saints rehabbing from knee surgeries, so it's unclear how much time he'll need to get back into the swing of things. Smith's return will make life quite a bit more difficult on Redskins rookie Robert Griffin III. Coaches Sean Payton and Joe Vitt, and GM Mickey Loomis' suspensions will remain intact.
Related: Scott Fujita, Jonathan Vilma
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Fri, Sep 7, 2012 03:35:00 PM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

NFL suspended Saints RE Will Smith four games for his role in the team's bounty scandal.

The league found that Smith assisted former DC Gregg Williams in "establishing and funding the program," and "pledged significant sums to the program pool" for cart-offs and knockouts of opponents. The Saints will open the season perilously thin at defensive end, with only Junior Galette, Turk McBride, and Greg Romeus behind disappointing 2011 first-round pick Cam Jordan. Smith will be eligible to resume playing in games in Week 5.
Wed, May 2, 2012 12:35:00 PM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

A misdemeanor domestic abuse battery charge against Saints DE Will Smith has been dismissed.

The charge dates back to 2010. Smith was indicted by a grand jury last March, but the Lafayette Parish DA's Office opted to dismiss the charges after the defensive end completed community service and participated in counseling. His wife also requested that the charges be dismissed.
Source: Associated Press
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 01:43:00 PM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

The Saints have restructured RE Will Smith's contract, reducing his cap number by $4.78 million.

Smith won't be released after the restructure. He lost no money in the deal, instead having a $6.175M signing bonus implemented into his 2012 pay on top of a $150,000 workout bonus, $1M roster bonus to be paid on March 27, and $825,000 salary. Smith's cap numbers do shoot through the roof in 2013 and 2014, however, so he may be playing his final season in New Orleans.
Source: ESPN.com
Tue, Mar 6, 2012 03:10:00 PM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

Yahoo's Jason Cole reports that the Saints are working to restructure RE Will Smith's contract ahead of the start of free agency.

Smith is owed a $1 million roster bonus on March 27 and carries a $10.15M cap number, according to The Sideline View's Adam Caplan. By moving money around and guaranteeing some of Smith's base salary, the Saints could save $5 million to $6 million. Per Cole, the reworked contract "could be done today."
Source: Yahoo Sports
Thu, Mar 1, 2012 10:08:00 AM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

Saints RE Will Smith has a $1 million roster bonus due on March 27.

Smith is also due a $7 million base salary, and his 2012 cap number is over $10 million. Now entering his age-31 season, Smith registered 6.5 sacks, 35 tackles, and two forced fumbles in 2011. The numbers aren't terrible, but certainly fall well short of elite and New Orleans was gashed by the run throughout the season. We wouldn't be surprised if Smith was a cap casualty.
Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter
Fri, Feb 10, 2012 02:31:00 PM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

Saints RE Will Smith will come off suspension and be eligible for Week 3.

As is the case with Vikings DT Kevin Williams, Smith's two-game StarCaps suspension is up. The Saints got their pass rush back on track against the Bears Sunday, sacking Jay Cutler six times. Smith will add even more life to what projects as an explosive front four. New Orleans' defense is much more the unit that played against Chicago than the lifeless defense of Week 1.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune
Sun, Sep 18, 2011 11:44:00 PM
Will Smith - LB - Saints

NFL suspended Saints DE Will Smith two games for violating the league's policy against banned substances.

He'll be back in Week 3. The Saints had been expecting a four-game ban for Smith's StarCaps case, so they should be pleased with this outcome. Turk McBride and a player to be named will open the year as New Orleans' starting defensive ends. Smith, 30, slumped along with the rest of the Saints' defense last season, managing just 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 15 starts.
Source: Albert Breer on Twitter
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 05:33:00 PM