Free agents usually come to the Washington Redskins to get overpaid. Fred Smoot may be the first just looking for contentment.
The cornerback returned to the Redskins on Sunday after a two-year tour in Minnesota that both Washington coach Joe Gibbs and Smoot termed a “mistake.” Smoot already cashed in big in Minnesota so money wasn’t the major concern, though the reported five-year, $25 million contract with a $7 million bonus was a good deal for someone with a limited market.
Smoot knew he could return to the place where everyone not only knew his name, but smiled when they said it. Smoot is so down home, even southern teammates don’t always understand him. Laughter surrounds the fun-loving defender, though.
“This is my home,” he said. “I don’t have to learn any new coaches. I don’t have to learn any new city. It’s like moving back in that old room in mama’s house.”
It was a tough stint up north for Smoot. There was the “Love Boat” sex scandal. His brother died in a car accident. Smoot was also hurt in a separate car crash. He needed somewhere to mentally recover.
“I know what I can do here. I’ve done it here,” Smoot said. “I always had something on my mind [in Minnesota]. Here I played with a clear head. I never really got comfortable there. I felt like a stepchild.”
It was a mixed weekend for the Redskins. They signed aging middle linebacker London Fletcher and a nickel back in Smoot and lost Arizona guard Leonard Davis to Dallas. That’s essentially 1-1-1 for those keeping score.
Smoot’s return heals a loss felt by Gibbs, who doesn’t like losing players.
“A lot of us make mistakes in life,” Gibbs said. “It’s not often in life when you have a chance to make up for it and that’s what we’re doing here.”
Smoot isn’t joking when saying he wants to take old friend and teammate Shawn Springs’ starting job.
“Somebody’s coming after everybody’s job,” he said. “I’m sure somebody’s coming after yours real soon. Job security in the United States is at a premium.”
Sounds like a tough-talking politician. Yes, Smoot fits in real well in Washington.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
