Here’s hoping
The problem comes in at the money he wants to return.
If he gets desperate enough and is willing to bend some it might happen.
I’d love to have him back but that would mean some tough choices will need to be made.
I have stated before, and still believe, that the deal has been done for some time. I believe this is more about keeping him out of much of the preseason and coming back at an optimal time.
I could look really foolish for holding this belief, but it is mine.
yes but which part is his Agent asking for the money vs which part Smith is? if they want too much, we can just tell them to kick rocks.
I’d rather move on!
He showed me nothing last year
There is no benefit to the Lions in holding Za out.
It could be that Za knows that he will accept the current Lions offer and is enjoying his offseason.
The tough choice is whether Za will take the offer Holmes made in March.
I’m pretty certain that Holmes will not raise the offer.
The question is whether the offer is still available.
If the offer is still there then I can see Za signing right before training camp.
But I worry that he has been enjoying his offseason so much that he will come in and immediately have soft tissue injury because of lack of training.
The Lions offseason program has been going for months.
If he signs the staff will have to slowly work him in like he is coming off of an injury.
Za is obviously seeking a little more leverage. He is probably waiting for Davenport to get some contact reps in so he can hurt his 15th body part in 7 years.
What tuff choice is there, not tuff at all, Hutch , Pascal , Davenport, Smith and the rookie. That’s is a competitive room.
You really think he’s not working out? Why would him missing OTAs automatically be a reason for worry? Older players sit out OTAs all the time and come in to practice in July and preseason and play.
I think Air meant tough decisions money wise. It could be a tough decision for Z. Is he willing to play on far less money than he hoped for?
Holmes basically said he wanted him back but was just too expenisve. So what is Z willing to play for? I still think he sits out half of camp and then signs. Hopefully with us… But if other teams have injuries in camp, Z might get a better offer.
Z did have 9 sacks last year so he wants one last decent paycheck. That seems pretty clear.
It may not be a fair assumption.
Za has been seen traveling and at numerous celebrity events with his girlfriend Kash Doll.
He could be training while with her but that is usually not the same consistency and intensity of a team or even working out with other players.
It appears Za has been partaking in the celebrity lifestyle since season’s end.
Just an observation, I could be dead wrong and he and Kash Doll get up at 6am every morning to lift and do suicides together.
Gotta think this would be done already . . .if Holmes was positive that he couldn’t trade for Hendrickson.
That’s the question since the Lions did release him some months ago. It was always about the cap number.
Imho he did earn enough ($88Mio, more than Rags) so he should sign for a cheap contract and chase for a ring.
Frank’s contract is off the books so I don’t see why tough choices need to be made to fit in Z.
I still believe Z is not coming back , he would already be here. Brad is perfectly fine with who he has now. They will be no Trey or Z . It’s Hutch and Davenport, sprinkled in by Josh , AQM and the Rook. Not popular here. But popular with Brad.
Me I’m still wondering why Brad thinks a 9 sack guy isn’t worth 10 million on a DE needy team.
Z seems like a respected and responsible pro, by all accounts. Not worried about him partying his ass off all summer.
Either a deal will be struck or it won’t.
They may now be looking at Z’s reps and thinking they’d rather use those to develop the Assassin for pennies on the dollar instead.
Yep and they just have a lot more faith in guys they have in Davenport and Josh.
There just may come a time when the Lions number for Z and his own reach equilibrium.
Z Smith WILL be playing in the NFL in September. Just a question of for who and for how much.