Mr. Smoot Goes (Back) To Washington

Fred Smoot didn't stay unemployed long. After being shown the door Thursday, Smoot landed on his feet -- signing a five-year deal with the Redskins on Saturday.

It didn’t take Fred Smoot long to find employment after being shown the door by the Vikings just two days earlier.

Smoot, who was released after two turbulent seasons with the Vikings, is heading back to where his career started by agreeing to a five-year deal with the Redskins. Smoot will be announced at a press conference today to say he’s been signed. His agent said Saturday that the familiarity of the Redskins was Smoot’s motivating factor and that he likely signed for less money than he could have made on the open market and going to a new defensive system.

Smoot was rumored to be a cap casualty from the time it was learned that he was behind the sex boat scandal that rocked the team two years ago.

SUNDAY NOTES
* Vikings fans that had hoped to see the team lock up offensive players like Jeff Garcia or Ashley Lelie were disappointed Saturday. Both signed two-year deals – Garcia with the Buccaneers and Lelie with the 49ers. The team had Lelie scheduled for a visit Monday, so there was a certain level of disappointment that he signed a two-year, $4.3 million deal with the Niners.
* Kevin Curtis left Winter Park without signing a deal, which could be bad news for the Vikings. The Lions have been known to make huge offers to players they fear will sign with division rivals. The connection between Curtis and Mike Martz is also strong, which doesn’t bode well in the Vikings’ favor.
* Another player some had linked to the Vikings was defensive end Dewayne White. The former Buc signed a five-year, $29 million deal with the Lions.
* Former Viking Patrick Chukwurah signed a five-year deal with the Buccaneers Saturday.