Smoot wants Vikings to trade for Gardner

[Redskins_P]

From the St. Paul Pioneer Press:


Smoot in favor of Darius

BY DON SEEHOLZER

Pioneer Press


The Vikings' newest recruit met the press Wednesday, and Fred Smoot used the occasion to make an endorsement.

One day after agreeing to terms on a six-year, $34 million contract, the former free-agent cornerback said he definitely would be in favor of a trade for Jacksonville safety Donovin Darius.

"That would be lovely," Smoot said. "Any time you've got a guy like that, putting a roof over my head, it would be nice."

The Vikings are in discussions with the Jaguars on a trade for Darius, who wants out of Jacksonville after being slapped with the franchise tag for the third consecutive year but likely would cost Minnesota at least a second-round draft choice and a player.

The Vikings also have been talking to Washington about a trade for wide receiver Rod Gardner, and Smoot made a pitch to coach Mike Tice on behalf of his former Redskins teammate.

"I think Rod would be a good piece of the puzzle if Coach wants to get a couple of more people to fill in for the Moss trade," Smoot said. "Other than that, I'm going to let Coach handle it. He did a great job by coming and getting me, so I'm not going to doubt his recruiting skills at all."

Smoot said Tice was the biggest reason why he signed with the Vikings, although a call from quarterback Daunte Culpepper didn't hurt.

Smoot also said he is looking forward to the challenge of helping revive the Vikings' 28th-ranked defense and lining up opposite cornerback Antoine Winfield.

"I'll go on the record as saying we will be the best tandem in the NFL," Smoot said. "The funny thing about it is I kind of find myself lucking out and falling into those types of situations all the time. I came into the league and it was Champ Bailey and Darrell Green, and then I went on to play with Shawn Springs and now I've got Antoine. Right now, I'm just a lucky guy."

Happy camper: Tight end Jermaine Wiggins, who agreed to terms Tuesday on a five-year, $7.3 million contract, said he was glad to be back with the Vikings and not at all disappointed that he had to wait a week into free agency to do so.

"You know, that's how the business is," Wiggins said. "Nothing is ever on time, so it's kind of like everybody in the NFL is fashionably late. That's just the way it is. I'm just happy that it did happen."

Wiggins confirmed that payment of his $1 million signing bonus would be deferred — half in July and half next March — but said he wasn't put off by the Vikings' negotiating strategy.

"As long as I'm going to get it," Wiggins said. "Whether it's today or three months from now, the bottom line is I'm still going to get it."

The Vikings have asked their veteran free-agent signees to defer payment of their signing bonuses until summer, when prospective owner Reggie Fowler — not Red McCombs — could be responsible for the payments.

Briefly: Backup quarterback Gus Frerotte continues to work on a contract with Miami.

• Defensive tackle Steve Martin has been selected to attend the Wharton School of Business Entrepreneurial Program.