04-19-2023, 11:59 AM
Harrison Smith definitely considered leaving the Vikings this offseason for Cincinnati or one of the other suitors believed to have had interest in the six-time Pro Bowl safety had the salary cap-strapped Vikings been forced to release him.
"I thought about it for sure," he said Tuesday. "It's human nature. I think about other things and other places. So, yeah."
But, in the end, however, Smith said, "it felt right to stay." Even when staying meant taking a pay cut from $14.7 million to $8 million with $2 million in incentives.
Smith said there wasn't one particular reason he stayed but did add that playing for and learning from new defensive coordinator Brian Flores was "honestly a big draw in staying here."
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell fired Ed Donatell, last year's defensive coordinator, after one season in which the defense played softer schemes than O'Connell, the players — and the fans — would have liked. With the offseason program starting this week and more players beginning to speak publicly, it's becoming clear that hiring the ultra-aggressive Flores was a popular move in the locker room.
"I like his mentality," Smith said. "I like, just the first few days, how he kind of relays information and how he thinks about things."
Smith excelled for eight seasons as former coach Mike Zimmer's most versatile defensive weapon and pre-snap tool of deception. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith blitzed at least 35 times a season under Zimmer and only 14 times last season.
Flores comes to Minnesota with an established record of pushing the limits on man coverage and zero-blitz packages.
"If some of those things are a part of what I do or what people do on the defense, then I have some familiarity with that in the past," Smith said.
So Smith, 34, enters his 12th season with the team that drafted him. With Devin McCourty's retirement, Smith's 34 career interceptions are tied with former teammate Patrick Peterson for the most among active players.
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vikings-notebook-harrison-smith-brian-flores-brian-asamoah-jordan-hicks/600268156/
"I thought about it for sure," he said Tuesday. "It's human nature. I think about other things and other places. So, yeah."
But, in the end, however, Smith said, "it felt right to stay." Even when staying meant taking a pay cut from $14.7 million to $8 million with $2 million in incentives.
Smith said there wasn't one particular reason he stayed but did add that playing for and learning from new defensive coordinator Brian Flores was "honestly a big draw in staying here."
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell fired Ed Donatell, last year's defensive coordinator, after one season in which the defense played softer schemes than O'Connell, the players — and the fans — would have liked. With the offseason program starting this week and more players beginning to speak publicly, it's becoming clear that hiring the ultra-aggressive Flores was a popular move in the locker room.
"I like his mentality," Smith said. "I like, just the first few days, how he kind of relays information and how he thinks about things."
Smith excelled for eight seasons as former coach Mike Zimmer's most versatile defensive weapon and pre-snap tool of deception. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith blitzed at least 35 times a season under Zimmer and only 14 times last season.
Flores comes to Minnesota with an established record of pushing the limits on man coverage and zero-blitz packages.
"If some of those things are a part of what I do or what people do on the defense, then I have some familiarity with that in the past," Smith said.
So Smith, 34, enters his 12th season with the team that drafted him. With Devin McCourty's retirement, Smith's 34 career interceptions are tied with former teammate Patrick Peterson for the most among active players.
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vikings-notebook-harrison-smith-brian-flores-brian-asamoah-jordan-hicks/600268156/
