:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6889651/20120511_ajw_ac1_333.jpg)
Jason Smith has been popular on this site lately. He restructured his hefty contract to remain in St. Louis, and he even changed his jersey number from 77 to 72.
Will this new Jason Smith, with his new contract and number, play like a new player? That's still up in the air.
What's not up in the air is Jason Smith's status for next year. I got this quote from Kevin Demoff, on Jim Thomas's chat a couple of days ago on www.stltoday.com
KEVIN DEMOFF: It is never easy to ask a player to take a pay cut, especially a young player who we still have great hope for. The goal in Jason's restructure was to give him the opportunity to perform at a high level and have the market determine his value after this season as an unrestricted free agent. We still believe he has a very bright future with our team.
It makes sense. Jason Smith has been an underachiever since being drafted second overall in the 2009 draft. This new regime has no connection with Smith, but they can hope that he does well this year. Then next year, find his replacement.
There's a chance that Smith will resign with the Rams after this season, but if he doesn't have a great season, or get's injured again, he probably won't play with the Rams again.