DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Heisman-winner Smith survives cut in Ravens quarterback competition

Associated Press


BALTIMORE -- Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith has earned the job as the Baltimore Ravens' third-string quarterback. His place on the team, however, is not yet guaranteed.

The Ravens cut former UCLA quarterback Drew Olson on Monday, leaving Smith alone on the depth chart behind starter Steve McNair and backup Kyle Boller.

"What still has to be determined is if we'll carry two or three quarterbacks on the active roster," Baltimore coach Brian Billick said. "Last year we carried two."

Even if the Ravens go with only two quarterbacks, Smith will almost certainly earn a paycheck on Baltimore's practice squad. That's no small feat for the last player drafted in the fifth round of the NFL draft, in part because he was deemed by some scouts to be too small to be a pro quarterback.

The 6-foot, 225-pound Smith had only two games to make an impression on the Ravens coaching staff. His third opportunity was washed away when lightning ended Saturday's preseason game against the Washington Redskins in the third quarter.

Smith was 3-for-11 for 34 yards in the opener against Philadelphia and 4-for-8 for 60 yards against the New York Giants. Olson was 7-for-9 for 84 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles, but only 1-for-4 for 6 yards against New York.

Rather than wait to make a decision, the Ravens cut ties with Olson -- who played in NFL Europa and was on Baltimore's practice squad last year -- and went with Smith.

"You just know there's loads and loads of potential there," offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel said. "It's difficult in the short time that we've been with him to get all that out of him, especially because he's trying to indoctrinate himself into a new offense, new terminology and all that kind of stuff.

"We made the decision to bank on the huge upside that Troy has," Neuheisel said.

Smith won the Heisman Trophy, threw 54 touchdown passes at Ohio State and led the Buckeyes into the national championship game last season. His outstanding college career couldn't prepare him for the NFL.

On Sunday, Smith was engaged in a friendly competition with Olson. On Monday, Olson was gone.

"I just gave him a call to see what time we were coming in and he told me they had released him," Smith said. "It was a shock to me. Guys you slapped fives with might not even be here. You never know. It's an incredible business."

Smith said beating out Olson provided no sense of relief and not one shred of satisfaction. There was no celebration, either.

"I never really had any feelings about it, still don't," Smith said. "To me, it's not declaring somebody as a winner. They make decisions in the front office we can't change. Drew's a great friend of mine. He's going to continue to be a friend of mine. We've got a football season to prepare for and that's what I'm going to do."

Said Billick: "Decisions have to be made. Drew was with us last year; he's a good, young man. I think he has a future. But we had to make a decision, and decided to see how it would play out with Troy."

In other moves Monday, the Ravens waived running back Greg Pruitt, Jr., safety Bobby Blackshire, cornerback Terrell Maze, punter Brendan Carney and long snapper Nick Leeson. Baltimore also placed linebackers Dan Cody (knee) and Mike Smith (shoulder) on the physically unable to perform list, and placed offensive lineman Steve Edwards (knee) on injured reserve.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
http://www.nfl.com/preseason/story?id=09000d5d801e1edb&template=with-video&confirm=true

Good for him.

Jus' keep on Truckin' Troy...

But, a thought....

Wouldn't it be something if he didn't make this cut...Wouldn't that be a first for a Heisman winner in his rookie year?

Didn't Gino Toretto (sp) get cut his first year

Good job Troy...

If you ever get into a game I hope you get lit up though

Quote:

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Smith will almost certainly earn a paycheck on Baltimore's practice squad. That's no small feat for the last player drafted in the fifth round of the NFL draft

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Really? Its no small feat for a 5th round pick to be competing for a practice squad spot? Maybe my expectations are simply too high...

This is true....but it was cuz he had knee prbs....what round was he drafted in?

I don't think he was drafted.

Good for him!

Hey peen didn't leak get hurt or something?

I don't know man.

Once they leave my school for another team other than the Browns, I just don't really care much.

TS, as they say is next...

PS at best for him... With the Rats anyway... It's hard to tell, but me thinks the CFL will be swell...

Now back to our regular schduled Browns discussions...

Someone remind me why Troy Smith won the Heisman. surely there was someone more deserving of that honor who was drafted above him and are not in danger of being being cut.

He won it because he was the best player in the nation at the time. Has nothing to do with his career after college.

he def "retired" from pro footbal....i'm not sure how thts doable since he didn't play a single game in the NFL...but i remember him having a interview n stuff n saying how he wants to retire cuz he has bad knees that won't allow him to play further...

2500 yards throwing, 30 TDs, only 6 INTs

not sure what his rushing stats were... but beating two #2 teams and leading his team to a NC game in a year that there was not a huge race for the Heisman is why he won it... every other top guy had a falter game or two before the bowls... Troy's was in the NC game after he had already won the award.

A matter of opinion how?

Best player in the nation or not based on his career after college football?

I would have cut Boller rather than Olson.

Who do you think should have won it?

The stats were amazing.

I will try to find them.

I don't have a specific person I would promote. Maybe Calvin Joh son or Ressell. Even if Smith had the best stats, he got most of them playing against nobody's. Sory about the spelling but i am on the phone.

Troy Smith

2,507 yds passing, 30td's, 5 int's, 316 yds rushing, 4td's, 67% completion

Brady Quinn

3,278 yds, 35 td's, 5int's

Darren Mcfadden

1,485 yds ( 6.1 avg), 14 tds,

Mike Hart

1,515 yds, 14td's

Colt Brennan

4,589 yds passing, 51td's, 9int's

Keep in mind Smith played higher talented teams and beat higher talented teams. Plus led his team to the National Championship. GD gators

Calvin Johnson wasn't on a good enough team to win and Russell I think had better stats, but hardly anyone outside of the SEC heard of him until the ND game...

oh... and just to add... I believe that Troy won by one of if not the largest margin of victory... just FYI.

and personally again I don't think it was because he was such an outstanding player (which he was) but because last year's race was pretty light... no one really stepped up...

Every college team there is plays nobody's. close to half of their schedule.

But I wouldn't say we played nobody's. We played Texas, Wisconsion, Penn State, Iowa, Michigan State, Michigan. All capable teams last year and we beat all of them.

Wisconsin wasn't on the schedule... they only had one loss last year and it was to scUM.

this is true...we didn't play the badgers....(god i hate them...it's home this year! GO BUCKS)

even then...we beat 2 #2 teams in the country....how many teams can say that? and had a chance to beat another one 3rd time(sigh)....not many teams play 2 #2 teams in 1 year....

That's right, they were the year before and this year. My bad.

I didn't say he was flat out the wrong choice. I simply asked why he was chosen over others. I think it is pretty safe to say if he was playing on an average team he wold not have won the trophy. Makes me think the Heisman is more about circumstance than skill.

Well as much as hesiman is about individual player it is also about how much can that player raise his team...

So if u have a good player playing at QB n his team is going to the NC chances r he will win out over a QB who has slightly better stats but isn't....makes sense to me...and 2nd of all there are lot of what IFs....but the fact of the matter is he played for OSU and did his thing...and OSU would def NOT have been as good as they were if it wasn't for him the last 2 seasons...

I truly believe that...and he won what he deserved...nobody hands down deserved more than he did...sure some ppl had better stats but it was nothing mind blowing...same thing with troys...the diff was he was goin to the NC n they weren't...

Smith was always an offensive threat that had to be accounted for because he could run or pass for a TD and had an ability to make time and find the open WR. The only way to stop him was to commit to a fast egde rush and that is what FLa did. Smith also had some excellent talent with him while QUinn didn't...Wells and Pitman were better than the ND RBs and Gonzales, Ginn, Robiske and Hartline were excellent receivers. If Smith had not played for a top team he would not have been picked.

I think Smith will eventually become a really good QB but I hope the Ravens don't have him by then. If I were to compare QUinn has more veiw of the field but Smith can make plays and run. I woul dreally liek a QB that can add 20-30 extra yards from running it really kills a defense that is trying to cover very fast receivers.