Cardinals sign free agent fullback Smith
Darren Urban, Tribune
The Arizona Cardinals found their blocking fullback Friday when free agent Terrelle Smith agreed to a two-year deal with the team.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Smith’s agent, Ryan Tollner, said Smith was excited to be part of an up-and-coming franchise and happy to be returning to the area where he played in college. Smith played at Arizona State from 1997-99.
In six NFL seasons with New Orleans and Cleveland, Smith has blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher five times – once during two seasons in Cleveland and in each of his four seasons in New Orleans.
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Guee
In an "NFL Insiders" article dated of October 20, 2004, I found some very interesting observations about Terrelle Smith that give us an idea of what he could possibly bring to the Cardinals. Here they are:
The Browns new fullback is everything the team hoped he would be, and more...
The new-era Browns have never had a pure fullback until this year. The past three years under Butch Davis, they tried one-back sets and H-backs, but it wasn't the same.
Now they have a true fullback in Terrelle Smith, and they couldn't be happier.
In Cleveland's 34-17 victory over Cincinnati, William Green ran for 115 yards and Lee Suggs had 100 in receiving yards.
While Davis praised those two running backs, he gushed about Smith, signed as a free agent from New Orleans.
"The guy who deserves all the credit right now is Terrelle Smith," Davis said. "This guy is one terrific human being. He is a leader. He is tough. He brought a source of energy to the field today. He blew up linebackers, hit safeties. Those guys love playing behind him."
Suggs had a 59-yard touchdown catch. Davis said a blitz pickup by Smith made it possible.
Green ran for 66 yards on a 79-yard touchdown drive at the end of the second quarter. Smith was responsible for a lot of those yards.
One knocked Bengals linebacker Landon Johnson out of the game on a 9-yard Green carry.
"That was the hit of the day," tight end Aaron Shea said. "He smoked that linebacker. That's a true fullback right there."
Smith swooped over to the sideline with his arms extended like airplane wings as if he was ready to take off from nearby Burke Lakefront Airport.
Emotion is a big part of Smith's game. During the game, he approached teammates and implored them to touch him so they could feel his energy.
"To play this position, you have to be emotional," Smith said. "That's what it takes to play this position. With the pounding and the beating, it's like I'm in 40 car accidents a day."
Said Davis, "When we signed him," Davis said, "(Saints coach) Jim Haslett told me the first time I saw him, `You're going to love this kid, and all the intangibles he brings to your team.'"
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