Ohio State's Troy Smith lobbying for Browns to draft him

[ShaneFalco 0]

Smith pushing Browns hard to draft him

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer

January 30, 2007

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-b...p&type=lgns

 

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Usually the one avoiding pressure, Troy Smith is putting the heat on the Cleveland Browns.

 

Ohio State's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback is lobbying his hometown team to select him in April's NFL draft, and he isn't missing any chance to remind the Browns that he'll be available to them soon.

 

Smith was named the area's outstanding collegiate athlete at Monday night's Greater Cleveland Sports Awards, and during a taped acceptance speech he thanked the city's fans for their support.

 

"Hopefully, I'll get a chance to represent you guys at the next level with the Cleveland Browns," he said.

 

Smith hasn't hidden his desire to play for the Browns, who after finishing 4-12 last season will pick either third or fourth in April's draft. During a recent halftime ceremony at an Ohio State basketball game, Smith wore a Browns jacket.

 

Following a tribute for him at Glenville High School in December, Smith said playing for the Browns would fulfill a lifelong goal.

 

"I have dreamed about it and talked about it countless times with my mother," he said. "All she talks about is saving the Browns. If that were to happen, that would be a dream come true because I could stay in the community and give back."

 

Last year, Texas quarterback Vince Young made a similar plea to Houston, hoping to play for his hometown team. However, the Texans took defensive end Mario Williams with the No. 1 overall pick instead. Young ended up going to Tennessee at No. 3 and was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year after leading the Titans to an 8-8 record.

 

Most draft experts have forecast Smith being taken in the second or third round. The knock on Smith is that he's not a prototypical pocket passer and that he's too small -- he was listed at 6-foot-1 on Ohio State's roster and measured 6-foot at last week's Senior Bowl.

 

One of his former high school and college teammates believes Smith is being underestimated.

 

"He should be a first-round pick," said Buffalo safety Donte Whitner, the No. 8 pick overall last year by the Bills. "I don't think there is a problem with his height. He has shown what he can do on the field, he's a winner. He has won the big games, except for the last one. I believe in him.

 

"They said the same thing about Drew Brees, but he changed the New Orleans Saints organization around this year."

 

Smith did not end his college career on a good note as he was roughed up by Florida's defense in a 41-14 loss in the BCS national championship. However, Browns general manager Phil Savage said Smith's performance shouldn't hurt his draft status.

 

"One game doesn't make a career," he said. "It was unfortunate the way it unfolded. That is the only sport that I know of where they take 50 days off and then play the championship. Troy had a terrific career at Ohio State, he won the Heisman Trophy, he's from Cleveland and well see how the draft unfolds in all of that."

 

The Browns seem committed to starting either Charlie Frye or Derek Anderson at quarterback next season, so if they pick a QB, it probably won't be until the later rounds of the two-day draft on April 28-29.

 

Frye said he isn't concerned about the possibility of the Browns bringing in another quarterback.

 

"If you're worried about that, you're worrying about the wrong things," he said.

 

Smith isn't the only Clevelander dreaming of playing for the Browns.

 

Wide receiver/returner Ted Ginn Jr., Smith's teammate at Glenville and Ohio State, is skipping his senior college season for the NFL. He, too, said he would like to trade a silver helmet for an orange one.

 

"It's always been a dream to play for the Browns," he said. "Why would I want to go anywhere else but Cleveland?"

 

Ginn still is wearing a protective walking boot after spraining his left foot in the BCS title game. Ginn said his injury, which happened during a celebration after he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, is getting better and that he'll work out for pro scouts once it's 100 percent.

 

He said watching from the sideline on crutches during the Gators' thrashing of the top-ranked Buckeyes was difficult.

 

"Oh, man, it was very tough to see my team go down like that and not be able to help them at all," he said.

[beantownbrown 0]

I'm a Buckeye/Browns fan. I would not mind the Browns going with Adrian Peterson in the 1st round and OL in the 2nd, assuming Smith will drop to the 3rd. If that is not realistic by the time the draft rolls around, and he has to be taken early second...I would expect him not to be taken by the Browns. They need so much help across the O-line due to injuries and ineffectiveness. That might depend on what the Browns get in Free Agency though. Smith would have to improve his stock before the draft to move back into the early 2nd though...so he could realistically be there in the 3rd. Then I would say go for it and have a 3-way competition between Frye, Anderson, and Smith heading into camp.

[Ras66not99 0]

I'm a Buckeye/Browns fan. I would not mind the Browns going with Adrian Peterson in the 1st round and OL in the 2nd, assuming Smith will drop to the 3rd. If that is not realistic by the time the draft rolls around, and he has to be taken early second...I would expect him not to be taken by the Browns. They need so much help across the O-line due to injuries and ineffectiveness. That might depend on what the Browns get in Free Agency though. Smith would have to improve his stock before the draft to move back into the early 2nd though...so he could realistically be there in the 3rd. Then I would say go for it and have a 3-way competition between Frye, Anderson, and Smith heading into camp.

I agree about snagging him in the 3rd......., but I'd rather go OL if Joe Thomas is there in the first, then address the secondary (which we'll be hurting at again due to long term injuries) in the 2nd, and then glady take a shot with Troy in the 3rd if he's there which is a possibility.....

[pollardposse 0]

I think a team will take a chance on Troy at the end of the second round.

I'm not so sure what he would do in Cleveland though.... They have no offensive line, no running back, and 2 very mouthy pass catchers. Even if they draft Peterson in round one, he's no lock to do anything behind that porous line. If they take Joe Thomas in round one, they have no one to run the ball consistently..... This is a catch 22 for the Browns.

 

Why not take Calvin? If you throw him in with Edwards and Joe J, their WR corps begins looking quite nice. They'd be screwed there too though.... A QB can't throw from his back..... It would suck to be a Browns fan.

[DankNuggs 305]

i hope smith isn't implying they should take him in the first.

[gobuckeyes 0]

Wasnt Brady Quinn doing the same thing a little while back?

[beantownbrown 0]

I agree about snagging him in the 3rd......., but I'd rather go OL if Joe Thomas is there in the first, then address the secondary (which we'll be hurting at again due to long term injuries) in the 2nd, and then glady take a shot with Troy in the 3rd if he's there which is a possibility.....

 

I wouldn't mind going with Joe Thomas either, but I think a lot depends on who we get in Free Agency before the draft. I totally agree we need help on the OL and the secondary where injuries have killed us. If I were thr Browns though I would try everything to sign Steinbach and also go after Assante Samuel. Of course Samuel will get franchised so forget that. But Nate Clements is still out there, and signing him would give us the corner we need with Baxter probably out of the picture next year. Clements and Bodden would be solid starters, and Davin Holly showed enough to be a solid nickle back. So Steinbach and Clements in free agency, then grab Peterson in the 1st.

 

If we can't get Steinbach, then drafting Thomas may be the best choice. We would still need to get a back though. Droughns should be a part-time change of pace bruiser, but we need a playmaker at RB...something this franchise has lacked since it returned (every time I recall Butch Davis passed on LT I want to vomit).

[Bently 0]

I wouldn't mind going with Joe Thomas either, but I think a lot depends on who we get in Free Agency before the draft. I totally agree we need help on the OL and the secondary where injuries have killed us. If I were thr Browns though I would try everything to sign Steinbach and also go after Assante Samuel. Of course Samuel will get franchised so forget that. But Nate Clements is still out there, and signing him would give us the corner we need with Baxter probably out of the picture next year. Clements and Bodden would be solid starters, and Davin Holly showed enough to be a solid nickle back. So Steinbach and Clements in free agency, then grab Peterson in the 1st.

 

If we can't get Steinbach, then drafting Thomas may be the best choice. We would still need to get a back though. Droughns should be a part-time change of pace bruiser, but we need a playmaker at RB...something this franchise has lacked since it returned (every time I recall Butch Davis passed on LT I want to vomit).

 

I don't think RB is an area of vast need for this team right now. What they need in an O-line. I will agree that if they can get a guy like Steinbach in the offseason then Peterson would be a great buy. I understand that Peterson is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, but Droughns has proven to be effective. It isn't like some other back on their roster outshined him. His faults were exacerbated by a horrendous O-line. With Bently back, a re-signing of Tucker and the addition of some lineman either through draft or FA, the line would be far better. The Browns really need to get some D-line help too. They need to get more pressure on the QB immediately. They could also stand to use a shut-down corner (and since Baxter is aging). At no.3 or 4 Leon Hall would not be that much of a reach for their secondary. The Browns have some decent cap space again this year, so I can forsee them adressing either line, and perhaps a guy like Samuel in free agency. For some reason I don't think Savage is going to adress the offense, unless it is the O-line.

[Ras66not99 0]

(every time I recall Butch Davis passed on LT I want to vomit).

 

could be the worst evaluator of talent of all time.... worse than Matt Millen... don't metion that dirtbags name again...

[yostevo 0]

i hope smith isn't implying they should take him in the first.

 

Of course he is. He wants that 1st rd. kwan. He's banking on the fact that he'd get a lot of ground swell of support from the locals that may elevate his draft status in Cleveland. He's reaching though and I believe he goes in the middle/late of the 2nd rd.

 

If Houston passed on Vince Young early in the 1st, you can bet that Cleveland won't even consider it.

 

ETA: Although it should be noted that neither of those GM's will be winning any excutive of the year awards anytime soon.

[santa*69 0]

I hope they take him. They will continue to suck for years to come. I hope they take Quinn in the 1st and Troy Smith in the 4th. He will be available.

 

He is lobbying because he will have a better shelf life in Clev then in the rest of the NFL . I do mean shelf this kid will not play.

[Ras66not99 0]

I hope they take him. They will continue to suck for years to come. I hope they take Quinn in the 1st and Troy Smith in the 4th. He will be available.

 

He is lobbying because he will have a better shelf life in Clev then in the rest of the NFL . I do mean shelf this kid will not play.

I'm sensing a little hostility from you about good ol' Troy..... what did you bet OSU or something ?

[santa*69 0]

No actually RAS I have been trashing Ohio State and the Big 10 all year.

 

but at least you got a post in.

[Ras66not99 0]

No actually RAS I have been trashing Ohio State and the Big 10 all year.

 

but at least you got a post in.

make that two posts now

 

P.S. - Tell Mrs. Claus hello for me while you're at it