Smith Gone
 

Looks like we need a full back now. This is a big loss for us. Smith is one of the best blocking full backs in the league. Maybe they will find someone that can be more involved in the passing game though.

Smith Gone
 

Where did he go? post a link if he is signed.

[Edited on 11/3/2004 by deadflatbird]

Smith Gone
 

Here is the link on Smith. I read it this morning on ESPN.com.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1756466

Associated Press
CLEVELAND -- Free agent defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban agreed to a contract Wednesday with the Cleveland Browns, the Associated Press has learned.



Ekuban, a first-round draft pick of Dallas in 1999, will get a three-year deal from the Browns, said a league source, speaking on the condition of anonymity.



The Browns did not return a phone message seeking comment.



Cleveland also signed fullback Terrelle Smith, a punishing blocker who spent the past three seasons opening holes for Deuce McAllister in New Orleans, to a four-year, $4.4 million contract.



Smith\'s agent, Leigh Steinberg, said the deal includes a $1.1 million signing bonus.



Cleveland didn\'t have a true fullback for much of last season, relying on tight ends to block for its backs in running situations. Smith will handle those duties now.

Smith Gone
 

GREAT FB\'s are hard to find
GOOD FB\'s are a dime a dozen
T-Rex was a GOOD FB.

Smith Gone
 

I do hate to see him go... I got a feeling we maybe using a TE as a FB...

Smith Gone
 

True! I have a feeling what our 5th round pick will be spent on now...

Smith Gone
 

I haven\'t even paid attention to what fullbacks are in the draft this year. I just assumed we would resign TS.

Smith Gone
 

Maybe we should sign Warren Sapp to play both sides of the ball and be our FB too. Then he could block, be a receiving threat, and keep Brooks on task.

Smith Gone
 

I heard Mel Kyper say one morning that this will be a good draft for fullbacks. Now, consider the source and take it for what it\'s worth. This is basic info, so I tend to go with it. Any evaluation of individual talent done by Kyper, in my opinion, is worthless, as I think he is incredibly overrated.

Smith Gone
 

I agree with you on Kiper. It probably won\'t affect our draft strategy anyway. By the 5th we should be taking best available so maybe we can land a good one that way.

Smith Gone
 

i think it was a HUGE mistake to let smith go

it\'s not like he was asking for a lot of money, he knew the system already and was familiar with deuce\'s style, he\'s fairly young

why waste a draft pick when you have in my opinion the most underrated FB in the league

so what if he couldn\'t catch, we seem to have TE\'s and WR\'s coming out of our ears and deuce catchs a lot of balls

i don\'t want to be a naysayer but it would not surprise me if deuce\'s numbers fell off next year running behind some rookie

this was just a dumb move on our part, there aren\'t even any good free agent FB\'s out there either

Smith Gone
 

I thought that the Bronco\'s were letting Mike Andeson go. Anyone heard anything about that? Maybe I just made that up due to desperation.

Smith Gone
 

Originally he did, until the Broncos dealt Portis to the Redskins, then he went in and told Shanahan that he wanted to compete for the starting job.

Smith Gone
 

Deuce will not go to the Pro Bowl next season without Smith... or another bruising fullback like him. Take a look at the last three seasons and see what Ricky and Deuce did with Smith in the backfield and without him. Without Smith these guys ran for about 50 yards a game. With him they were over 100. Say what you will, this guy was a monster blocker and more important to the running game than anyone realizes. Unless we sign someone else with that kind of power, you\'re going to see a less successful Deuce next season, and probably more pressure in the passing game too.

Smith Gone
 

I agree that Smith was a good blocker, but that was it. He couldn\'t run, couldn\'t catch and when he did it was never for more than a couple of yards he was an o-lineman with speed in today\'s NFL you have to bring more to the table than one thing. Why do you think M. Lewis became a better wide out, because with limited roster space you can\'t waste to many spots on people that specialize in one thing, cause you already have some that you have to have kicker,punter, and deep snapperand a couple of special team aces (Gleason & Macafee). I think we will utilize Conwell more out of the FB position with the production of Boo at TE. With more threats come more mismatches in our favor.

Smith Gone
 

We have a great RB, a good TE, and good WRs. So why would we need a FB to catch & run? We don\'t. T. Smith did just what we needed him to do knock defensive players on their back. I think this is a big loss, and shoes that will be hard to fill.

Smith Gone
 

Amen!