QB Troy Smith (2006 Heisman Trophy Winner)

[Buckeneye]

And if so, is Troy Smith, who has shown flashes in very limited playing time and has the other intangibles that billmac pointed out, not a better option than Wallace?

To the counterpoint, and what Jib is trying to say - Wallace has produced a fair bit more than Troy in legit NFL playing time: not in just spot minutes or pre-season. Which is why I can see his point.

Still doesn't mean I dont want TS in Cleveland though...

 

[NFBuck]

One player would put me in the seats and sell me jerseys. One would not. The Browns aren't exactly in the business of winning, so they should at least be in the business of making money.

The Browns put butts in the seats regardless. Whether or not Troy Smith comes to Cleveland will have zero effect on merchandise. And Reebok isn't going to make a jersey for a backup QB that moves teams after, what, 3 career starts? If Troy Smith's college career had been at, say, OKlahoma...would anybody be clamoring for him? I get the hometown angle, really I do. But looking at it objectively, there's little reason to bring him in. Mike Holmgren, in all likelihood isn't an Ohio State fan. Ohio State fans are the only people who remember who Troy is at this point.

I just don't agree with this NF...he has shown in 2 pre-seasons an ability to make plays and put the ball where it needs to be.

Really? preseason games? James Davis looked like Barry Sanders in the preseason last year, but finished with 9 carries for 15 yards before a predictable knee injury. A lot of QBs look very good in the preseason.

Again, I get the hometown angle. I'd have loved to see him get a chance. But I understand bringing in a guy with a little more experience who, quite frankly, hasn't performed too bad when given a chance to start. At first I was bewildered by the move, then I read up on Seneca. Probably not gonna be a star, but should be an acceptable placeholder. These guys aren't payed to please Ohio State fans. Troy's barely a blip on most people's radar anymore. There's a reason people aren't knocking down Baltimore's door when the likely only compensation is a low draft pick.

 

[3074326]

The tender placed on Troy was a fifth round pick. I haven't heard of any interest. That should tell us of both his value and what teams think about him. If NFL teams thought they could get a starter for a fifth round pick, you'd think they'd be all over that. Right? He's viewed as a backup around the league at this point in his career.

I'm a big Troy Smith fan, but he's getting overrated pretty ridiculously here.

 

[billmac91]

The Browns put butts in the seats regardless. Whether or not Troy Smith comes to Cleveland will have zero effect on merchandise. And Reebok isn't going to make a jersey for a backup QB that moves teams after, what, 3 career starts? If Troy Smith's college career had been at, say, OKlahoma...would anybody be clamoring for him? I get the hometown angle, really I do. But looking at it objectively, there's little reason to bring him in. Mike Holmgren, in all likelihood isn't an Ohio State fan. Ohio State fans are the only people who remember who Troy is at this point.

Really? preseason games? James Davis looked like Barry Sanders in the preseason last year, but finished with 9 carries for 15 yards before a predictable knee injury. A lot of QBs look very good in the preseason.

Again, I get the hometown angle. I'd have loved to see him get a chance. But I understand bringing in a guy with a little more experience who, quite frankly, hasn't performed too bad when given a chance to start. At first I was bewildered by the move, then I read up on Seneca. Probably not gonna be a star, but should be an acceptable placeholder. These guys aren't payed to please Ohio State fans. Troy's barely a blip on most people's radar anymore. There's a reason people aren't knocking down Baltimore's door when the likely only compensation is a low draft pick.

If by butts in seats you mean 50% full on a primetime night game against the Steelers....granted weather was bad, but still a embarrassing crowd, especially for a primetime game.

Troy was slated to start for a franchise significantly better than Cleveland but came down with a weird throat illness.....I have confidence he could start here.

 

[NFBuck]

If by butts in seats you mean 50% full on a primetime night game against the Steelers....granted weather was bad, but still a embarrassing crowd, especially for a primetime game.

Troy was slated to start for a franchise significantly better than Cleveland but came down with a weird throat illness.....I have confidence he could start here.

If you think Troy Smith under center would have kept people in the stadium in miserable weather watching a shit team, I'll just say I disagree. Outside of a niche of some diehard Buckeye fans, many have forgotten Troy Smith. I really think some of you guys are overestimating the casual fan's interest in him.

He was slated to start because the other options were Kyle Boller and what was thought to be a raw rookie...not really much of a feather in his cap.

 

[billmac91]

If you think Troy Smith under center would have kept people in the stadium in miserable weather watching a [censored] team, I'll just say I disagree. Outside of a niche of some diehard Buckeye fans, many have forgotten Troy Smith. I really think some of you guys are overestimating the casual fan's interest in him.

He was slated to start because the other options were Kyle Boller and what was thought to be a raw rookie...not really much of a feather in his cap.

Except he had 2 solid pre-seasons and made a lot of eye-opening throws. I vividly recall analysts on ESPN and NFL Network praising throws Troy was making and his decesion making on when to run vs. moving in the pocket. I'm not saying he's a pro-bowl player, but he'd be a solid addition. The best thing about him above all else though, is his love for Cleveland. I'm not sure Seneca Wallace knows what it is like to watch John Elway destroy the city....I think it's kind of cool Troy is willing to publicly state he'd crawl to Cleveland for a chance to play for the Browns.

And I agree with you on buts on seats...my point was actual attendance has sucked. The only reason Cleveland isn;t feeling a Jacksonville Jaguars money crunch is because box owners and season ticket holders were locked in years ago and seats are paid for. Other than that, inside of the stadium is pretty open...the upper-deck looks like a lower level-mid-teir Big 10 team.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Whether or not Troy Smith comes to Cleveland will have zero effect on merchandise.

You could not possibly be more wrong...

 

[NFBuck]

You could not possibly be more wrong...

I really doubt Reebok would create jerseys for a backup QB with a couple career starts. There might be a decent amount of custom jerseys made by Buckeye fans, but I can't see them mass-produced. Again, this calling for Troy is limited to mostly diehard Buckeye fans, which while sizeable, is still a fraction of the Browns fanbase. The casual fan has either forgotten about Troy Smith or never knew who he was. Would make a great story, but I really think his impact is being overestimated.

Anyway, we could argue this until we're all blue in the face...it's a moot point. He's not going to Cleveland anyway.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I really doubt Reebok would create jerseys for a backup QB with a couple career starts. There might be a decent amount of custom jerseys made by Buckeye fans, but I can't see them mass-produced. Again, this calling for Troy is limited to mostly diehard Buckeye fans, which while sizeable, is still a fraction of the Browns fanbase. The casual fan has either forgotten about Troy Smith or never knew who he was. Would make a great story, but I really think his impact is being overestimated.

They'd make more jerseys of a locally-grown Heisman Trophy winner than they did for a Notre Dame product who really never did shit in the league or a one-year wonder who is deemed expendable now. As for the bolded portion of your post, you cannot be serious. I extremely doubt if anyone even slightly resembling being a football fan--at least in Ohio--has forgotten/never knew who Troy Smith was.

 

[NFBuck]

They'd make more jerseys of a locally-grown Heisman Trophy winner than they did for a Notre Dame product who really never did shit in the league or a one-year wonder who is deemed expendable now. As for the bolded portion of your post, you cannot be serious. I extremely doubt if anyone even slightly resembling being a football fan--at least in Ohio--has forgotten/never knew who Troy Smith was.

Okay, maybe the "never" part was a little over the top, but I stand by the other part. At least the non diehard Buckeye ones. I've hung out at Browns Backers gatherings here in CO and when the TS subject was breached, the only ones that knew of him/cared were the couple of diehard Buckeye fans. The Browns have a huge fanbase, and the big Buckeye fans make up only a portion of it. The others mostly couldn't care less.

As for the BQ/DA jersey stuff. Quinn was a first round pick. Those almost always have jerseys made up all over the league. Anderson made a pro bowl and was the starting QB. Again, much different than a backup qb FA acquisition.

For the record, I would have loved to see Troy in Cleveland. Probably would have had a jersey made. I just don't get a lot of the hellfire and damnation posts (not just here, btw) condemning Holmgren for not "bringing him home". I'd like to have seen Troy given a shot to qb the Browns, but in all honesty, I don't really think he'd succeed. No more than Wallace can, anyway. If you watch Wallace, he looks a lot like Troy (same skill set) and has more experience. I support the Buckeye kids that move on to the nfl, I just try not to get blinded by homerism and look at them objectively when they leave Columbus. Numby brings up a good point above. If he showed enough ability (like some claim), why aren't more teams after him if all they have to do is forfeit a 5th round draft choice?

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

As for the BQ/DA jersey stuff. Quinn was a first round pick. Those almost always have jerseys made up all over the league. Anderson made a pro bowl and was the starting QB. Again, much different than a backup qb FA acquisition.

How many Quinn jerseys sold? And as I said, Anderson was a one-year wonder...how many people are wearing their Anderson jerseys?

Troy coming to Cleveland would generate a huge buzz, not only in the local Cleveland area but all accross Browns fandom. I don't know about your Browns Backers group in Colorado, but most of the Browns fans I've encountered in my travels in numerous countries during 26 years of active duty in the USAF and eight years here as an IT contractor are also Buckeye fans...I've run into one or two that were Notre Dame fans and even one who was a Michigan fan, but the good majority were Buckeye fans. And I'm pretty sure those few who were Notre Dame and Michigan fans have heard of Troy Smith, since he beat the shit out of both those teams.

 

[NFBuck]

How many Quinn jerseys sold? And as I said, Anderson was a one-year wonder...how many people are wearing their Anderson jerseys?

Troy coming to Cleveland would generate a huge buzz, not only in the local Cleveland area but all accross Browns fandom. I don't know about your Browns Backers group in Colorado, but most of the Browns fans I've encountered in my travels in numerous countries during 26 years of active duty in the USAF and eight years here as an IT contractor are also Buckeye fans...I've run into one or two that were Notre Dame fans and even one who was a Michigan fan, but the good majority were Buckeye fans. And I'm pretty sure those few who were Notre Dame and Michigan fans have heard of Troy Smith, since he beat the shit out of both those teams.

You definitely have the last part right.

But what it really boils down to is this: the personnel man's job is to create a winning team first and foremost. Creating a buzz amongst fans would have to fall after that. I think Holmgren is a pretty thorough guy. I have a hard time believing he didn't at least give Troy a look. Especially for the price he was available at. The guy won a lot of games as a HC, so I'll defer to his judgement when it comes to choosing a QB. He found a backup QB in Hasselbeck and turned him into a Pro-Bowler and rode him to the SuperBowl. The Big Show knows what he's doing. If he prefers Wallace to Troy for the time being...I'll trust him.

 

[Singularity]

The Browns put butts in the seats regardless. Whether or not Troy Smith comes to Cleveland will have zero effect on merchandise. And Reebok isn't going to make a jersey for a backup QB that moves teams after, what, 3 career starts? If Troy Smith's college career had been at, say, OKlahoma...would anybody be clamoring for him? I get the hometown angle, really I do. But looking at it objectively, there's little reason to bring him in. Mike Holmgren, in all likelihood isn't an Ohio State fan. Ohio State fans are the only people who remember who Troy is at this point.

Really? preseason games? James Davis looked like Barry Sanders in the preseason last year, but finished with 9 carries for 15 yards before a predictable knee injury. A lot of QBs look very good in the preseason.

Again, I get the hometown angle. I'd have loved to see him get a chance. But I understand bringing in a guy with a little more experience who, quite frankly, hasn't performed too bad when given a chance to start. At first I was bewildered by the move, then I read up on Seneca. Probably not gonna be a star, but should be an acceptable placeholder. These guys aren't payed to please Ohio State fans. Troy's barely a blip on most people's radar anymore. There's a reason people aren't knocking down Baltimore's door when the likely only compensation is a low draft pick.

Popular Opinion doesn't make reality. Particularly when you consider that Troy hasn't yet been given an opportunity to fail at.

 

[osucollegebuck]

The tender placed on Troy was a fifth round pick. I haven't heard of any interest. That should tell us of both his value and what teams think about him. If NFL teams thought they could get a starter for a fifth round pick, you'd think they'd be all over that. Right? He's viewed as a backup around the league at this point in his career.

I'm a big Troy Smith fan, but he's getting overrated pretty ridiculously here.

Yea I'm pretty surprised his name hasn't even popped up on rotoworld.com as someone at least having interest in him.

 

[NFBuck]

Popular Opinion doesn't make reality. Particularly when you consider that Troy hasn't yet been given an opportunity to fail at.

That is true, but all other things being equal, a QB who hasn't failed when given the chance is typically more attractive than one who hasn't had the chance.