The Final Cut Down

NFL teams pared their rosters to the mandatory 53 player limit over the weekend. Nothing shocking, although a few mild surprises among the Browns cuts:

• QB Ken Dorsey's release--while Dorsey was never a threat to start, or even be the#2, he seemed to have embraced the role of mentor to Quinn, and probably knew Chud's offense better than anybody
• RB Chris Barclay's release--following a strong NFL Europe season and some nice pre-season special teams performances, I thought he would make the team
• Draft picks cut--7 second day picks from the last 3 years were cut, although I imagine that Purcell, Pitman, and Steptoe from this years draft will probably be re-signed to the practice squad.
• Baba Oshinowo released, again--wasn't this guy supposed to be the 2nd best NT in the draft last year and a real steal in the 6th round? If he can't make it on the Browns D-line he must suck.
• Steve Sanders--I think he had a good camp, and is a good story. I hope he gets invited back on the practice squad.

Browns add another DT Smith

The Browns acquired defensive tackle Shaun Smith from the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday. Smith was a restricted free agent, giving the Bengals a chance to match the offer sheet Smith signed with the Browns. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement, "For our offseason and future planning, we have chosen to allocate our cap resources in a different direction." Generally, when restricted free agents are signed, the signing team has to compensate the players original team with draft picks. However, because Smith was undrafted, the Browns owe the Bengals nothing.

Smith, signed as a free agent out of South Carolina, has been in the league three years as a backup DT with the Bengals. He recorded 14 tackles in 13 games last year. His best season was 2005 when he had 25 tackles. He has never recorded a sack in his NFL career.

At 6-2, 325 lbs, the Browns project Smith as a nose tackle in the 3-4. He is expected to compete with Ted Washington for the starting spot. I think this says more about the decline of Washington than the talent of Smith. Still, Smith should be an upgrade over Ethan Kelly and Baba Oshinowo.