San Francisco 49ers sign Troy Smith, waive Nate Davis
Former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Troy Smith signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday. Smith had been cut by the Baltimore Ravens when they reduced their roster to the NFL mandated 53 men on Saturday.
Baltimore drafted Smith in the 2007 NFL entry draft using the 174th overall pick on the Ohio State quarterback. At Ohio State he won the 2006 Heisman Trophy and led the Buckeyes to the 2007 BCS National Championship Game. Smith and the Buckeyes lost that game to the Florida Gators by a score of 41-14.
Smith was with the Ravens for three years before being cut on Saturday. During his time in Baltimore he saw action in 14 games, including two starts. Smith completed 48 of 89 passes for 558 yards, recording three touchdowns and one interception. Smith left the Ravens with a quarterback ranking of 79.7.
In his second year with the Ravens Smith had a chance to win the starting quarterback job, but Smith came down with a rare form of tonsillitis. After Smith took ill the Ravens gave the ball to rookie Joe Flacco. Flacco has been the Ravens starting quarterback ever since.
This summer Smith found himself the odd man out in Baltimore when the Ravens signed Marc Bulger to be the back up to Joe Flacco. Smith’s exit from Baltimore was only a matter of time when the rumors began to circulate that the team would carry only two quarterbacks on this season’s roster.
In order to make room for Smith, the 49ers waived second year quarterback Nate Davis. Davis was selected by the 49ers in the fifth round of last year’s draft and did not see any regular season game time with the team.
This pre-season Davis ended up in the doghouse of 49ers coach Mike Singletary who questioned the work ethic of the former Ball State quarterback. Davis did make San Francisco’s 53-man roster on Saturday, but his stay on the team came to an end with the signing of Smith.
Tags: