[News] Ravens Release Veteran LB Daryl Smith

[BR News]

The 33-year-old inside linebacker led the Ravens in tackles last season, but saves the team $2.625 million.

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[vinnystp]

I don't like this move :(

[hn68wb4]

I said this might happen a few months ago. I bet we're going to bring in another vet to take his place, there are few solid options hitting free agency. Lamur and Rey from the Bengals, Trevathan from Denver, or maybe an older guy like DeMeco Ryans could be in play.

[Purple Dawg 96]

Thank you Daryl Smith SALUTE! You filled some big shoes and represented BIG TIME! GOD BLESS!

[Raven552]

1 hour ago, vinnystp said:

I don't like this move

Me either.. he was consistent and reliable.   His stats from last year were his best since we picked him up.

[purpledown]

Smith is a good player with a few more years left in him. Smith and Canty are gone so the Ravens should be able to sign KO and/or Upshaw.

[purpledown]

All the best to Daryl Smith, a good guy and always gave 100%.

[TheConquerorWorm]

  1 hour ago, vinnystp said:

I don't like this move

Me either.. he was consistent and reliable.   His stats from last year were his best since we picked him up.

He can't cover. Half his stats were from tackling the TE halfway down the field after getting beat.

[NCMan]

I don't like this move :(

Me either, but it's the right move. He's been a great player for us, no doubt.

[huntrgathrr]

He definitely was less effective last year and can't be expected to improve in pass coverage. It's time to see if Arthur Brown can carry the mail alongside C.J. Both McClellan and Orr should give us quality snaps as well. This frees up money for K.O. and Upshaw, both of which we should do everything possible to keep. The defensive line should be solid and really the defense should be a lot better this year if guys like Brooks and Urban start to produce. I think they will take a starting quality corner with the first round pick. Fitting him in with Smith, Hill, and Webb would potentially give us a pretty strong secondary

[ALPHA]

Unfortunate, he's a class act but age is catching up with him.

[hn68wb4]

This may be it for him, too bad he never netted even a pro bowl - living up to the label "most underrated player in the NFL" every year here. He did better than anyone could have asked and did as good a job replacing Ray as anyone could have.

[RaineV1]

Age caught up to him. Though he was a gigantic help after Rey's retirement, and he was one of our best free agent signings of the last few years.

[Halshayeji]

Oh man this is a tough pill to swallow. Thank you Daryl for 3 great years!! One of the most under rated guys in the NFL. I only hoped that if we were gonna make this move we'd sign his replacement first. I also think he had some value if we shopped him around for a trade. But again, that might seem like a classless move from our FO

[gooftroop]

Could be resigned.

[Halshayeji]

I also think it's unfortunate the writer made it seem like Daryl fell off the cliff. He played really bad for the first 8 games where the whole d struggled. Second half of the season, Daryl was top 3 against both the run and pass according to PFF

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

Great player I hate to see D.Smith go. I do hope maybe he returns for less $. Guy is a Raven and plays like a Raven.

[ellicottraven]

This release stings. He was one of the better defensive players on our team over the past 3 yrs. He held the middle of the defense together without much of a drop off after Ray Lewis retired. That is a big deal! Good luck Daryl. Hopefully we re-sign you to a veteran deal ASAP.

[law215]

He did a great job for the Ravens, but its time given his age and cap savings. Better a little soon than too late. Time for Orr, Brown to step up.

[OzzieBisciotti]

I also think it's unfortunate the writer made it seem like Daryl fell off the cliff. He played really bad for the first 8 games where the whole d struggled. Second half of the season, Daryl was top 3 against both the run and pass according to PFF

I agree. Purple Kook-Aid

[OzzieBisciotti]

The thing I don't understand is why do we keep unproductive, aging players like Webb but release productive players like Smith. We are terrible when it comes to dead money and cap management, resulting in us not being able to keep our own (e.g. Torrey, Arthur Brown, Haloti, etc..). We are giving too much money to people who might not deserve it (e.g. Eugene Monroe, Pitta, Webb, Dumervil, etc..). We need to get younger fast- smart teams build through the draft, which is something we did years ago, but the past 5 poor drafts haven't allowed us a good base, and that's why we have to get pay more for free agents- how many safeties has this team gone through via draft/ free agency in the past 5 years? Probably 8 or so... and Will Hill was the one person out of that 8 that is actually decent. I hope the FO gets it right this year with the draft- we can't afford no more Perriman scenarios again- Perriman who? Exactly...

[sharkh20]

Release our best defensive player....great

[hen826957]

Daryl Smith is one of the most underrated and deserving player l know. He should've been notice in Pro-Bowls, and he did a very good job taking Ray's role. Well respected . Very humble guy. I hope Ozzie can bring him back if he get the chance Daryl Smith is not that old he turn 34 this season. Still a very productive player. Good Luck Daryl. :-)

[hen826957]

@OzzieBiscotti I agree with ya Mr. Ozzie or Mr. Biscotti LOL our cap management has been awful these last couple of years look at Seattle they sign all their top free agents they have Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Wagner, Russel Wilson, etc and still have $23,312,781 in cap space 18th in the NFL. Something something not right with this management. But l still think Perriman is going to be a stud though just happen at the wrong time last year. :-)

[Ravens_Flock]

I would really love to see Arther Brown get a chance to step up and finally be a starter. People ignore the fact that it's not as if he just "never proved himself" as a player...he barely ever, over the last three seasons, got a chance to. First he was pushed the side because we signed Daryl Smith, and then we drafted Mosley the following draft. Brown was pretty much out of luck at that point.

I honestly think had he been given the chance back in 2013, he very likely could have proven to be a very capable starting ILB for us, at the very least an athletic and solid run stopper. Maybe he'll get his chance finally. Or not. Who knows. The Ravens have been very iffy with letting certain talented players just kind of rot over the years (Antwan Barnes, etc.)

[Ravens8383]

I don't think Smith is done. I can see him testing FA and then the Ravens making him a one year offer to come back. It would great to see Brown step up because this is gonna be his chance but someone needs to be there in case he doesn't turn into the player we all hope he is.

[Dorota]

This breaks my heart. He has declined in speed, resulting in poor coverage of speedy TEs, however, except for that, he is still phenomenal. I really hope we can get him back (or that he gets picked up by a good team).

[Halshayeji]

3 hours ago, Ravens_Flock said:

I would really love to see Arther Brown get a chance to step up and finally be a starter. People ignore the fact that it's not as if he just "never proved himself" as a player...he barely ever, over the last three seasons, got a chance to. First he was pushed the side because we signed Daryl Smith, and then we drafted Mosley the following draft. Brown was pretty much out of luck at that point.

I honestly think had he been given the chance back in 2013, he very likely could have proven to be a very capable starting ILB for us, at the very least an athletic and solid run stopper. Maybe he'll get his chance finally. Or not. Who knows. The Ravens have been very iffy with letting certain talented players just kind of rot over the years (Antwan Barnes, etc.)

Totally agree. I also thought that for the past 3 years and even defended him at times. He continuously let me down. And now if he plays well he's probably gonna test FA next year and we lose him for nothing.

 

im just wondering, does this mean we are in play for Myles Jack with the 6th overall?

[Ravensfansince03]

Smart & Savvy move. Cant wait to see who they get or draft as replacement.

[J.O.14]

I would really love to see Arther Brown get a chance to step up and finally be a starter. People ignore the fact that it's not as if he just "never proved himself" as a player...he barely ever, over the last three seasons, got a chance to. First he was pushed the side because we signed Daryl Smith, and then we drafted Mosley the following draft. Brown was pretty much out of luck at that point.

I honestly think had he been given the chance back in 2013, he very likely could have proven to be a very capable starting ILB for us, at the very least an athletic and solid run stopper. Maybe he'll get his chance finally. Or not. Who knows. The Ravens have been very iffy with letting certain talented players just kind of rot over the years (Antwan Barnes, etc.)

He was given a chance in 2013, he actually played a lot on passing downs if I'm not mistaken. He has been given plenty of chances in training camps, preseason games, etc. Apparently the coaches don't believe he is the best man for the job, or he would be starting. Zach Orr has been given chances, and made the most of them as he played a significant role last season. If they give an undrafted FA chances, then a 2nd round pick is going to get chance. He just hasn't played well, and I hope he does get another chance and makes the most of it, but he has had plenty of chances and just hasn't performed.