I keep seeing articles how he has not played since 2015. Ok,, that might be true but he has not been productive since 2012 or 2013. That is 7 or 8 years ago. Most players do not even have a 7 or 8 year career. Thinking this guy is going to help out is insane. This isn't anything more than wishful thinking.
On-top of all this, I keep reading about him turning his life around. I'm lost. His last arrest was less than a year ago. How anyone with his track record, you could consider a turned around life in less than a year is just laughable. Show me 2,3 or 4 years of being a straight then we can talk about his life being turned around. My guess he is still on probation. The state hasn't probably cleared him yet.
With all this said I do not have any issues with Dallas signing him and seeing if there is anything there.
I'm just talking about all the hype I see from people posting stuff on here that he is going to be a productive player. I have more faith in Gregory and I do not have a lot of faith in him also.
Reasons to expect? No. Reasons to hope? Plenty.
Even though he's turning 31, Smith has relatively little physical wear on his body. He's only played in 3 1/2 seasons' worth of games, so his body has not been worn down.
He's also had time to grow into his body some. He was around 265 when he last played, and at a "cut" 280, he'll be able to be a more physical player. If that doesn't affect the skills he already had (if they have not eroded), it actually could make him a tougher player to handle. Yes, the time away from the game is a concern, but we know he had the skills before his suspensions started (as opposed to knowing how good exactly Gregory can ever be).
His production dropped from his high point of 19.5 sacks in 2012, but that's also when his problems really started. He never played a full season again after that point. How much did his problems with alcohol contribute to his decline.
I agree that it is troubling that his last arrest was last year, but it appears that he's been clean and sober for at least nine months now. That doesn't mean that he'll stay that way, but sometimes people have to hit rock-bottom before they start swimming to the top. If his head's in a good place and he can stay there, we really don't know what he might be able to accomplish.
There are too many what-ifs for any expectations, but there are plenty of reasons for hope.