Packers Unexpectedly Release Linebacker D.J. Smith

One day before the start of the NFL Draft, the Packers parted ways with the injured inside linebacker who would have been entering his third season.

In addition to the previously reported release of running back Brandon Saine, the Green Bay Packers made the surprise move of letting go linebacker D.J. Smith as well on Wednesday.

From Brian McIntyre of Yahoo Sports...

Smith made six starts in place of Desmond Bishop last season, but his season ended in October when he suffered a knee injury and was placed on injured reserve.

Entering just his third season in the NFL, it was perhaps surprising that the Packers didn't give Smith more time being that they're still five months away from the start of the 2013 season.

“I can only tell you what they told us, and that’s they needed to create some space for things they thought was coming,” Smith’s agent Lamont Smith was quoted as saying by Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

What exactly is meant by "create space" is open to interpretation. The Packers are one day from the start of the NFL Draft and considering Bishop is coming off a season-ending hamstring injury, Green Bay may have less depth than appears on paper. It could be that they're preparing to select an another linebacker at some point over the next three days.

Even if the Packers don't draft an inside linebacker, they'll still be filling out their 90-man offseason roster with undrafted free agents the minute round seven is over.

It's possible that Smith's knee injury is worse than appears, but in his brief starting stint last season, Smith did a solid yet unspectacular job by making 29 tackles and two sacks over the course of those six games.

The Packers made a commitment to three other inside linebackers this offseason by re-signing Brad Jones and Robert Francois as free agents and restructuring the contract of A.J. Hawk.

 

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Comments (45)

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PackersRS's picture

April 24, 2013 at 06:54 pm

wut

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cow42's picture

April 24, 2013 at 06:54 pm

good.

get.
bigger.

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jeremy's picture

April 24, 2013 at 07:33 pm

Right, when you think about what the defense needs to do to get better it's not really a surprising move.

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jmac3444's picture

April 24, 2013 at 07:16 pm

definitely a surprising move considering he costs next to nothing

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denniseckersly's picture

April 24, 2013 at 07:19 pm

errrrr what?

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Cole's picture

April 24, 2013 at 07:34 pm

This will turn out to be a mistake. Smith is a player. Ogletree? Brown?

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packsmack25's picture

April 24, 2013 at 07:49 pm

I'll puke if it's Te'o.

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2 share owner's picture

April 24, 2013 at 08:07 pm

+1....Hopefully Minnesota takes him. Ted wouldn't dream of trading up for him, would he?

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hayward4president's picture

April 24, 2013 at 08:20 pm

I will puke twice.

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

April 24, 2013 at 08:59 pm

Smack... Don't even joke about that. I'd flip the Fuck out man.

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Mojo's picture

April 24, 2013 at 10:14 pm

Agree on Te'o. If they pick him forget rounds 2 thru 7 - I'm moving on to the 2014 draft.

As far as Smith, he really did struggle in coverage and as someone mentioned he seemed to get worse the more he played. They certainly have a back-log at that position. It will be interesting to see what Manning has.

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ted, of bill and ted's picture

April 24, 2013 at 10:20 pm

i too, would puke. many, many times.

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wiazcat's picture

April 25, 2013 at 12:14 am

I would rather be a lion, viking, or bear then the packets pick Teo. Oh I am going to be I'll. Please

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GBPDAN's picture

April 24, 2013 at 07:35 pm

Interesting

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pooch's picture

April 24, 2013 at 07:51 pm

Teddy,your on a roll,now release Hawk,draft Klien from Kimberly

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Mike's picture

April 24, 2013 at 08:10 pm

Or trade Hawk for an extra pick or two...

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hayward4president's picture

April 24, 2013 at 08:19 pm

That was stupid dj made for an excellent backup lb.

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Stroh's picture

April 24, 2013 at 08:49 pm

No big deal. Smith was never going to amount to more than a backup and that's if he improved a lot. His coverage in limited time on the field was horrid. Even in his rookie season, he got an INT but that doesn't mean his coverage was good. I never thought he'd amount to anything. He was given a shot, and didn't cut it. That's about all that needs to be said.

Best part about it is Manning moves closer to a starting job! That's the guy we need to get on the field, he's got a chance to be a REAL playmaker. His measurable are excellent, he's excellent vs run, just needs to work on his coverage. Would love to see Bishop healthy moved to Hawks position and Manning starting.

If this opens a spot for Ogletree, I'm all for it! That might be a dream, but I'm holding it until tomorrow nite!

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cow42's picture

April 24, 2013 at 08:58 pm

i agree with all of this... except the ogleturd part.

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Stroh's picture

April 24, 2013 at 09:15 pm

Ogletree is a freaking playmaker. He has some issues taking on blockers, but he's only been a LB for a year or so. He can get a lot better in that regard, and he's got the long arms needed to get separation when he learns how. Its a simple matter of working on technique. Its not something you become proficient at overnite.

He'll be the best LB drafted this year w/in 2 years and an immediate starter and playmaker!

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PackerBacker's picture

April 25, 2013 at 01:48 am

Why do you keep fighting with Cow over this? He's not going to change his mind and you aren't either. Agree to disagree. Neither of you actually know if he's going to be any good.

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Jamie's picture

April 24, 2013 at 08:54 pm

Like most, I really want DJ to become a great player for us, but it seemed, IMO, the more DJ played...the more it appeared he wasn't very good. I thought he was borderline awful/non-existent in his extended playing time last season.

Those clamoring for Hawk to be benched/traded/cut in favor of this guy might be surprised, but not me.

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NashvillePacker's picture

April 24, 2013 at 09:05 pm

I think Manning deserves consideration and the team has three legit starters if Bishop is healthy. The coaches seem to like Lattimore. This position is not a need.

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Nononsense's picture

April 24, 2013 at 09:09 pm

With 6 ILBs still on the roster it won't hurt us much considering he wasn't gonna be 100% for a while anyway.

I still hope Hawks days as a starter are over. Brad Jones will likely take his spot but my choice would be Robert Francois if we truly want to get stronger and more physical on defense.

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KurtMc's picture

April 24, 2013 at 09:20 pm

Take ILB only after we fix D Line. The LB's won't do any good, if your D line is getting pushed around.

+ 100 on the TE'o comment. Don't think for a moment his NFL life will be a living or virtual hell...

Ps the Peter King draft board is such BS. Who appointed him Draft Guru?

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mani2packers's picture

April 24, 2013 at 10:17 pm

A little surprised. I would be shocked if they drafted Teo. Need dline and safety bad. Would rather they use that pick on lacy instead of an ilb. Cant wait!!!!!!!

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BeddarCheddar's picture

April 24, 2013 at 10:32 pm

So much for this guy being the next Sam Mills, eh? Too bad, I liked what I had been hearing about him last year and was hoping he would bounce back.

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cheesewhizzer's picture

April 24, 2013 at 10:58 pm

Te'o = Hawk2

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rymetyme's picture

April 24, 2013 at 11:28 pm

Too early to cut James Starks?

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dawg's picture

April 25, 2013 at 12:13 am

Teo= Brian Boswell

Please stay away from that TT

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mani2packers's picture

April 25, 2013 at 02:52 am

Starks is as good as gone with another injury riddled season. I was really hope to get ivory from saints. Love that back.

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Fi cr's picture

April 25, 2013 at 03:50 am

Eddie lee.

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mani2packers's picture

April 25, 2013 at 02:54 am

Starks is as good as gone with another injury riddled season. I was really hope to get ivory from saints. Love that back. Hes played too well in short spurts to be let go, minus his blocking and forgetting his assignments of course.

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hump's picture

April 25, 2013 at 03:10 am

inside info says trade down is imminent,no 1st but 4 picks in rounds 2 and 3,albeight the extra 2 and 3 will be mid late 2nd and 3rds smart move considering 25 to 90 are all 2nd round worthy, this source works for the pack and has seldom been off target. he says ted loves eifert,but expects him gone and loves ertz but will take a mid late 2nd and third instead of ertz in the 1st,and part of the ertz deal is.... ted has a burr up his ass for the niners and would take him as a double hit on the 49ers, 1)we get tougher in the middle of the field with ertz and finley and 2)the 49ers lose thier 2 te sets for 2013. laugh if you want but my guy hears this stuff at packer headquarters daily and it kinda makes sense

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Stroh's picture

April 25, 2013 at 04:47 am

I call complete and utter BS!

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cow42's picture

April 25, 2013 at 05:24 am

while i'm pretty sure you're making all of this up... i hope every bit of it is true.

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LDickey's picture

April 25, 2013 at 07:31 am

I think you guys are overthinking this and it has nothing to do with the draft. You don't cut a player because of who you think you might get in a draft.

They have a lot of money now tied up with Hawk, Jones, and Bishop. Smith's knee doesn't make him a better option then Lattimore/Francois. Ted is simply churning the bottom of the roster. Smith injury caused him sink down the depth chart. He was the 6th best option at ILB on the roster. Sure, they could of kept him on the roster for another few months for insurance purposes knowing he had almost no chance of making that roster but that really isn't the Ted Thompson way. TT consistently cuts players early for the player's benefit even if there is some marginal benefit to them keeping that player on the roster.

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Lou's picture

April 25, 2013 at 08:07 am

Time will tell but it looks like Bob McGinn's "soft talk" is hitting home with Ted and Mike. It could very well be the case that his "size" was the key to his release (because he could play) and like the acquisition of Mulligan they want more bulk and a little less athletic ability after getting thrown around by the top teams.

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Drealyn Williams's picture

April 25, 2013 at 08:26 am

With this move,Lattimore,Francois and Manning BETTER and I meeeeeeean BETTER get some damn chances to showcase their talent which should lead to more playing time! If the question,"which LB will be cut/released next season?" was asked last season -- 10/10 people would have guessed AJ Hawk.

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DraftHobbyist's picture

April 25, 2013 at 09:04 am

I have no problem with cutting Smith and Saine. They were both backups that tore ACL's. The failed physical isn't a big deal because it was expected speaking when Smith tore his ACL, but the Packers are really making steps to clear off injured guys. There is a ton of depth at ILB anyways with Bishop, Hawk, Manning, Jones, and Lattimore. That's a solid group.

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KennyPayne's picture

April 25, 2013 at 09:20 am

As long as their is always a roster spot for AJ Hawk who cares who else is on the roster at ILB.

Looking forward to another season of crunching hits, big time stops, blanket coverage, and critical turnovers created by our $50,000,000 man.

Anyone who contends Hawk epitomizes our slow, soft and too often ineffective D obviously has not been paying attention.

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redlights's picture

April 25, 2013 at 09:43 am

If it isn't Hawk, then who is it?

Not following your sarcasm or ?

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redlights's picture

April 25, 2013 at 09:21 am

Other than being nice by an early release; if GB cuts these guys on Monday, it would be an additional question mark of GB's draft plans. Why not Monday?

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DHoward's picture

April 25, 2013 at 10:21 am

Because the players who didn't participate in voluntary mini-camps had their physicals this week. Just a guess...

But, you don't cut a guy because you think you might be able to draft a certain player.

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Irish_Cheesehead's picture

April 25, 2013 at 10:59 am

Strange this happens right before the draft.

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