Anthony Smith to the Green Bay Packers: Does It Really Make Sense?

As we all know, the Packers have made their first major offseason move by signing Anthony Smith from the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

I have heard some writers from other sites disagree with the signing, but it makes some logical sense to me, and here is why.

Even though the safety position was not a major need on this team, we needed something, ANYTHING to make it look like TT and McCarthy were trying to put this team in the right direction and help make an easier transition to a 3-4 defense.

Our fans were crying out about not signing anyone in free agency, and like I said before, safety was not a need, but he helps the Packers out. 

Even though Smith was a backup last year and saw virtually no playing time whatsoever, he was on a Super Bowl-winning team and was on a defense that was ranked No. 1 in the league, so that's saying something.

Plus, they ran the 3-4, and while he did not play, he has knowledge of it and could help make it easier for our safeties to make the transition. Our new safeties coach, Darren Perry, was his coach in 2006, so they are familiar with each other.

He could also push Bigby for the starting job and give him some motivation, which doesn't sound like anything special, but Bigby could use some reinforcement after an injury-plagued 2008 season.

Smith could also help on special teams defense where the Packers struggled horribly last year.

Where there are positives, there are also negatives.  You might remember Smith giving out the famous "I guarantee a win against the Patriots" statement.

Not only was it stupid to open his mouth and start talking trash, but the Steelers got crushed by 21 points and Smith gave up a number of big plays to Randy Moss and other New England receivers.

Nice going, stud.

In addition, he lost his starting job to Ryan Clark last season. Even though Clark was out with injuries for most of 2007, Smith got the chance to start and was just not good enough, losing his job when Clark got healthy in the summer of 2008.

He got the chance to start and did not take advantage of it, thus becoming mainly a benchwarmer for the 2008 season.

Still, TT made a good move bringing him in. It was for a pretty cheap cost, the guy has played with some amazingly talented defensive units, he gives us depth in the secondary, and he should be able to help us with the transition to a 3-4 defense.

While we do need to focus on bolstering the OLB and DE positions, I think this was a smart move. Do you guys agree with TT on this one?