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| Smith had an illustrious career at Ohio State |
The Heisman Trophy that Troy Smith won at Ohio State in the 2006 season lays in storage somewhere in Cleveland.
The quarterback is hoping his career avoids the same fate.
Smith is trying to break back into the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who signed him in the offseason as an insurance policy during organized team activities and training camp.
"The 27-year-old who dazzled while leading the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and a berth in the national title game during his senior season is now a journeyman trying to beat out established veterans Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch for a spot behind Ben Roethlisberger.
Selected in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, Smith made the team and started two games, including a 27-21 win over the Steelers in the regular season finale.
The victory capped an otherwise miserable 5-11 season for the Ravens, who promptly drafted Joe Flacco the following spring. Smith welcomed the competition, but it was over before it barely began when he developed Lemierre's syndrome.
The illness starts as a sore throat then blossoms into an infection. In Smith's case, the disease attacked the pain receptors in Smith's lungs. A bout with tonsillitis followed and he dropped 45 pounds off his 6-foot frame."
Smith never got a chance to compete with Flacco for the job and when Flacco led the Ravens to the playoffs as a rookie, Smith was rendered a backup.
Baltimore cut him after the 2009 season and Smith landed a spot in San Francisco.
