The contract standoff between free agent shooting guard J.R. Smith and the Cleveland Cavaliers is currently in limbo, with neither side expected to change their negotiating stance in the immediate future. That uncertain status led one fan to ask Smith about the prospect of playing football for the Cleveland Browns.
On Wednesday morning, Smith gave his answer via Twitter, presumably in joking fashion:
https://twitter.com/LouieDelgadillo/status/783668855197536256
Seriously thinking about it! #WR or #FS? https://t.co/buscACgQlZ
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) October 5, 2016
In truth, the concept wouldn’t be completely foreign to Smith, who played high school football while growing up in New Jersey. According to a 2012 article in the former online blog, Grantland, Clemson University was prepared to offer Smith a football scholarship after watching game film on him.
The 31-year-old Smith played multiple positions during his high school career and made a habit of catching touchdown passes with one hand. In addition, he wasn’t afraid to block kicks, clinching two victories by blocking field goals and scoring the winning touchdown after another one.
As a wide receiver, the offensive coordinator for Smith’s high school compared him to a faster version of former wideout Plaxico Burress.
Were Smith to join the Browns, he’d go from playing for a championship team with the Cavaliers to one that could conceivably go winless for the entire season.
