In surprise move, Falcons release RB Ito Smith

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images With a flurry of exciting free agent signings starting to filter in for the Atlanta Falcons, so, too, comes a pretty shocking release.

The team announced Thursday that veteran running back Ito Smith had been let go after three seasons in Atlanta. Heading into the offseason, Ito seemed like a logical candidate to be the team’s #2 or #3 back depending on their moves, given that he’s shown he can run and catch the ball pretty effectively. Now he’s gone.

Smith was a 2018 fourth-round draft pick out of Southern Miss under then-general manager Thomas Dimitroff, and was picked while Steve Sarkisian was the team’s offensive coordinator. Expected to be a nice…