NEW ORLEANS -- Already, there are comparisons to DeAngelo Hall... and not in a good way.
Sean Smith, the Oakland Raiders’ $40-million free-agent cornerback, was getting torched by the New Orleans Saints receivers. And when the 6-feet-3, 220-pound Smith failed to at least bump or jam the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Brandin Cooks on the line of scrimmage, and Cooks simply ran by Smith on the left sideline, caught a ball in stride and had a 98-yard touchdown, Smith’s day was done.
Benched after the longest pass play in Saints history, Smith was reduced to being an observer to the Raiders’ 35-34 comeback victory Sunday on the road.