Saturday, December 10, 2005
Chris Smith - victim of unfair press coverage
Dick Harmon in the Thursday, December 8, 2005 Deseret Morning News tells how tight end Chris Smith's record of 1,156 yards in one season was finally beaten after 15 years when Tulsa tight end Garrett Mills reached 1,164 feet last weekend. That's a longtime for a record to stand in any sport where records are made and broken almost weekly.
Even with his record, Chris Smith never did play professional football. He was the victim of unfair press coverage.
Although Smith had the best record in NCAA in 1990 in April 1991, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Smith in the 11th round, the 295th player taken and the 17th tight end selected. Smith didn't play for the Bengals that season. They already had three players in the tight end spot.
According to Harmon, "draft day humiliated Chris Smith." Two months previously he had been rated the number 1 tight end for the upcoming draft. At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis because of injuries he ran a little slower than usual, but he thought scouts would base their choices on his game films and performances.
Instead a Sports Illustrated article published just before the draft included several negative quotes from a Toledo tight end and a scout. The magazine quoted tight end Jerry Evans, who was at the Combine saying about Smith: "He's effeminate. He can't block." NFL scout Dave Te' Thomas said: "I think Chris will look good in a business suit."
Today, Smith wears a business suit, all because of bad press. He works for a start-up company in Salt Lake City selling automotive accessories. He and his wife have three children. He coaches his daughter's club soccer team, plays basketball several times a week and golfs. You don't have to play for the NFL to have a good life, but Smith probably regrets his lost chances.
Harmon, D. (2005, December 8). Smith's tight end record at BYU has finally fallen. Deseret Morning News. Retrieved December 10, 2005, from http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1,1249,635167138,00.html
Even with his record, Chris Smith never did play professional football. He was the victim of unfair press coverage.
Although Smith had the best record in NCAA in 1990 in April 1991, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Smith in the 11th round, the 295th player taken and the 17th tight end selected. Smith didn't play for the Bengals that season. They already had three players in the tight end spot.
According to Harmon, "draft day humiliated Chris Smith." Two months previously he had been rated the number 1 tight end for the upcoming draft. At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis because of injuries he ran a little slower than usual, but he thought scouts would base their choices on his game films and performances.
Instead a Sports Illustrated article published just before the draft included several negative quotes from a Toledo tight end and a scout. The magazine quoted tight end Jerry Evans, who was at the Combine saying about Smith: "He's effeminate. He can't block." NFL scout Dave Te' Thomas said: "I think Chris will look good in a business suit."
Today, Smith wears a business suit, all because of bad press. He works for a start-up company in Salt Lake City selling automotive accessories. He and his wife have three children. He coaches his daughter's club soccer team, plays basketball several times a week and golfs. You don't have to play for the NFL to have a good life, but Smith probably regrets his lost chances.
Harmon, D. (2005, December 8). Smith's tight end record at BYU has finally fallen. Deseret Morning News. Retrieved December 10, 2005, from http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1,1249,635167138,00.html
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