Andre Smith Continues to Seem Uninterested in Football as a Career

Andre Smith was supposed to use the weeks between the combine and his pro day to prove to NFL teams that he's a top-flight left tackle, and not a flake who can't be bothered to show up in shape for the biggest job interview of his life.

NFL Network even sent Steve Wyche to Atlanta to keep tabs on his progress. And while Smith, last season's Outland Trophy winner, didn't bomb his pro day, he also didn't look like the top-5 pick most scouts and NFL personnel types pegged him for just a month ago.

Smith ... said he was relying on Alabama's pro day to make up for the disappearing act he put on at the combine. Well, the first returns aren't overly impressive.

Smith's best 40-yard dash time was 5.28 seconds, and he put up just 19 bench-press lifts at 225 pounds. His 40 time would not have been among the top 10 performers at his position in the combine, and his bench-press reps would have put him well behind the top 10.

PFT's Aaron Wilson adds: "According to our league source, Smith ran with no shirt on and was visibly overweight. With a group of trainers urging him on to run faster, Smith had a generally rough day."

To be fair, Smith is listed at 6-4, 330 pounds. I'm pretty sure everybody in attendance expected to see moobs when the top came off. That aside, the fact that USC kicker David Buehler was able to put up 225 pounds 25 times -- six more than a guy who outweighs him by more than a c-note -- well, that's not good.

As JJ Cooper mentioned in an e-mail: if the league asks Smith to come to New York to hang out in the Aaron Rodgers Memorial Green Room at the NFL Draft, his agent should do everything in his power to make sure that doesn't happen. Because, frankly, Smith might still be sitting there Sunday morning.

On the upside: at this rate, the Steelers might have a shot at landing a legit offensive lineman at the end of the first round. And it'll only end up costing Smith $15-$20 million in guaranteed dough.

Latest NFL Images

Alabama football's Andre Smith works out during pro day at the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility on the UA campus in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, March 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Tuscaloosa News, Dan Lopez) ** ONLINE OK **

Alabama's Andre Smith, left, talks with a representative of the Kansas City Chiefs football team during pro day at the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, March 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Tuscaloosa News, Dan Lopez) ** ONLINE OK **

Michael Huyghue, commissioner of the newly formed United Football League, speaks at a news conference in San Francisco, California March 11, 2009. The league, with teams in San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando begins its inaugural season in October. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES SPORT FOOTBALL)

Reuters

Investment banker Paul Pelosi, an investor in the newly-formed United Football League (UFL), speaks at a news conference in San Francisco, California March 11, 2009. The league, with teams in San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando, begins its inaugural season in October. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES SPORT FOOTBALL HEADSHOT BUSINESS)

Reuters

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson talks about his restructured contract that will keep him with the football team during a news conference Wednesday, March 11, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Investment banker Paul Pelosi, an investor in the newly-formed United Football League (UFL), looks on at a news conference in San Francisco, California March 11, 2009. The league, with teams in San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando, begins its inaugural season in October. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES SPORT FOOTBALL HEADSHOT BUSINESS)

Reuters

Michael Huyghue, commissioner of the newly-formed United Football League (UFL), speaks at a news conference in San Francisco, California March 11, 2009. The league, with teams in San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando, begins its inaugural season in October. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES SPORT FOOTBALL)

Reuters

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson talks during a news conference after agreeing to a restructured contract contract that will keep him with the Chargers Wednesday, March 11, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-11-2009 @ 5:19PM

Colin said...

I understand the bench press being surprising but who cares about the 40 time for a left tackle, he has showed on the field he has quick feet and can downright block.

3-11-2009 @ 10:10PM

Adam said...

It's not that his numbers were bad, it's that he could have done a lot better if he had been working out for the past few weeks and months. Instead, Smith is just coasting along in this process and not showing any kind of dedication. These are the kinds of guys who end up being big busts.

3-11-2009 @ 6:07PM

shane said...

ya kno i agree with the 40 time not mattering but the fact tht the kicker on the same football team holds more reps benching i just don't know seems to me like smith is seeming kinda lazy i mean can't workout at the combine and barely does anything at his proday if you ask me i'd be scared to put him on my team and pay him big money makes me think if he can't workout to prove he's worth the money after he gets the money he'll probably be one to not want to practice and call his own shots and my friend in the nfl that doesn't work too good first coming in

3-11-2009 @ 6:30PM

ettev6791 said...

To be honest I'm not shocked that he is doing this. I know he would make a ton of money going in the top 10, but all of those teams suck. I wouldn't want to go to any of those teams either and it looks like he is gonna get his wish.