CANTON, Ohio -- Bills defensive end Bruce Smith seemed to bring the entire city of Buffalo with him to his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday. His loyal fans were certainly vocal in expressing their support for the most dominant NFL end of his era."BRRRUUCCEE!" the Bills-heavy crowd chanted several times during the evening, giving the biggest shout to their pass rushing hero when he finally stepped to the microphone following a rousing introduction speech by defensive coach Ted Cottrell.
"This certainly feels like a home game," said a beaming Smith, who spent 19 seasons in the NFL and wrapped up a long night of induction speeches at the Hall of Fame with his own 18-minute ode to Bills coaches, teammates and fans alike.
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The NFL's career leader for sacks with 200, Smith, 46, was the centerpiece of a Buffalo team that made it to four consecutive Super Bowls. He had 13 seasons with 10 or more sacks, also an NFL record, and was named to both the NFL's All-Decade teams of the 1980s and the 1990s.
Smith, the first player selected overall in the 1985 NFL draft out of Virginia Tech, finished his pro career playing four seasons with the Washington Redskins. It was there that he passed the mythical 200-sack mark.
"The crowning achievement in my career in terms of statistics occurred when I broke the NFL all-time sack record while playing for the Washington Redskins," Smith said. But he'll always be a Bills' legend, and he acknowledged that Saturday night.
"In the annals of NFL history, the sum total of my career will forever be defined by the 15 years I spent playing for the Buffalo Bills," Smith said. "And what a ride it was.
"Four consecutive AFC championships. The potency of the no-huddle offense. The greatest comeback in NFL history. And the record-breaking attendance set by the greatest fans in the NFL."
Smith sacked 76 quarterbacks in his 19 seasons, with the New York Jets' Ken O'Brien being his most targeted victim (17 1/2 sacks).
He singled out many of his famous Bills' teammates, but had a special mention for fellow Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas.
"Thurman Thomas, known to his teammates as 'Squatty,' you undoubtedly are the most complete running back of our era," Smith said. "My life would be a little less bright if I didn't have you to laugh and joke with.
"P.S. -- I hid your helmet."
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
hahahahaha. soaked up what adoration? the HOF ceremony seemed like a funeral this year. did you see what happened when Green and Monk got in last year? THAT was adoration
I AM A BIG BILLS FAN, I WENT TO SCHOOL W/ JOE FERGUSON @ ARKANSAS, BUT MY BEST PLAYER WAS BRUCE SMITH. WHAT A GREAT PLAYER, ALWAYS AROUND THE BALL AND HE ALWAYS HAD A SMILE. WHAT A CLASS ACT. HE MADE YOU ENJOY THE GAME. IT WAS SO FUNNY, IF HE HAD A FOUL HE WOULD GET THIS LOOK IN HIS FACE--WHO ME. I DON'T THINK I EVER SAW HIM THAT HE WASN'T AT HIS TOP OF HIS GAME. THIS WAS A GREAT BUNCH OF PLAYERS THAT MADE THE HALL OF FAME, EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM. I AHVE SEVERAL RELATIVES THAT PLAYED PRO BALL & I HAVE MET MANY OF THE PLAYERS OVER THE YEARS IN K.C., PHILLY, SAN FRANCISCO, DALLAS & THE VIKINGS, MY OTHER FAVORIYR TEAM. I'M ZERO FOR TEN SUPERBOWLS, 4 W/ BUFFALO. 4 W/ THE VIKINGS & 2 W/ THE EAGLES. I AM ALSO A LITE NEW ENGLAND FAN, I LOVE THE WAY THEY PLAY & LAST YEAR W/ AN 11-5 RECORD THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE THE PLAYOFFS. I REALLY THINK THAT THEY WOULD WON IT ALL, LAST YEAR. THEY WERE ON A ROLL.
Did you see the effect of Twitter on the NFL in the first preseason game? The Media's power to spin has been drastically reduced by fair and honest analysis in real time if you can find it. That "Safety" had only one clear intention...to impact the betting line and save money for the bookies and Vegas. How much money changed hands on the last play that wasn't a safety? The clock expired, but the player wasn't down or out of the endzone. He could have fumbled or gotten beyond the goal. This was blatent and done in the first game of the Twitter Era. That's power baby. If Tweets can impact the integrity of the NFL product, then we can do anything. Buyer beware.
I happen to catch Bruce Smith's speech and it was very classy. It is so nice to hear a well written, verbally expressed acceptance from a sport figure. Not once did he say "you know what I'm saying". Good job and seemed like a nice family man givng credit to his Mother and Son. He also mentioned his team players, coaches, etc. Mr. Smith said it all. Very uplifting.