One time, Brad Smith returned a kickoff 90 yards-with one shoe. Another time, he scored on a 32 yard scamper via the ground. Yet another, he returned a blocked punt for a TUD. And I didn’t even mention the fact that last season he scored on a 32 yard receiving TUD against the rival Patriots.
His insane versatility on the field stretches to his local community as well, where he started the “Brad Smith True Foundation” to help kids in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio to promote “discipline, education and organized activity.”
Recently, BarberShopBlog spoke with him about his first season in Buffalo, his preferred position, and his recent stint as an intern/backstage interviewer at Men’s Health magazine.
BE: Since you’ve been in the league, we’ve seen an evolution where a QB who can run, like a Russell Wilson type, has become really valuable. Why do you think that’s happened now and what started the shift since you got into the league?
Brad Smith:I think there’s always been this type of player in the league, it’s not new- you’ve always had guys like Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young, Randall Cunningham and other guys like that who have had a lot of success. Players like that are hard to find and I think that’s a big part of it where colleges are going to the zone read- that’s not all that these guys can do. You can be multi-dimensional and people start saying, “hey they have to defend this, and then this.” Then, their running back gets more yards in the hole because they’re worried about this. It’s all about scheme, man.
BE: In your pro career, you’ve been used in a myriad of ways — wide receiver, quarterback, kick return, running back, special teams — is there a way that you visualize yourself as a player?
Brad Smith: It’s been crazy experience going on eight years now- because it’s always something new. First, I come in, work at receiver for a few plays, then I go to running back, coach calls a few plays, did that. Then go to quarterback and work on those plays. Then I will hear the coach say, “Hey can you return kicks?” So, I tried that. Then its special teams tackling and blocking. So I just got an appreciation for the entire game but just want to make sure I help the team. There’s no play that doesn’t matter- every play matters. I don’t know how to look at it any other way than that I’m just a football player who wants to win and get a Super Bowl championship.
BE: One thing I don’t like as a fan are the new kick return rules; it’s taken a lot of fun out of kick returns. How do you feel about that?
Brad Smith: I feel the same way. It’s definitely added a drag to the game. About half the time now the ball is going out of the end zone, and if it doesn’t, most teams don’t bring it out deep. You’ve got a lot of teams that do bring it out. You’re gonna see more and more teams just taking a chance and bringing it out.
