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Smith Misses Thomas as Friend & Foe
Sept. 16, 2000
Defensive end Neil Smith has returned to Arrowhead Stadium in an opponent's uniform before. But he never felt like a visitor.
Today, Arrowhead won't look or feel the same to Smith, now with the San Diego Chargers, without his close friend and longtime teammate Derrick Thomas on the field.
"Derrick was like a brother to me," said Smith, who spent nine successful years as the Chiefs' starting left end before moving on to Denver for three seasons and joining the Chargers last week. "We grew with each other, made each other better, and I know he's deeply missed by the team and in the community."
Smith had affixed a No. 58 sticker to his helmet in tribute to Thomas before his Chargers debut against New Orleans last week, but the NFL fashion police made him remove it.
"The league is so funny about what you can wear and what you can do," Smith said.
"You know how they'll fine you for wearing your socks a certain way."
Smith also ran afoul of the league when he sought to wear his familiar No. 90. Teammate Adrian Dingle agreed, for a small fee, to part with the number, but the NFL wouldn't allow the deal once the season started. So Smith settled for No. 91, the number worn by another member of the 100-sack club, former Chargers and Chiefs end Leslie O'Neal.
Whatever number he wears, the Chiefs and their fans will recognize Smith, who appeared in 14 plays, mostly as a pass rusher, against New Orleans just five days after signing with the Chargers.
"He's still got those same long arms, his same moves," Chiefs right tackle Victor Riley said. "He looked all right to me. It's just a matter of him getting into football shape."
Smith, 34, appeared finished with football after the Broncos released him last spring. He visited with New Orleans, Detroit and San Diego during the off-season without striking a deal. But the Chargers lost starter Raylee Johnson for the season with a knee injury, and Al Fontenot was inactive last week because of a calf injury.
So Smith, who played for two Super Bowl champions in Denver, continued his tour of the AFC West by signing with another bitter divisional rival. And the Chargers are glad to have him.
"He's a sackmaster in his own right," linebacker Junior Seau said. "He made his name in Kansas City with the Chiefs, and he's excited to put a hammer down on someone. What he does best is rush the quarterback, and we'll make sure he gets an opportunity to do that."
Now that he has two Super Bowl rings, 104.5 career sacks and money in the bank, why does Smith continue to put his 6-4, 270-pound body through the grind of another NFL season?
"I have fun," Smith said. "I love to compete. Until I lose that desire to compete on Sundays, what can I say? If I didn't have that, I definitely would not do this.
"I'm going to play as long as I want to play. I'll know exactly when I want to call it quits. I'm definitely not going to let anyone else say when I should leave. I want to leave on my own terms."
His departure from Kansas City is still a sore spot with Smith, who still maintains his home in the Kansas City area with his wife, Sheri, and four children, including daughter Shayla, who was born Sept. 5, two days before he signed with San Diego.
After the 1996 season, the club did not re-sign Smith, a five-time Pro Bowl player with Kansas City, saying his skills were on the decline.
"They made me exit at the time, and God had something planned for me," said Smith, who had turned down some contract offers during the season. "I didn't elect to go to Denver in that way, but I enjoyed the ride there. We accomplished something Denver hadn't had until I got there, and I feel I played a big part in that.
"But I played my best ball in Kansas City, and I've got some great memories there."
from kc star
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