Steve Smith Sr. Fined $856K for Fighting a Teammate | Ep. 56 | CLUB SHAY SHAY

First wall cost me about $856,000 what. that's what it cost me I backhand him. cuz he was behind me that bad. news my gr all my. sacrif price want a slice got the roll. of dice that's why all my life been. grinding all my life all my life. grinding all my life sacrifice hustle. pay the price want a slice got the roll. a dice that's why on my life been.

grinding on my. life hello welcome to another edition of. Club sh Shay I am your host Shannon. sharp I'm also the proprietor Club sha. and the guy that's stopping by for. conversation on the drink is a 16-year. NFL vet a five-time pro bowler a. three-time All Pro comeback Player of. the Year in 2005 and an NFL Triple Crown. Runner led the league in catches. touchdowns and yards Steve Smith Senior. Smitty ain't no Steve Smith Smitty. Smitty how you doing bro I'm good no you.

doing better than good. yeah what's a day like for Steve Smith. now wake up. at depends I'm I'm a morning person okay. so I I yeah you play in NFL you got to. be a morning person yeah that's not true. I know some guys that weren morning. person well how they make it they didn't. make. it um I get up you know 6 7 o'clock I. watch a little TV okay uh catch you. catch you rerunning and seeing uh. catching up uh also deciding and having.

an internal dialogue uh we going to run. outside we going to get on the pelaton. treadmill or the bike then there take. take my dog for a walk feed her uh may. work out with my oldest or with one of. my one of my kids uh see what's going on. uh got a foundation and some businesses. in Charlotte go down I got my office. downtown Uptown in uh Charlotte so do. some of that stuff and and let the day. uh take me how it's going to take as an.

NFL analyst obviously you have you talk. about the games every week how much film. do you actually watch how much game do. you actually watch I watch a lot of game. I watch a lot of film I take a lot of. notes uh I allow I try to allow the game. to talk to me to uh I create my opinion. about someone or something or about that. team based on the game each week and and. collectively and I may see something. earmark it and then come back to it. especially if I have a game I'm watching.

a team this week against another. prominent team but also maybe have to. watch these two different teams or. someone else again so I'll check to see. have they improved uh have they dropped. so you know I I'll do a little bit of. everything um but mainly letting the. game talk obviously you watch the game. but you probably have a little a. preference towards watching the. receivers because that's the position. that you play if I were to say SMY give. me your top five receivers and if I said.

you got a draft you can only get one who. you taking give me your top five if you. get a draft you can take one well this. is probably an answer that you're not. going to expect okay who's my. quarterback first of all I'll give you. you could have okay who you want to be. your quarterback Aaron Rogers Tom Brady. Patrick Mahomes who do you want to be. the quarterback somebody that can has a. fast processing system okay so I'll give. you any of the I'll say you can have Tom. Brady or you want Brady you want Rogers.

or you want Mahomes well I played in. Carolina so I'll take all of them no no. offense to Jake I love Jake but okay. okay so you got one of those top. quarterbacks Now give me your top five. receivers top five receivers W currently. right now I got you know I'm biased I. gotta go with a guy whose cups always. full okay uh Cooper cup Cooper cup um. give me DeAndre Hopkins de hop um. give me.

obj still yeah I'm surprised why I'm. surprised not because I don't I know. what he represents but the injuries and. injured again yeah that you still. believe that he's top gu is this my list. or your list that's your list I'm just. saying I'm just saying it's your list I. hey I'm just saying all right well I. picked obj but he's G we're gonna you're. making me change. so yeah n nobody makes me to change I'm. lightskinn play the.

Victor okay okay um man there oh I'll. take any of those boys in Tampa Bay you. can't go wrong with either one of them. right you want Evans. Godwin give me Godwin just because Evan. Evan is a tall guy he gets too much. credit you know I got I gotta ref for. the the small people okay um and then um. how many is that if you leave obj that's. four okay four.

um Devonte Adams okay I was I was. wondering how how long before you got. Devonte but the guy that I'm surprised. by that you didn't pick is kind of your. size is. Tyreek I like. Tyreek I'mma give you some choices and. you tell me who's the best wide receiver. under the age of 25 you got Justin. Jefferson Jamar Chase CD lamb AJ Brown. jayen w DK Meda DJ Moore Jerry Judy give.

me the best and give me your top give me. your give me your top four wide. receivers under 25 man well I don't know. about DK just because you don't know the. quarterback situation out there right. and then at the same time when they go. to. uh when even when Russell whistle was. there when they needed a big play who'. they go to Tyler lock then if they go to. someone else to the if they go to the. wishing well and it's not you then guess. what you're not the guy oh sorry I'm.

just being honest so okay I I think he's. I mean he walks through the door. physically gifted yeah but uh the short. guys who they go to when they need a big. play uh DK is is Robin uh Tyler's Batman. okay Justin Jefferson outstanding uh he. gets he's he has a cheeko a little bit. because he has Adam Thelen out there. trying to tell him everything you have. the athleticism he's also a great kid as. well right a sponge he also was a kubak.

Clint kubak SL Gary kubak offense and. that offense there's one receiver that. will always eat the second receiver you. can eat two but you just got it you just. got to know what you're doing yeah um. who who else I mean I could break all. Jamar Chase love him uh he has a stellar. quarterback his offensive uh offensive. minded coach understands getting him the. ball uh they understand and he'll be a. guy that plays for a long time has speed. but also has the ability to run uh. exceptional routes as such a young Gage.

you like CD lamb I like CD lamb um I'm. not really keen on hearing um Jerry. Jones put that pressure and say he's a. better version of Amari Cooper because. Amari Cooper was Amari Cooper you knew. who Amari Cooper was where you paid him. you can't get mad at Amari Cooper. because he's the same person that showed. up he's a quiet kid he's gonna he's. gonna bring his lunch PA but he's not. really going to get dirty that's never. been him and and it's nothing against. him right right that's why uh at the. time Oakland traded him right because he.

just was not the the the L not fire he's. not a fire got to have football is life. or death for me yeah and that's and. that's okay and it is you can't be. disappointed that's your fault for not. doing your due diligence AJ Brown. another physical specimen he's a. physical specimen um I think his last. receiver group really stuned his growth. in Tennessee uh the whole room um I. think there were some some examples that.

should have been better examples that. weren't uh he he is a dynamic receiver. and I think he's going to play well in. Philly I also think he just needs to. come out and say look he left for more. money end of the day ain't no wrong with. that your guy DJ Moore I love DJ Moore I. love what he's playing not really um not. really sure how it's gonna work out over. all but I like DJ Mo and he he's also. he's he's a kind of like um.

uh like Coupe he's not really a ra rock. guy and he he'll play he'll show up. he'll do his football his life or death. for him but he's just not a ro rock guy. y'all might get Baker Mayfield I know I. hear that y i i I gotta just if if. that's my squad whether you like it or. you gotta ride with him even if you gota. close your. eyes I do i' been I've been killing. baker man you yeah You' been killing. I've been killing but here's why though. quarterbacks get too much glory for the.

win and they get to blame everybody else. for the loss yeah you know listen I. guess I'm just. a as a wide receiver I just go to B for. the wide receivers right that wide. receiver this this wide receiver could. be dead. wrong he could be they can have him on. camera sneaking in the house late they. can have his key card in his hotel room. saying that he was not there at curfew. I'm going say no he was there.

it wasn't him you know you stick. together let me ask you a question. because this is the problem that I run. into okay when I talk about players if. you were a good player now obviously uh. uh you coming up for the Hall of Fame. now being in the Hall of Fame and having. one people take what I say Ser yeah so. let's let's let's let's let's divulge in. okay okay so you know what I'm getting. at I know what you're getting at now. some of the young guys have said things. about me saying that um Throwing Shade.

right right let's let's break down shade. you know shade is generally uh when the. Sun hits a wellestablished tree okay and. that tree must be established by having. Deep Roots right so as you what you see. what I'm getting a baby tree must be. shaded by oak tree right something that. has uh substantial uh good Deep Roots. right Devante Adams can't throw shade on. him cuz he's a de rooted tree right some. of these young boys need to understand. they baby trees right they still.

Anchored In by rope because it with. bad so they can start to grow sideways. okay or it can dwarf their growing right. so these young the young guys I. understand but it's not shade it's. really understanding we've seen and and. grinded out and understand how to play. ball and we also know the game has. changed it's it's changed in a good way. right right anytime guys are getting. paid that's a good thing advancement. but we have to do our jobs and sometimes.

guys believe that we have a personal. vandetta or or I I had a conversation. with a guy that I I asked him that I. won't say is what do you have that I. don't what have you experiened that I. have not experienced you got a girl or a. wife I have one beautiful you have. children I have children actually I have. have grown trolling some my my some of. my children with their ages combined. still can't rent a car in New York in. the state of nework. York I I some of the teams that they're.

on I don't want to be on your team team. isn't very good I don't want to be in. your market right and so I understand to. a certain degree but then there's a part. of where some of them a little bit. sensitive yeah right oh you hating yeah. bro why am I hating I'm all I'm saying. I'm critiquing what I've seen you do in. the game time and time again and also. like what Tariq Hill what he said lately. I find it it um interesting yeah very.

because one he's applied a lot of. pressure on uh on Tua but also when I. look at his. highlights Tariq Hill is a Fant he's. cheater he runs faster than anyone I've. known at wide receiver however when I. look at his highlights and I'm not. speaking out of hate I'm speaking out of. my own insecurities and understanding. when I haven't gotten a ball for a long. time you know how I catch the ball. without my hands body catcher yes yeah.

he's not he's not a this is not and this. is not a knock but he's not a natural. catcher of the ball no no no he's not a. pure yeah hands catching no and you. don't have to be when you have that. amount of speed yeah you'll be able to. catch a lot of balls in your body. because you gonna be so wide open but. when that speed leaves and you don't. have the but when the speed leaves he's. still gonna be top two top three. receivers in the leagues I hope so I I. just know there's a lot of guys when. their athleticism starts to leave.

their numbers declined dramatically well. I think what he's in rud towak for I. don't think he when you play with a. great he went from the top he went from. the PIN housee to the ouous but he. doesn't understand SM you know a lot of. these guys don't understand that they. don't understand how valuable the. quarterback is they think oh I can put. up these numbers well the only guy that. I've seen put up numbers regardless who. the quarterback is is Dehan yes that's. the only guy all these other guys you. had Brady you had Rogers you had Mahomes. now you got Herbert you got Joe burrow. and things of that nature dehop can can.

honestly say bro y'all see what throwing. to me in Houston before I got Des but. it's also a good system as well so you. got to have a good system as well you. can't you can't have you can't have. negative everything and still Prevail. that just doesn't happen when you look. at the money that these guys wide. receivers are getting love I love it I. tell my mom why you couldn't wait five. years you couldn't wait 10 years I mean. bro you I mean 25 You Had Me At You 24. yeah bro you could have waited till you. I I I think it's fantastic you know it I.

I don't have a problem with it you know. um I think it's it advances the game if. you're not advancing then you're. digressing so I think it's I think it's. good Lamar Jackson he's working as he he. and his mom are their own. representatives in this situation you. see what deshun Watson got 230 fully. guaranteed desan has never been a. League's MVP Lamar has been League's MVP. he's been a league MVP unanimously.

what do you think is going what what is. Lamar Thinking what are the Ravens. thinking I think the Ravens want to. resign him I think uh Lamar wants to be. resigned as well I I believe that. um there's a disconnect somewhere. somehow my only complaint is if you are. going to. pay that amount of money um I I I think. you know I think Baltimore needs to have. a better offense that that's a little.

bit more creative that um pushes the. ball outside of the hashes um I don't. know why I I used to think it was Greg. Roman I thought it was this I just think. I believe to be competitive against a. Justin Herbert against a Patrick Mahomes. Joe bur Joe Joe. burrow um I I guess we got to throw two. it in there because they have all of. those thorough Brads out there in Miami. and obviously last Thursday last year.

and Thursday night the Baltimore Ravens. did not fare well against the Miami. Dolphins last year so I I just believe. to um to pay a guy you know a quarter of. a billion dollars um you got to be able. to process you got to be able to uh put. the ball where it needs to be and you. got this is a throwing league right I'm. a receiver so I always speak from this. perspective right I don't like playing I. don't like watching offenses or being on. offense that looks like. um the wing team I'm just I'm just not.

for it Lamar's outstanding he's he's but. when you offer a critique and the the. critique that I've offered of Lamar is. that I just don't think he throws the. ball consistently accurately enough I'm. not that's not it's not saying that he. can't throw the ball I didn't say that. he can throw the ball I just their. offense is different but you want to put. him in an offense like Rogers I mean. don't you have to put him in an offense. that fits his skill set I don't know I. think his skill set I I I think his. skill set is he's a quarterback if he's.

not a quarterback then put him at a. different position no he's a quarterback. but all quarterbacks are not created. equal you a man but all man are 6'2 are. 65 eight seven foot that's correct so. what you so what what what do we getting. at I'm getting that what okay what's the. idea you're the offensive coordinator. you got Lamar Jackson tell me what you. gonna do I'm gonna feed my wide. receivers I I said you gonna feed the. wide receivers yes. yeah bakeman can play you see yeah oh.

yeah I think you play Porsche I I can. tell you right now Porsche is a dynamic. wide receiver he's working on his game. I've seen him he's a guy that because of. the draft picks didn't play a lot last. year was a healthy scratch right I've. seen him make some catches in practice. in training camp I believe he's their. most well-rounded wide receiver on the. on on the squad okay but he relies. heavily on Andrews Andrews is is I mean. you can never go wrong with a number 89. so I mean what do you.

expect it's been having played 16 years. in in the league obviously we have a. family because you came in with a very. different situation if I'm not mistaken. you either was married or close to being. married yeah we're married so that's. that's very unique so you had already. established as you mentioned earlier. Roots I got a family had a kid also. right your old all the son all the son. so you came in already I got a wife I. got a kid I got responsibility so you're. looking at things a lot differently than.

a lot of these guys that's coming into. League 2021 years of age that does not. have the foundation that you had what if. someone were to ask you that went into. the 2022 draft Steve how were you able. to stay so grounded what made you so. certain that in college she's the right. woman she's the one that I want to build. this with well that's interesting. because if you ask my wife uh. she wouldn't say that I gave her that.

that. comfort that comfort of that I want to. build a future with my wife um there. were some mistakes and some things that. um that you know I just talk about it. with my boys that um you you got to be. prepared and be ready to step up and do. the things that you need to that that. that's of that a family needs uh it have. to be emotionally there um I struggle. with some of the things I experienced. growing up here in La um I I just I.

struggle internally with understanding. really um what is what does a man bring. to the table um it's not sex it's not. money but what things are emotionally. can you you provide and at 43 years old. now um I'm finally connecting the dots. to see uh that it's not provide. basically I provided financially and a. roof over my family's head but.

emotionally they were. bankrupt and so understanding figuring. that out and understanding what each one. of my family members my wife what she. needs from me how how can I show up for. her every day how can I show up for my. daughter um how can I uh love on my. daughter make and set that standard for. my daughter that she's not looking not. that she is but she's not looking for. the boyfriend to be there. because her dad was there just what her.

dad was yeah so just trying to you know. figure it out myself and and uh no. longer blind leading the blind right. more of leading uh from the front um and. at sometimes also leading from the back. right also asking my wife hey what do. you think about this instead of saying. oh this is my house and I know I make. the money I do this yeah let me. um when you the sacrifices obviously to.

be a great player there are a lot of. sacrifices that must be made you got. film study you got to go early you got. to stay late you're going to miss some. recital you're going to miss some soccer. practice how do you how do you jugle how. do you say damn I really need to be. there but I really need to be Smitt I. need to be a top dog and in order for me. to be the top. dog baby you're GNA have to go to PTA by. yourself tonight well there is sometimes. if any other job you know whether if I.

wasn't a football player and I was a. banker you know those they're Bank hours. right I'm trying to find that trying to. find that balance there were times where. I couldn't make events but then there. were times in off season that we did. stuff right but being. there physically and then mentally being. somewhere else that you you can get you. can get caught right really going hey. hey hey hello you know St staring off. and like even we talk was physically. there but not necessarily mentally there.

yeah there were times where uh during. the season my wife would say on I can. tell his game time because by. Friday you. know family is tiptoeing around you know. walking on eggshells so just trying to. balance it and I think for a lot of my. career if I'm being honest just. extremely transparent and. is um I really I struggle with some. things I really I had performance. anxiety right I did not really know.

myself and I'm just learning myself now. for the LA probably about the last year. really. understanding you know when you're. having a bad day like actually the. deeper why am I'm grumpy today why am I. irritated today it's not that that I am. irritated it's the purpose on the why. the deeper meaning and realizing some of. that is just not being able to figure it.

out and know myself and why and and and. how and processing things so it's it's. been it's been unique I think early on. you were really misunderstood because. people had thought you had anger issues. you got into a few scuffles uh early in. your career was it because like you. looked at it like I know everybody's. like I'm a grown man but you were really. a grown man in sense I got a wife I got. a kid so I I've see things differently. all this joking and kiking you be do it. with the home.

voicey see I know you see I know you. like that you you you you kiky into. a you going Kik your something into a. two two-piece and I'm not talking I'm. not talking about KFC. neither so the situation if people don't. remember there's a situation I think it. was a a receiver and you had dropped it. you dropped the pass so I I'll go. through it go go through it this this's. what first of all cost me about $856,000. what that's what it cost. me it's taking me a while the first time.

I ever kind of mention that yeah and so. what happened um there was a guy we came. in our rookie year um together he was a. fast guy he played in arena league and. it was this competition and for me. competition uh I I I didn't have healthy. habits in competition So when you say we. if we competition we Foos right you know. we it's ain't no I understand we both on. Carolina but we we ain't on the same.

team cuz you trying to get my job right. and so we were playing and mus. Muhammad's running the film and so we. were uh we used to grade ourselves and. Dan hen's offense coordinator so we. grading ourselves and the guy says um. he's sitting right behind me we sitting. in our chairs in Our receiver room and. we had had a few uh run-ins earlier that. year okay so it was basically he didn't. like me I didn't like him it was it was. a known fact. so normally in a situation like that you.

kind of avoid each other your teammates. but I don't really fool with you you. don't fool with me so no I'm let you if. I don't like you yeah so but you but you. avoid hey no if I don't like you I'mma. let you know I have a disdain for you so. he he he and you should avoid each other. to keep conflict down so I grew up in. Conflict but he ain't grow he he was. from Florida too so I didn't like that. either why the hell he be from Florida. you being from La y'all two different. coasts.

exactly remember I grew up in a uh Tupac. you know Big E right East Coast West. Coast right okay Finish finish the story. and so we um so we're in the meeting. room and he says uh it was a pass that I. think I called it and dropped a fumble. he goes run that. back. man so what does moose do he ran it back. he ran it. back so he says man don't about care. about what you.

say and it just it hit me the wrong way. I was already embarrassed I didn't play. well right that was about me it wasn't. about him right if I'm being honest just. straight up and so when he did that and. I'm not justified I'm not trying to make. it a joke but I responded in a very. immature way and also responded in a way. I always grew up if you don't like. somebody you and you don't you don't. really have respect for somebody so. I backhanded him because he was behind.

me and so when I backhanded him U hit. him in the face and we turned around and. he charged. me that was it that bad. news and so it was uh so we had a fight. I mean it he. swung and we've gotten a fight and then. I was it and then obviously um um you. got spin it with two games I got spin it. two two games and then uh he.

uh he had to get. surgery and he press charges um and I. you know I turned myself in and uh I was. charged and um I had to do a uh deferred. prosecution I think it was two or three. years of of. probation you had to see counseling. angle management I was already I was. already at started counseling after that. so so you you knew you had some issues. that you needed to deal with yeah but I.

I didn't know I had issues because for. me that's how I grew up that was the. norm right right I grew up when you had. a problem you you you fixed it with your. fist right so that's what I was that was. a standard people say oh that's not. everybody everybody doesn't live the. same way everybody is not raised the. same way and so that's how I was raised. right. um and it was it was it was an awful. example to be for my children and put. stress on my wife and then a couple. years later about four or five years.

later me and the DB got into it uh Ken. Lucas and and I was pressed on that I. was pressed on that because I had found. out some uh my wife was having some. health issues scares my mom was uh the. night before she was in in a bad place. where she was diagnosed with type two. diabetes um financially where she was. and I had that call in training camp and. so we had altercation and I.

just when did you. realize I I can't fight about everything. I need to have a better way of dealing. with this that's the thing that man is. it was one of the things that I I. struggle with now is uh like I I was on. the flight come in here and I had to um. do some real estate stuff and I got to. I'm selling some property and and and. the buyer is like trying to make me jump. through all the these hoops as if I'm.

getting their property and they're. buying my property right and and so I I. looked at the before I sent the email. and I was asking myself what is the. objection do I want to sell this. property yes do I want to sell it for a. profit absolutely yes do I want to deal. with all of this in the they just signed. a contract two days ago right do I want. to deal with this throughout this whole. process and my answer is no so I told. them on my email to my realtor that I.

believe that if they disagree or don't. like it present any documentations that. hand over that feel that they feel that. uh uh enhances their point of view right. and I said if if they don't then uh I. will only proceed and take the following. steps forward from the contract that. they signed if they didn't like the. contract then I think they should move. forward with termination whatever they. should and either way uh. the best I wish I wish him the best and.

God bless you that's it but while I'm. sitting there. going right and I'm going in my but I. have that moment I go but this is the. new Ste this is the new Smitt it's not. even new Smitt it's just really just let. me ask you a question 10 years ago 15. years ago told I. told I even know I know what I was going. to say cuz I said that is I would like. to in my mind I'm going that is not the. appropriate response. but that's how I felt I'm like you.

signed a paperwork right this is the. listing price now you're coming back a. day and a half later or two days later. after you agreed to the listing price I. had it listed here you came here I said. here you said okay now. today it's a problem right and so I and. so for me I just I like my podcast I cut. to it I cut out all the. nonsense and go straight to the source. free agency yeah let let's before we get.

to free AG let's talk about your. situation in Carolina you go to Carolina. you have immediate success your rookie. year you go to the Pro Bowl as a. returner you're Dynamic you work your. way you turn yourself into a damn a. great receiver I believe the B you. because you played what two years with. moose or you played three years with. moose how many years you played with. moose two no three years three years. with move three or four years okay and. then he went Chicago and then came came. back yeah that's big bro turned yourself. into a dynamic receiver because at the.

at the beginning you was you know come. in get a couple catches here and there. but you were a punt returner kick return. you turn yourself into a great receiver. and so you you going back and you like. damn do you look back and says I wish I. could have done this different I wish. should have done that different I my. only regret is handling myself. differently you know towards my. teammates um just the teammates or your. opponents. too just my teamm you got it to it. everybody SP it I mean some guys are.

looking for it too though and you. looking to give it to them what you mean. they were looking for it absolutely they. found it whatever they were looking for. they found it than you yeah you know. sometimes you got you got to try people. let me ask you a question did you ever. go into the game say you know what I. don't really like him if he say anything. anything in the slightest I'm G tee off. on it no so that's the that's the. interesting part uh so I I actually had. a sports psychologist um I I had a. psychologist and then I had a sports.

psychologist sports psychologist was a. golf guy actually right so he really. started to teach me how to uh make. lifetime goals short-term goals daily. goals right just to look at like look at. look at sports without the emotion okay. right it's a very emotional game though. it is and he was good on that right he. was really good on that some of the. other stuff he was giving me I just it. wasn't applicable at that time I wasn't. I wasn't I wasn't I wasn't. um I couldn't do it right there were.

some things that just emotionally I was. not able to do right and um and so I. would go on the game and a lot of times. when you see me I would be talking but I. wouldn't be talking to the player I was. going against if I caught a ball and I. spent it and I would say they this this. coordinator thinks he can cover me today. I was talking to myself right now I said. it out loud and then in turn they think. you talking to them but it was not about.

them a lot of times that I played I. really played because I was trying to. get I was trying to get out of back home. I was trying not to come back to 126 in. Avalon right um I knew we strug we we. struggled um it was tough my mom she she. worked her butt off my dad worked their. butt off they taught me about hard work. but also knew that growing up in ERS. City there were things that we. experienced growing up poor you don't.

get the. same. opportunities right but being a person. that's poor all right I don't want to. say black just black but being a person. poor you have to do more and yet you. don't have the same opportunities you. got to present. yourself in a better. light just to maybe get an interview to. not get the job right so for me I I was. I put all my eggs in in football right.

right and it it was tough right had to. go to community college right Santa. Monica Junior College ooo Chad Johnson. was your teammate y was he like this in. college was he like he is like what we. saw at Cincinnati what we see now was he. like that then yeah he was always. entertaining yes so did you guys like. Noah hey throw me the ball no throw me. the ball did you guys no it was uh.

Demetrius posy he was he went to Venice. High School he was a better receiver. there's a guy um Anthony cus went to. Fairfax he played with aak Keim he was. he was a better receiver he had tour his. knee there was a guy uh you know this. this is where his fun is you know there. was a guy named Eugene Sykes but we all. called him sker right right there were. so many. players um that I felt at that time and. un. know that I was just a young guy I was.

just trying to I was just find my way I. was just trying to figure things out so. I actually got the University of Utah. because they were watching. Demetrius and Demetrius was going there. and I went to Utah really just to follow. my big brother right um and he never. made it he he ended up falling asleep. from uh driving from Diego back up to. here for spring break and fell asleep. with the will and died wow um but that. was the reason that I wanted to Utah is. to play with.

Demetrius and so that's how it happened. a lot of my life. of the prosperity that I've had has. really been by accident right do you. believe tough time make tough men I was. reading a story it was on IG and the guy. was explaining he says my grandfather. walked 10 miles he said my dad drove a. Buick I drive a Cadillac my son driveing. Mercedes he says in 50 years we're going. to be right back where we came from he. said tough times make tough men easy.

times make weak men I just think it's. the it's the perspective. um I was reading I I I read something I. remind myself I used to remind myself um. is is decreased more and more just. because of the the confidence I have. internally um that for a long time um I. I read this and it said that uh you are. special um no one is like you you're. unique did you always believe that no.

you were. loved did you believe that nope you. competent you're. lovable and it took me a long time. probably the last three years that I've. really started to really believe that. but it took me this time the pandemic. and all that stuff to really sit down. and really examine what's the problem. and the problem for me is you know I was. uh I was emotionally just. did did were your parents I love you.

Steve did they hug you did they tell you. how much they love you did they did you. guys sit down did you did the best they. could there are times when I walk down. the hallway after when my wife is. reading my you know my boys my youngest. a book and I go on there and I kiss. him the father is walking down the. hallway but the son is a little broken. right you missed that you want you you.

try to give your kids everything that. you didn't get emotionally physically. psychologically obviously monetarily but. now yeah more just understanding the. emotional FL love agape love. understanding that development at such a. young age builds so much in them and. knowing that and my again my parents. didn't model it because they didn't know. right and so it's taking me this this. much your head and food in your belly. man I love you roof over your head yes.

that was the love the belly was that was. that was that was up and not cuz they. didn't just you know just trying to make. it I think when you played that I. covered your career I was in the league. I I shortly after you got to the league. I retired but I remember covering your. league covering you in the league and I. said he plays angry he like give me the. ball I'm going run over you I'm going. run through you if I got to run around I. will but you know what I really prefer.

to run through you because I'm trying to. show you something that come third. fourth quarter you ain't going to want. to see me did you play Angry was that. intentional growing up on 126 at 9 o00. in the. morning my grandpa used to tell me if. you want to play this game these are the. men you need to play like Don B was very. familiar with Ronnie. lot Jack Tatum was very familiar with. with people Eric Turner D Steve.

Atwater right Greg new I mean there are. so many Greg towns GRE how he long man. how to man town was so dirty man but my. point is I watched old school football. he was old and so watching old school. football that's how I was raised right. and I know I'm not killing it in the. height department so I had to because. you know in high school they always say. they say there's always someone better.

under my breath I always say you're not. going to get a. chance so for me I played the game in. the way that I watch the eror of the. game then obviously watching wide. receivers but I watched the game and. play the game we used to play sideline. pop in the. street so the best way to play the game. I felt at that time is check a man's. heart when you can check a man's heart. the first play Ricky Pro told me first.

came he and I came out together he was. my roommate on the B game the first play. sets up the last play so my first route. sets up that next that that play you. need in the third or fourth quarter for. that big right so I take it a step. further growing up in the. hood you know who you know who Suzie Q. up in the group you know who's soft. right so you going to you if you already. know that. so I'm just going to establish I know.

the the gig is up I know who you are I. know how you roll I watching us film I. know your little tricks so when we line. up and we. play so your it ain't no magic trick it. ain't no it's no little smoking mirr. first play you want it to be a run so. you can go hit somebody in the mouth or. you want to be a pass I'mma hit you. either. way I'mma hit you either way. so if if if you were to describe Steve.

Smith wide the wide receiver what what's. what are you a route Runner what are you. technician what are you you know your. speed your your agility what what what. would what what what incompasses Steve. Smith the receiver I mean I just enjoy. playing the game I enjoy the phys the. physicalness of the game also enjoyed. the checkers and the chess there were. some Corners that was chess corners. most big re like I like the physicality.

of the game I like the bunk you're not. the the tallest no you're not the. biggest no and the first thing you say I. like the physicality of the game. yeah because you already. you there's no. guesser I'm an overthinker I don't like. surprises right I I'm not a guesser so I. like all the cars on the. table so we going to go out here. here we going to we going to bump these.

gums we going to chitchat we going to. talk well we going to play we going to f. we gonna follow up so do you look like. okay okay two corners two uh two. safeties C the slot guy or you thinking. like but he the leader back there I need. to get him if I get him everybody else. gonna fall into place no I mean I if I. line up I look at the I'll look at the. linebacker first to kind of tell me what. the coverage is see what he's doing. triang you watch the triangle then I'm. going to look at the safety and then by.

the time the safety if it's a if it's. not a top tier corner right then that. that corner is already going to be. playing in a zone right so I'm already. anticipating in a Zone and basically the. triangle is going to tell me what type. of zone right is it three Bell is it two. CAD is it two funnel is it six right so. I'm telling the corner six is quarter. quarter half quarter on one side cover. two on the other side and I'm telling. the corner come on up you know you you. already know you know you got help stop. like yeah so I I for me it was it was.

always just anticipating understanding. what's going on right. and and because I was a. hothead people would assume that I was. very. stupid and so I kind of played into that. narrative right and that that wasn't. that that was immature on my on my part. right and so it's really you know now. doing television some of that stuff um. sometimes yelling and and cursing and.

all that stuff how were you when I was. doing that yeah I was just being lazy. right right my my my father-in-law my. wife's father always says man when you. curse and when you when. you when you kind of are. ignorant it shows your. laziness and I remember him saying that. one time and it didn't and then one time. I found myself yelling cussing about. something I was like and so now we're.

doing television and some of the stuff. that I do now it's like you know and. it's been good because some people are. taking back they go you know I've got a. number of backhanded compliments right. oh you're a lot smarter than what I. thought I don't really know how I you. take that yeah thanks I think yeah but. how are you able to stay I mean you. played on the you was right there on the. edge sometimes you would look over the. edge sometimes you would hop how were.

you able to still go get 150 get 200. play it like that CZ you play you you. were pissed off and you were pissed off. yeah I was well here's why so I was. having lunch probably about this. probably about seven months ago right. he's probably not gonna like this but um. Mark Richardson okay uh Jerry big cat. Jerry Richard's son used to be a. president we're all having dinners a few. buddies of M here it came up uh from. Charleston so we having dinner and he.

had said uh yo Smitty man I remember. when we drafted you as a punp returner I. said see that's your problem he goes. what he says oh see there you go with. that chip again I said no it's not a. chip think about. it I was. told that I was too small but if you go. on my draft class the New York Jets. drafted another wide receiver who is the. same as me but he went to the University. of Miami his name was Santana Moss right.

so hi Santana Moss the same height as. me but he's not too small and I'm not. mad at satana right the scouts were lazy. they just didn't want to say that we. didn't respect the University of Utah. right because in college if you go back. and look my uh I think my Junior and. Senior year combined average. 21.2 yards a. catch I wasn't explosive I wasn't a re I. wasn't a DB who liked to play receiver I.

played receiver who. happened to be able to catch punts. because my dad was a semi uh he was a. semi-pro punter he used to punt down at. willbrook Park when I was a kid and just. like any other kid I used to follow my. pop around and so by the time I was. probably about eight or nine you can. catch punts I can catch punts because I. was just hanging out with my pop I was. trying to cat and at that time my dad. was punting I thought he was punting the. ball to the clouds and.

back and I was just trying to catch him. I was trying to learn how to catch him. and then he got mad at me like if you. gonna be back there catch the ball boy. and I'm kind of. like I'm really trying to I'm trying. right and so that's how it actually. happened when me catching punts just. following my pop right right and and so. I I was a I was a receiver but how they. what the they okay he said we drafted. you as a punt returner but that's not. how you saw yourself you saw yourself as.

a receiver that could catch punts and R. I was a starting receiver in in college. right and then you draft me as a. returner you had six or seven other. receivers in the room and you were not I. was not. allowed I wasn't even given the. opportunity but to service the defense. during the season yeah scout team as a. scout. team so it wasn't that had this chip you. were I was not. okay with being limited I was not.

comfortable with being put in a box and. told sit down and be quiet the whole. check your brain at the door and you. know just get in line. nah I was already on house money right I. wasn't supposed to be here I broke my. neck in college C4 burst. fracture so I broke my neck right grew. up in the inner city I wasn't supposed. to be here right so my my thought was. always they going to fire me at some.

point I'm going to lose my job one of. these days so I have two choices when I. lose my job I can sit at home and wish I. would have said and did these things or. I can sit back like I do now and go yeah. I probably shouldn't have said. that however I did it my way right. should I have changed and approached. some things differently absolutely but. if I can go back and change it I don't.

know if I'll be sitting right here. because all of that is what made you who. you were and it's also made me evaluate. in process and look. at what I am today and how can I change. how can I be better how can how can I be. emotionally accountable to my wife to my. kids to my. friends let me ask you this is because. of how you evaluate yourself you have a. more open mindness of evaluating. yourself it allows you to critique and.

analyze other players in a more. fundamental way I try to be I'm a. perfectionist anyway so I I mean I I. can't even hear my own voice I every. every show I do and every podcast I do I. never Rel listen to it because I can't. hear my own voice because I can already. know the words because when I was a kid. I had a stuttering problem right so I. already know the words and some of the. things that I didn't say.

correctly and so I I I just and that's. where the anxiety comes cuz I know I. messed. up but see I that I I ran into that same. problem when I first got on the air at. CBS and they sent me to all these speech. uh these people that speak grammatically. correct yeah phonetically correct yeah. and and I'm sitting in there and I'm. like at the time rested so and I had. hours and hours of tape of Ed Brad. how correct he spoke and how he you know.

did things James Brown and then one day. I'm sitting I'm like first of all if you. listen to James Brown we both in trouble. I work with James he's so awesome man JB. I work like nine years with j j you you. could you can look at JB and you go man. everything about me is wrong compared to. JB I mean he he wants to like hyphenate. everything and then he gonna spell it. out in his mind he's like is it this or. is it like JB just say the word bro but. he but as a host see I'm over there when. he does that I'm over there.

going over so you and I both know JB but. then SM I looked at I'm like hold on. wait a minute that's not what they hired. they didn't hire me to be grammatically. and phonetically correct they hired me. to give an opinion yes sir and a part of. me a part of what unique about me is my. colloquialism I'm from Ral South Georgia. so I talk like I'm from R my brother he. lost it somewhere down down the line he. lost I know where the hell it went but. but he lost his it stuck with me but.

that's what and then I saw Charles. Barkley and I saw how well he was. received I like I stopped I said I ain't. going to these classes no more I quit I. dropped out of. school and I I had I had look back and I. found an employer that says Be You yeah. I don't need you to be anybody else be. you and so you found someone that my. employee said says be you but dollar. back a little more cuz there's a few.

times I'll be on TV and I like can't say. that one no shouldn't say that one but. the thing is that I like about you but. you you honest with it I mean it's not. like a lot of times guys will say. something about a person said person. will come on the set and then all of a. sudden you're like no I said that you. did play Bad you did you did blow that. side but but if I if I'm incorrect too. yeah you AP yeah I have to face to face. yeah I I don't have a problem with that. right I the reason I don't have a.

problem with it is because if you're mad. enough to say it to yes and and I and I. stand by that and you know that's just. kind of how I am and and I I try to own. I try to. own all my mistakes. right who reminds Steve. Smith receiver playing today's game none. of them no you know why because I look. at you you were like a big to to I mean. you were a smaller version of to you. could well here's why I say no one.

why when you go on Hall of Fame you go. in with your own name yeah your own. Jersey your own team. yes our parents didn't name us the same. right you want your name to be in there. right I. idiz Jerry Rice yeah your brother. Sterling. Sharp but I didn't I don't want to be. the next Sterling sharp.

because that's not my. name that's not the person I am there. were things that Sterling did that I. tried to emulate I just couldn't do. there were things that Jerry did I just. couldn't do or I tried or maybe I you. know I I plagiarized I stole a little. bit I saw. something but I love the players that. are today that they are who they are but. don't because you on the NFL Network and. you guys do do the I I don't like when.

they do that because here because yeah. you know he reminds me of Steve here's. why well I still have when I told my. achill my agent who was my agent my. whole duration of my career of my. football career to to really help me get. past it because I had a double rupture. of my achilles tore off the bone and in. the middle right he goes I'm gonna send. you your draft. right up coming out of draft and I read.

it and it charged me up because when I. look at my draft stuff that came out I. was a fifth to seventh round draft. piit so now that I'm a finished. product I'm the y'all know the next but. when I was. here y'all didn't y'all admire me and. say that I was a pretty darn good player. so now that I'm done now all of a sudden. I'm the. guy no man don't don't do that you do.

you you feel you didn't get the. appreciation oh I mean I because we're. on social media I get told all the time. I was nothing but a slot receiver I wish. I knew that cuz I been playing the slot. as much as I could have right you. outside the numbers guy I I was outside. the numbers stationary stand I wasn't. even a z i was an ex I wasn't even. allowed to go on motion M you know so I. I I just like. allowing the players who they are to be.

themselves let those guys be the. standard don't don't say I'm oh he's the. next Ste Smith let him be Sky Moore. right let him be Tariq Hill there's. things about Tariq Hill I can never. do let cheetah be cheetah let him own. his name don't thrust me on to that. because heck I'm I'm I'm just getting. familiar on my own you you played the. blindest year of your career with. Carolina it did not end the way you. wanted it to end why actually it did you.

wanted to leave Carolina yeah I did why. because it was time I was always I'm a. very curious person I was always. interested in. wondering was and what is it like to be. somewhere else to be somewhere else and. so I you know have you gotten. comfortable in Carolina no I wasn't. comfortable as getting we was loser no I. wasn't comfortable no but I'm saying you. you knew the system you knew you know. everybody you knew the coaches you knew.

everybody you you knew hey you I was. ready to go I I had asked I I had asked. for bro you had just got cam I know I. had asked for a. release you had just got Cam that was. the best quarterback that you was going. you are correct he he he was the best. quarterback I ever played with and you. wanted to leave that because it was our. record that was the issue I was my clock. my my my Championship. clock was was going on right and so I.

wanted to go to I I just want to go to a. different. place so I I had before I was released. that year I had talked to general. manager of Jacksonville Jaguars he was. the 49ers coach he was the 49ers I I. talked to Trent baly about a Rel about. me going there but I didn't want to play. I didn't want to play for the 49ers. and so I I um I my agent had worked out.

another deal I actually had Under Armour. uh working on a new color scheme because. I had we had back door to deal but the. Panthers uh at that time had talked to. another team and so they gave me. permission to talk with the 49ers and I. decided to. stay so I I already had knew I was. leaving but again people thought I was. unable to keep my mouth. closed I had conjured up. facilitated and started to play out a.

whole different team throughout That. season and then when I knew I was going. to get released I kept it to myself and. just kind of. waited you go to the Ravens yeah and. unless you played with the Ravens you. just didn't know it it was fun it was. great it was fun playing with it was fun. playing with the organization obviously. I got to uh got to learn uh meet uh Eric. dasta the new general manager but uh got. to meet a Hall of Famer Azie Newsome um.

the year that we were at the Pro Bowl. together my rookie year John hard ball. was theam with the eag with the Eagles. so it was a it was a lot I I enjoyed. it playing sports as a kid obviously go. to the NFL so clearly you played. football what other sports did you play. as a kid and what was your favorite. sport I played baseball um I was a. pitcher first baseman Short Stop uh. catcher. um I played. basketball uh played low.

tennis that was it that was but you. always knew you wanted to be an NFL. player. yes going to you that so going to from. Santa Monica junor College going to Utah. to the Carolina Panthers to the. Baltimore. Ravens you said there are very few. things that you would CH would change. you would just like to be more in touch. with yourself know who Steve Smith was. then is compared to now that's the only.

thing yeah I mean I met some great. people still uh still support University. of Utah love my school um I'm always. always there go to game you know go to. gam or two I'm always sneaking in. Utah man I'm looking at your draft. Michael Vic leanian Thomson Richard. seore Hall of Fame s m you mentioned. Hutch is in the Hall of Fame Steve. Hutchinson Duce mallister. Todd heat Drew GRE going to be in the. Hall of Fame man you had some.

Ballers and and there was just little. me Quincy Quincy Morgan B I had we had a. Dan Morgan Chris. Jenkins I'm gonna get you out of here on. this Tom Brady you lose to Tom Brady in. the Super Bowl at the Carolina Panthers. and you go to Baltimore and you have. them down yeah in a playoff game with a. chance to go go Rashad. Melvin should I do uh Rashad Melvin I do.

the pre Panthers preseason game yeah and. he was uh the Panthers he was a corner. last year yeah man that was a tough that. was a tough game to to broadcast when. I'm looking at that dude right so I I. try. to that's when uh Edelman throws the. double pass yeah yeah Rashad Melvin do. Rashad Melvin's been I think he's been. in nine. nine or 10 years eight years you been on. like 11 teams that's never a good.

sign are you are you surprised Tom Brady. is still playing n Tom Brady can process. better than the best though it's good. how do I mean when you playing quarter. quarterbacks and kickers can play. Forever they don't take that punishment. no especially with a good offensive line. tell us about the podcast podcast is cut. to it I cut through the nonsense but. also too uh I want to know the people. inside men and women inside their. jerseys I interview chefs you name it.

just trying to talk about uh stuff and. then um who they are outside of the. profession yeah outside of the. profession who who made them like what. what have they been through we we've had. some had some good guests and um and I'm. I'm very inquisitive too so I I I'll ask. like random. questions appreciate it Steve Smith. ladies and. gentlemen Steve Smith Senior yes I was I. was going to let you slide it ain't lot. it ain't a lot of people I let slide.

with you want to know the story. why my one of my best friends he's Alan. Beck. III his. daddy filled out some paperwork with his. name so from there. on I done built up my credit way your. credit I'm not I'm not letting my boy. open up a credit card my name so his. birth certificate says senior and my ID.

a junior and my ID says senior no he. going to say he senior no not. my appreciate you bro appreciate you. thanks for stopping by the. club. go my life sacrifice hustle P the price. want a slice got the roll a dice why all. my life I've been grinding all my life. all my life been grinding all my life.

sacrifice hustle P the price want a. slice got the roll a dice that's why all. my life been grinding all my life. [Music].