ESPN.com Dear Flem - Pro Steve Smith

[SteveSmith23]

LEE ANNE (HOBOKEN, NJ): Out of all the veterans still around without a ring—coach Jeff Fisher, LT, Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid, John Fox and Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith—is there a truly "good guy" we should be rooting for to finally grab one?

DAVID FLEMING: All these guys are worthy. Jeff Fisher is a class act, a unique mind and a guy who remains down to earth. Donovan McNabb is the same way. He's survived just about every challenge the league can throw at a player while making football in Philly tolerable for the last decade without stooping to the level of his critics. But—ya know what?—I'm going with Steve Smith. And here's why: I know he's had some problems off the field, issues that he's dealt with like an adult—and not a celebrity or spoiled athlete. He's human. He's not perfect. He's not all bad. And he's not all good. But he remains one of the few players in the game today who I'd pay money to watch play. I always think of him as the Allen Iverson of the NFL: undersized but fearless—a guy who plays every down like it's his last and treats every pass route like a street fight. He used to work in a Taco Bell and ride the bus for hours just to play juco ball in Los Angeles and he kept playing even after he broke his neck at Utah. But the thing that told me all I need to know about Steve Smith is that when I spent the day at his house a few years back, the main things displayed in his trophy case were not any of the things he had earned as an all pro receiver but the pee wee soccer trophies his kids had earned.

[Ncstatefan]

Amen

[PanthaSan]

I totally agree...

[Towelboy]

single tear. good find.

[hdevonxz]

Steve Smith and AI are my 2 favorite athletes.

[GRWatcher]

So, let me guess. If Smitty gets one, then John Fox & Jake Delhomme get one too? :biggrinjester:

Great reply.

[GentlemanJack]

I may have heard it and forgotten, however,I never realized that Smitty had broken his neck while playing at Utah.

[PantherDude]

Great article! That interesting to hear that he has his son's soccer stuff instead of his own awards. He really seem like a great father to his kid reading that part. What a great guy we have on the team.

[hdevonxz]

I may have heard it and forgotten, however,I never realized that Smitty had broken his neck while playing at Utah.

He didn't know at first either.

Took him a couple days to find out.

lol

[bleys]

How about Jerry Richardson getting one while it's still possible?

I can't imagine Fox not playing that up in the locker room.

[Badbak]

Do you think if the Panthers get to the SB Mick will get a ring too?

[cota37]

Free Rosinski!

[supamansmith89]

That just shows how good of an athlete smitty is. I bet T.O doesnt have his sons trophys in his room.

[PantherDude]

Do you think if the Panthers get to the SB Mick will get a ring too?

Nope. Announcers don't get rings. Just the players, coaches, & the staffs.