Ping: cthomer

[rkmsuf]

Bow your head.

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Otis Smith retires a Patriot

May 18, 2005
FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) -- Otis Smith, who played in two Super Bowls with the Patriots and was part of New England's first NFL championship, has retired.

The 13-year veteran cornerback signed a one-day contract with the Patriots earlier this week, and the team placed him on the reserve/retired list, allowing him to retire as a Patriot on Wednesday.

Smith, who found his way into the NFL as an undrafted free agent, retired with 29 career interceptions, seven touchdowns and 525 tackles in 180 career games.


``I wanted to retire as a Patriot because the greatest success of my career came in a Patriots uniform,'' Smith, 39, said in a statement released by the team. ``The thing that I really liked about playing in New England is that the fans always appreciated my talents and what I brought to the table, win or lose. They appreciated the effort more than the actual winning itself.''

Part of that popularity was owed to Smith's knack for making big plays in playoff games.

He returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown in the 1996 AFC championship game, sending the Patriots to their second Super Bowl. In the 2001 season, he led the Patriots with five interceptions, returning two for touchdowns, and picked off a pass by Kurt Warner that set up a third-quarter scoring drive in New England's 20-17 upset of the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl.

``When I think about Otis Smith, a few things come to mind immediately: his incredible work ethic, the respect he earned as a result of the leadership he brought to the team and his production in some of our biggest games,'' coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. ``Otis helped the Patriots win a championship and he will always be respected and appreciated for that as well as for his professional approach to the job.''

Smith played for Belichick when he was the Patriots' defensive coordinator and followed him and coach Bill Parcells to the New York Jets in 1997.

Belichick brought Smith back to New England when he became head coach of the Patriots in 2000. Smith played 56 games in two stints for the Patriots, starting 48 at cornerback.

He also played for Philadelphia and Detroit. Smith played his final season in Detroit in 2003.

[cthomer5000]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Kodos]

Otis "My Man"Smith. Gone!

[DaddyTorgo]

byebye Otis

[cthomer5000]

I'll miss you Otis.