Smith Faces Another Surgery

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (Map, News) - Rod Smith needs another operation on his surgically repaired left hip, and his NFL career could be over.

The Denver Broncos co-captain revealed Friday he needs another surgery. There´s a strong possibility he´ll require an artificial hip replacement, which almost certainly would end his 13-year NFL career.

"It´s hard. Because, honestly, it could be the end of my career. It could be my last game as a professional athlete. My last game with the Denver Broncos could be this Sunday," said Smith, who has been out all season. "That in itself is really emotional, but at the same time I´m blessed to be here this long."

Smith had been getting treatment at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo., where he had a microfracture hip operation in February. He recently saw a specialist in Los Angeles, and surgery was scheduled there for next month.

Undrafted after a standout career at Missouri Southern, Smith made the team in 1995 after a season on the practice squad, embarking on a journey that included three trips to the Pro Bowl and two Super Bowl rings.

"I have a lot of memories, but the thing is not over, our season is not over," Smith said. "So, I´m trying to respect everybody that´s out there and make sure I don´t take anything away from them. That´s what I´ve been real hesitant to speak to anybody about it, because honestly I´m at the point where I still don´t know exactly what´s going on.

"I just know my leg still hurts. It´s worse now than it was last year. It´s worse now than it was before I actually had surgery. So I´m not comfortable. I have to get to a point where I´m comfortable."

Salut l´artiste

Pour un undrafted player, on peut pas rêver mieu comme carrière

Ca me fait beaucoup de peine que ce grand monsieur finissent sa carriere sur une blessure

En tout cas il aura marquer a jamais la franchise et restera comme un des plus grands receveurs de ces 10 dernieres années.

Quelques infos :
- Classé 15eme en reception au cours de toute sa carriere
- Classé 16eme en yards receiving.
- 11,389 en 183 matches
- 68 TD
- plus belles saisons en 2000 et 2001 avec respectivement 100 et 113 receptions pour 1602 et 1343 yds !! !
- 2 SB
- 4eme plus gros total de yards en Super Bowl, 5 reception pour 152 yards
- 1er et seul non drafter a atteindre les 10,000 yards
- record de la franchise en reception, yards et TD

Chapeau bas

C´est respect pour un receveur non drafté il a fait une superbe carrière! Dommage qu´il finisse sur une blessure...

Il faut penser à sa santé, pas à sa carrière. J´espère qu´il aura pas de problèmes dans sa vie future

Je vais faire un reproche à LSU pour commencer ; t´as oublié "très" dans le titre de ce sujet

Mon joueur favori, j´espère vraiment qu´il va integrer le coaching staff des Broncos, genre entraineur des WR...

Joueur génial, comportement plus qu´exemplaire à tout point de vue.

Une phrase dans l´article qui résume bien sa personnalité :
"I have a lot of memories, but the thing is not over, our season is not over," Smith said. "So, I´m trying to respect everybody that´s out there and make sure I don´t take anything away from them. That´s what I´ve been real hesitant to speak"

L´équipe d´abord.
Et cette équipe a été les Broncos toute sa carrière.

GO BRONCOS
In Rod I trust

Ursak

J´avais mis "Tres" au début mais du coup avec la limitation des caracteres ca rentrait pas tout ;)

J´espere aussi qu´il integrera le staff car je pense que l´avenement de Marshall vient de Rod, il a dit qu´il a passé toute la saison a donner des conseils et d´ailleurs on la vu sur le banc des Broncos alors qu´il a un enfant qui joue et dont il voit que les cassettes.

Il était, est et sera toujours un grand amoureux du foot US et j´espere que Denver sera lui rendre la monnaie de tout ce qu´il a donner pour mener la franchise au plus haut sommet.

A Tres bientot du coté de Mile high stadium Rod

DENVER BRONCOS HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN

On WR Rod Smith --

"He´s a natural leader and one of the reason´s we´ve had the success that we´ve had is because of Rod Smith. He´s a big reason why some of our younger players have developed the way that they have."