Eric Smith (American football)
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| Buffalo Bills | |||||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Date of birth: | March 17, 1983 | ||||||||||
| Place of birth: | Columbus, Ohio | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 207 lb (94 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Groveport (OH) Madison | ||||||||||
| College: | Michigan State | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 3 / Pick: 97 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| As coach: | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2012 | |||||||||||
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Eric Smith (born March 17, 1983) is a retired American football safety and captain for the New York Jets. He currently is the assistant special teams coach for the Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Jets in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State.
Professional career
Pre-draft
| Ht | Wt | 40-yd dash | 10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20-ss | 3-cone | Vert | Broad | BP | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 1 in | 209 lb | 4.63 s | 1.61 s | 2.70 s | 4.11 s | 6.91 s | 40 in | 10 ft 7 in | 21 reps | ||||||||||
| Source:[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
New York Jets
2006 Season
Smith was selected 97th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. Smith had been rising on many draft boards in the weeks leading up to the draft[2] as he was praised for his instincts and physicality on the field.[3] The Jets signed Smith to a contract on July 21, 2006.[4]
Smith recorded 27 tackles in 15 games during his rookie season. He also added two interceptions, recording his first against former Cleveland Browns quarterback Charlie Frye.
2007 season
In 15 games, Smith recorded 40 tackles and 5 passes defensed.
2008 season
On September 28, 2008, Smith was fined $50,000 and suspended one game because of a helmet-to-helmet collision with Anquan Boldin of the Arizona Cardinals, which caused Boldin to be hospitalized.[5]
Smith finished the season with 32 tackles, 4 passes defensed and an interception.
2009 season
Smith was primarily utilized as a back up defender and on special teams.[6] In 16 games, he recorded a career high 48 tackles, 6 pass defensed and an interception.
2010 season
In the team's week two matchup against the New England Patriots, Smith delivered a hit to wide receiver Wes Welker and was flagged for hitting a defenseless receiver.[7] Smith apologized to Welker during the game, which Welker accepted,[8] and was later fined $7,500 by the league.[7]
2011 season
Smith re-signed with Jets on July 30, 2011 to a three-year deal worth $7.5 million.[9]
2012 season
Smith suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury on his left knee during the August 10 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. An MRI came back negative.[10] Smith was eventually knocked out for the entire 2012 season. He was released from the Jets on February 19, 2013.[11]
Coaching career
New York Jets
Smith was hired by the New York Jets on February 10, 2014 as a seasonal intern coach.[12]
Buffalo Bills
Smith was hired by the Buffalo Bills to be the assistant special teams coach on January 15, 2015.[13]
References
- ↑ "2006 SS Draft Prospects", CBSSports.com, CBS Sports, 2006, archived from the original on November 6, 2010, retrieved November 6, 2010
- ↑ Borges, Ron (May 1, 2006), "Jets Couldn't Ask For More With Great Draft", NBCSports.com, NBC Sports, archived from the original on November 4, 2010, retrieved November 4, 2010
- ↑ "2006 NFL Draft - Eric Smith", SI.com, Sports Illustrated, 2006, archived from the original on November 4, 2010, retrieved November 4, 2010
- ↑ Jets Staff (July 21, 2006), "Jets Sign S Eric Smith", NewYorkJets.com, New York Jets, archived from the original on November 4, 2010, retrieved November 4, 2010
- ↑ Bishop, Greg (2008-09-29). "Two Jets Stars Make a Connection". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
- ↑ Gallo, Nick (June 10, 2010), "Eric Smith's Become a D-Back of All Trades", NewYorkJets.com, New York Jets, archived from the original on November 4, 2010, retrieved November 4, 2010
- 1 2 Reiss, Mike (September 24, 2010), "Eric Smith fined for Wes Welker hit", ESPNBoston.com, ESPN, archived from the original on November 4, 2010, retrieved November 4, 2010
- ↑ Rapoport, Ian R. (September 21, 2010), "Patriots WR Wes Welker claims he's just fine with Eric Smith after illegal hit by Jet defender", BostonHerald.com/Sports, Boston Herald, archived from the original on November 4, 2010, retrieved November 4, 2010
- ↑ Mehta, Manish (July 30, 2011). "Jets sign Eric Smith to a three-year deal". New York Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Archived from the original on July 30, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
- ↑ "Eric Smith To Miss Rest Of Jets' Preseason". CBS News New York. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ↑ Lange, Randy (19 February 2013). "Five Are Gone, but 'They'll Always Be Jets'". New York Jets. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
- ↑ Frankel, Charlie (February 10, 2014). "Tony Sparano Jr. Promoted, Eric Smith Joins Staff". New York Jets. Archived from the original on February 11, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ↑ Buffalo Bills (January 15, 2015). "Bills add seven assistants to coaching staff". Buffalo Bills. Retrieved January 15, 2015.