SMITH TO TAKE TIME TO MULL FUTURE
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith has two years left on his contract, but he knows perhaps better than most that a player’s future is never guaranteed in the NFL.
And his is more uncertain than ever after his storied comeback was cut short by another injury.
On Sunday, a day after his team’s 31-23 first-round playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs, Smith — the Helix High graduate — said he plans to “take a few weeks” to mull over his future and decide whether he wants to continue playing.
“I had so much fun this year, especially given all the COVID stuff,” he said in a video new conference with reporters.
“But to be back in the locker room, to be on the field with the guys, to be playing a game I love and to lose yourself in it, it’s one of the greatest feelings in the world. You cannot duplicate it outside of here.
“... My wife has been through a lot and my family, certainly I’m going to take their input. But that’s something that right now I’m still just living in the moment and not getting ahead of myself. That is for another time and place.”
Though some, including Washington tight end Logan Thomas, have trouble envisioning Smith walking away just yet, the quarterback’s future could also be decided by the team’s plans.
Coach Ron Rivera said he intends to meet with team owner Daniel Snyder within a day or so to discuss his plans for retooling the roster, among other things. The quarterback uncertainty will be a significant piece of the conversation.
Rivera was vague when asked Sunday if he believes Smith can still be effective as a quarterback, saying it’s “really in terms of his health” and that “the only person who can tell you that is Alex.”
But football is only the half of it with Smith, who has been praised for his mentorship and ability to earn the respect of his teammates. Replacing his leadership, especially for a young team, will be difficult.
“There’s an intangible that some guys have and possess, and Alex has it,” Rivera said.
“Can it be replaced? Well, you’re going to have to find a guy that has that same type of intangibles, and those guys are special. They only come around once in a while. Alex has that type of intangible, and I think a part of it is because of the experiences that he’s had in his life, the games that he’s played and obviously what he’s gone through.”
And then there’s the question of whether Smith’s “intangibles” are so valuable it could complicate the team’s decision if Smith wants to keep playing.
“I don’t know,” Rivera said. “It’s certainly something we’re going to have to look at and talk about, that’s for sure.”
After suffering a compound leg fracture in 2018, Smith made his vaunted return in Week 5, when he came off the bench in a loss to the L.A. Rams, then later guided Washington on a 5-1 run as the starter to clinch the NFC East.
With his leadership and knowledge of the offense, Smith was the reason Washing ton’s season turned a corner and headed for the playoffs. And when he was sidelined with a calf injury for 21⁄ games, his absence
2 nearly resulted in Washington falling out of contention.
“To call it a calf injury, I mean, I’m not going to get in a lot of the specifics. That’s how it’s getting tagged, but it’s obviously a little more complicated than that,” Smith said, while adding it was unrelated to the limbsalvage procedures he underwent in 2018.
Broncos focus on 5
The Broncos are focusing on five candidates to replace John Elway as general manager, including three with Denver roots and two who are Black: Terry Fontenot of the Saints and Champ Kelly of the Bears.
Team President and CEO Joe Ellis said last week it was “very important” for the Broncos to consider minority candidates in searching for Elway’s replacement as GM.
The Broncos completed their first round of virtual interviews Sunday with inhouse candidate Brian Stark, their college scouting director.
Fontenot interviewed Saturday, as did Patriots executive Dave Ziegler, who broke into the NFL with the Broncos in 2010. Kelly and Vikings executive George Paton interviewed for the job Friday.
Finalists are expected to meet in-person next week with the Broncos’ search committee of Elway, Ellis, head coach Vic Fangio and chief communications officer Patrick Smyth.
Jets’ lists grows
The New York Jets’ quickly growing list of head coaching candidates got a little longer.
Buffalo offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Indianapolis defensive coordinator Matt Eberf lus interviewed with New York a day after their teams squared off in a wild-card playoff game won by the Bills 27-24.
The Jets are also expected to interview former cornerback and current New Orleans defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn. Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith have also drawn interest from New York.