IN FACE OF TRAGEDY, SMITH PREPARED TO STEP IN FOR GARRETT
Two months ago, Chris Smith was consumed by grief after his 26-year-old girlfriend was struck and killed by a car four weeks after giving birth to their daughter.
On Sunday against the Miami Dolphins at FirstEnergy Stadium, Smith will be thrust into the spotlight, taking over for suspended Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Smith said he’s coping with the Sept. 11 death of Petara
Cordero, struck on Interstate 90 after a tire blew out on Smith’s Lamborghini. He said his Browns family has helped him get through the crisis just like they did after the accident, when they rushed to his home and sat around his bedside consoling him.
“I’m doing good, I’m better than I was,” Smith said Thursday, laughing heartily. “I’ve gotten used to the new normal. I think that’s from being around my teammates, my family. Football’s helped me so much.”
The Browns (4-6) will be without Garrett for at least the rest of the season after his indefinite suspension for hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with Rudolph’s helmet was upheld on Thursday. Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi was also suspended for the Dolphins game for his participation in the melee that followed and will be replaced by Devaroe Lawrence.
As the Browns call on replacements, coach Freddie Kitchens understands the challenge facing Smith.
“I think anytime something like that happens in life ... it takes something from him emotionally and mentally,” Kitchens said Monday. “I think Chris did a good job of fighting through some of those emotions and from a mental standpoint. It is never easy when you start talking about things like that. Every day is hard. He has done a much better job of compartmentalizing and understanding he has to just stay in the moment.”
Smith said he talks to a psychologist at the Browns facility every Monday. He has a nanny for daughter Haven Harris Smith, 3 months, who is spending Thanksgiving with Cordero’s family. Smith, 27, has three children, the other two live in Arkansas, and he said daughter Alaina is also going to the Thanksgiving celebration to be with her baby sister.
“I said, ‘She’s got to come back for Christmas,’ ” Smith said of Haven. “I’ve always got to split time with them and not be so selfish and have her with me. That’s in Charlotte, where my other house is.”
Smith is also relying on his faith to help him get through the tragedy.
“I’ve got spiritual strength. The old saying is ‘God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers,’” Smith said.
“Me as a spiritual person, things happen for a reason. You don’t like the way they happen, but God doesn’t make any mistakes. She’s one of God’s angels, He had to take her home.”