Neil Smith was one of the leaders of the Kansas City Chiefs outstanding defenses of the 1990’s….
Smith and Derrick Thomas led our Chiefs to a couple of 13-3 seasons under head coach Marty Schottenheimer. It would be our last elite defensive group to this day.
Yesterday 610 Sports had Neil Smith on with Danny Parkins and Carrington Harrison doing the interview honors. And Smith will join 610 during the NFL season as an on air expert.
What the interviewers probably did not expect was Smith’s painful and heartfelt story on how he regrets ever playing pro football!
Smith made it clear that if he had it to do over again, he would have gone into the military and not the NFL.
“I am, like many NFL former players, suffering greatly from head and body injuries to this day,” Smith said.
He’s had two surgeries already and a recent hip replacement with more to come.
Smith explained how hard it was just get out of bed in the morning.
And that he’s suffered from memory loss and isn’t even clear at times to where he is or whats going on around him. He did say that he’s adjusted to the body blows and concussions as best he can.
Yet Smith feel that despite helping the Chiefs win so many games and winning two Super Bowls with Denver it just wasn’t worth the damage to his body and life.
It was a sobering, unexpected interview.
Many people are familiar with the fact that Neil had a tough go after his Chiefs career ended. He opened a restaurant in Overland Park towards the end of his football career that drained Smith of his life savings and had to close.
Smith was president of Kansas City’s indoor football team the Brigade at Kemper for a couple years, but has been quiet as of late trying to find himself. He explained he is very much involved in his Christian Faith today.
I knew Neil Smith from his attendance in Westport at Stanford’s in the 90’s. Neil didn’t party with drugs, nor was he a big drinker. He was the voice of reason with the younger Chiefs and helped keep the peace when nearly the entire team was at our club.
He was Derrick Thomas’s best friend and looked after him as best he could. Sadly Neil going to Denver left Derrick to his own demons that eventually claimed his life.
Smith said he was close with Junior Seau, who committed suicide due to his mental and physical issues. Neil said he often considered suicide himself, but was able to maintain for the sake of his family.
It was a shocking interview to say the least and one that was brutally honest talking about the price of fame, glory and NFL money. Money that in the end more often than not shortens players lives and leaves them feeling empty.
I’m glad Neil is doing better and will be on 610 Sports so he can contribute during the upcoming season.
He’s a great person.
And he tells the story of a side of playing in the NFL that is all too common after the cheering ends and midlife sets in – and there’s much to be learned from what Smith has to say.
Who can understand a word that mush-mouth says? There’s a reason Greg Hall coined the phrase, “Neil-bonics”. Dude can barely speak…how he made it through one year of college amazes me. Oh wait…it was Nebraska. Nevermind.
Pro football can be brutal, no doubt. But these guys knew that going in.
You know what the N stands for in Nebraska, home of the Bugeaters.
Good, heartfelt, eye-opening post.
Unfortunately it will be a long time, if ever, before people take the dangers of the game to heart. Add to that now high schoolers don’t even respect authority and where does that leave the game?
So Neil-bonics is 610 new on-air expert? What happend to Bill “Who has the nose candy?” Maas and Jaycie “ZZZZZZZZZZZ” Person go?
next time you watch TW Metro Sports broadcast another tear jerking humble brag about their commitment to youth through covering HS sports, remember Neil & Junior…it is what it is… Parasites feeding off the sacrificial sports machine…
THANK GOD GLAZE IS BACK WITH A REAL SPORTS STORY.
I BARELY MADE IT THRU THE KSU BAND ARTICLE LAUGHING SO HARD
WHEN THEY SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A P****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thank you ….thank you ….thank you glaze for bringing us back to a serious
subject.
I worked with Neil…one of the nicest people you’d meet. And yes he did
mention that he was suffering from severe problems that were a result of the
incredible punishment he endured while playing in the nfl.
While one writer was circulating “band members cause half time p**** story
its good you’ve written a great article.
I read where broadway joe was asked if he would have played pro ball if he knew
he would have to live with the side effects after he left the nfl he replied NO.
Theres a moviecoming out called CONCUSSION….and it sheds light on this
entire mess.
nice guy…..and a great player.
He has two super bowl rings but that will never make his injuries go away.
Nice article.
And as always….GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\
if YOU see any of the older chiefs (except dawson) it appears they all
took a beating on the field of play. too bad….all good guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahhhhh, Harley Kitty Scrotum, it’s so flattering to know that I, like the Jay Hawks at KSU’s halftime performance, live in your head….RENT FREE.
It’s easy to sit back and take pot shots at the ones who do what you can’t!
But the pinnacle? You calling me, or anyone else out, for SPELLING.
You truly out did yourself there. And just when KCC thought they’d seen it ALL from the commenter who rides the short bus to his mom’s basement each day!
Thanks for being my biggest fan.
Oh, and when you’re 13 of my 48 comments on such a “bad story,” I don’t have to say a word. You cemented your fanboy status right there. Your mommy is about to bring your breakfast down to you. Clean up your Lego mess from last night like a good little Kitty Scrotum Fanboy Troll and have a blessed day.
you can’t stop….you can’t stop….
I write a satirical piece about your “private parts: story
and your head blows up.
from 7am in the morning Harley has youall wired up.
Nothing personal in those comments…just making some
fun and laughter of you and your brother.
It’s great. You never back up a comment with any
rea money…but that is okay.
I offer so many bets that its out of control and you
yellow belly on each one.
get some change together and lets bet and see who’s
the real deal.
You come up with these childish names and use them
like a 5 year old ona schoolhouse playground.
As always Harley reigns supreme.
some people got it….some don’t…its called “the smarts”
and you hide behid hearne to keep my comments
from being posted all te time.
if guess its paranoia on your part….Harley is off to a
great day…smiling…beautiful weather….and you’re
hiding writing nasty…childish dirt on someone you
know nothing about.
unfortunately you have no idea how foolish yo look
to people on here. sorry….you’re writing to some
imaginary person who does this for fun and entertainment. It’s a joke. and you’re the person
people are laughing at!!!!!!!!!!
You “don’t have to say a word” … but you always do.
Injuries are like taxes – or a Fram Oil Filter, as the old commercial iterated: “pay now, or pay later.” Not a matter of if so much as when… Chiefs history, Len Dawson’s knee 1969 still the most famous these parts. He recovered (and so did the Chiefs), winning their one and only Championship. Mack Lee Hill & Stone Johnson’s death’s, other end the spectrum.
Psychologically speaking, it has been stated by teammates of his the time that former Chiefs RB Abner Haynes decline afield was due no small measure the death his friend, Johnson. So, anything Neil Smith says in regards his own injury case, likely has merit.
The ‘good old days’, days when youth were regaled their elders tales walking to school a snow storm, 10 miles to and from & up hill (in both directions.) The good old days in football, concussions were not then a buzz word. ‘Headaches’. Smelling salt. What long-term repercussions?
For some a tragic result cumulative injuries came about years aft retirement, least the possibility correlation (former Chiefs Jim Tyrer, Mike Webster & Jovan Belcher come to mind, among others.) Yet, several old timers say they would do it all again, despite the pains of a failing body their old age. Perhaps dumb luck plays a part for some who (more or less) retain their faculties; perhaps it’s more so on a case-by-case basis.
Deaths of former NFL players possibly related their head injuries afield have also been reported in depth, Junior Seau, Dave Duerson and Andre Waters among others. 49ers 2nd year LB Chris Borland walked away from the game this year at age 23, the $2.11 mill average player salary NFL apparently ‘not’ incentive enough continue getting his brains beaten out, afield.
Kerouac recalls his heroes of the 1960’s, guys who survived to hit/be hit another day, though some still exited too soon. Hall of Famer’s Oakland Raider C Jim Otto, RB Gale Sayers & Chiefs LB Willie Lanier. Former Chiefs LB/C EJ Holub as well a former Chief (in pre-season only), QB Greg Cook, both All Star caliber at minimum, latter a Bengal.
Willie ‘Contact’ Lanier was injured (head/neck) pre-season of his rookie year in 1967, missed time & when he returned not only wore a totally different helmet (the center padded one he is remembered for) , but also equipped a new tackling style, shoulder in lieu helmet; Willie was one of the lucky ones comparison others, playing 11 years & still kicking, circa 2015.
1969, former Bengals QB Cook was already being called ‘the best QB in pro football’ – as a rookie – when Chief LB Jim Lynch tackled him. Result, Cook’s shoulder (rotator cuff) was damaged; Cook was done as an elite QB at age 22, before he’d even finished his rookie season. He hung around a few more years, as but a journeyman. According to former teammate Bob Trumpy, “regardless of what Greg has told you it’s affected him psychologically for a long time.” Cook died relatively young, age 66.
Gale Sayers was finished as an effective RB by age 26, one year after he suffered a knee injury, 1968. Today? He’d return to take more punishment. Former Chief EJ Holub managed to survive 11 knee surgeries during his career, aft a switch LB to C. That ‘Cowboy’ Holub has likely been kicked in the head by one of his horses (more than once?) nonetheless sees him still going strong at age 77.
The Raiders Jim Otto was forerunner the ‘The Bionic Man’ – some 80 surgeries on his knees, shoulders, back, nose – have we left any appendages out? – infections too result 15 years the NFL, a career that cost him an amputated leg where now an carbon-fiber one snaps on & snaps off, daily. Regrets? “None”, says Otto.
Of knees, shoulders & craniums… the referee in boxing can stop a match if he feels a fighter is ‘punch drunk’ for lack a better descript; who will save football players from themselves? Perhaps it is a concession to age, but Kerouac no longer enjoys watching boxing or any other pugilistic endeavor as once did; football too is on the cusp, same.
kerowacky…..one of the best articles here on kcc.
I love baseball (been to so many royals games this year…
love mu football/chiefs/nfl…but this story had so much reallife
attitude to it that it was brilliant… and you know telling someone
they wrote a brilliant article is not in Harley vocabulary!
these guys do it for the cheers and the adulation that come with
this sport. Recently saw a chiefs center walking about who I had
worked with an went and said “too many snaps” and he said “right..
too many snaps”……
watched a college football game where aplayer after being hit…
lined up on the oppositions side of the ball…now that send some
signals to my mind.
somethings wrong.
but nascar drives accept the danger of driving….boxers accept the
dangers….and now these mma fighter have got to take tremendous
punishment to their brains. I went to a bar to watch an mma fight
and couldn’t figure out why they took such punishment…maybe the
money. or the glory.
I may confront you with your picks because I bleed red for the chiefs
and blue for my royals…be ause I’ve had a million great memories
with each locl team. Walking into montanas house with over 10 footballs
in hall brooks to have him sign them….drinking with George brett the night
hj e tore up the yards at lake quivira subdivision in his car…way too may
memories kerowacky to remember…but you have such an incredible
memory of so many great kc players you must have been a kc writer.
this one was extraordinarly great…be ause I remember each and every
players you mentioned.
You should write a regular column here or start your own blog. Loved the
ej holubb stories because I know his brother in law and knew the pain
and torture it took then to play pro ball.
This Thursday night game we honor the first and fourth super bowl teams…
thanks to clark…..and there were never any better players wearing the
red and gold of kc chiefs than these guys. This superbowl theywill honor
lenny asone of fifty super bowl mvps and for thuse of us in new orleanse who grew up with the strams it will be a special nite. pasasdena here we come !
again…a great informative article …a great article and I thank
you for all the info you give us on kcc.
DEspite the minor insults and contradictions…you bring back some great
memories to those of us who were members of the huddle club got 10
years anv who suffered thru the tough times.
they big comedians always said before the curtain close..”thanks for the
memoriesz’!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
take car and hope to see more stories about the chiefs.
are you sure you never wrote about this chiefs in your previous career.
zCHEIFS FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ROYALS FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and may god bless neil. glaze was a little off on smith’slife styory…
but isn’tlife about the roller coaster?
Tell us about all the times you and Brian Williams were together. We can’t wait to hear those.
Of course Bonehead Bob Fescoe had to argue, once Neil was not in the studio, of course, that he didn’t REALLY regret playing football. What a clown. Why does Fescoe have a morning drive time spot…oh yeah, he replaced the most boring man on earth, Roger Twibell…
Roger Twibill, I totally forgot about that awful show. Man 610 has had some bad, bad shows. Neal & Marty, Chris and Cowboy, and that one wannabe douche with the big nose whose name I can’t remember.
come on Hearne post Harley’s comments…its ok.
hearnes controlled by wislon. who has hada tough time on tkc.
We’re pretty gentle on herecompared to tkc and don’t really go after
someone personally.
but I guess hearne was slow and had other work to do and didn’t realize
that Harley is the cog that keeps this blog running.
truth be known I get a ton of comments at my email site which are
very complimentary and which have information that Harley chooses
not to make public.
so hearen…nobig deal…its all funand games…and we’re all here
to have our voices heard and opinions noted and to have a little
fun with he people on here.
thanks…your friend
harley
I thought Herne was too busy selling cars to do anything on this sight anymore?
For those of you who want to put Hearne down for selling BMW’s for his pal in Topeka, you are foolish. Hearne has plenty of money and just wanted something to do besides this blog. He is single and wants to meet new people. He also gets family heatlth care and loves cars. He buys and sells about 3 a year for himself…its not for financial needs its for ‘brain’ exercise. To be around people. That’s all. When did it become a crime to work? The guy was bored. That’s it simple as that. So we should all have his financial issues. None. Man trolls troll and haters hate.
Just what every business wants, a sales guy who is just doing it for kicks.
God, Copeland’s was a terrible restaurant. Ive never been charged so much for red beans n rice
Injuries or not… How healthy is it to be over 300 lbs for 25 years?