Shaun Smith (defensive lineman)

Shaun William Smith (born August 19, 1981) is a former American football defensive end. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at South Carolina.

Smith was also a member of the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Locomotives, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans.

Smith currently engages in professionally recruiting high school football players to collegiate football programs. In 2017 Smith falsely alleged that The University of Texas had committed recruiting violations by texting potential recruits during the "dead period". However, such actions are permissible. It is widely believed that he shared these allegations/threatened The University of Texas because one of his athletes was not being recruited.

Early years

Smith attended Midwood High School in Brooklyn and Wichita Heights High School in Wichita, Kansas.

College career

Smith played for two years as a defensive lineman for Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. He then transferred to University of South Carolina where he played as a reserve defensive end his junior and senior years. He recorded 11 tackles in 12 game appearances his senior year.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Smith was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent in 2003. He was signed to the practice squad on September 1 after being waived on August 31. He spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad. He was waived on August 31, 2004.

Arizona Cardinals

Smith was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals on September 1, 2004. He was waived five days later.

New Orleans Saints

Smith signed with the New Orleans Saints on September 7, 2004 and sent to their practice squad. He was moved to the active roster on September 18. He had 16 tackles for New Orleans and one start and made his debut versus the San Francisco 49ers on September 19, Smith was waived by New Orleans on November 30, 2004.

First stint with Bengals

Smith was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals on December 1, 2004. He recorded six tackles for Cincinnati, and started one game. Smith started five games in 2005 for the Bengals. In 2005, he recorded 17 tackles.

Cleveland Browns

Smith signed with the Cleveland Browns as a restricted free agent on March 16, 2007. On December 23, 2008, various media outlets reported that Brady Quinn had a physical altercation with Smith in the Browns' weight training room, and that Smith punched Quinn in the face. Quinn denied the reports, and coach Romeo Crennel refused to comment; Browns tight end Darnell Dinkins confirmed the fight during a radio interview on WQAL. Smith did not play in the following game because of a coaches' decision.^[1] He was released by the Browns on August 8, 2009.

Detroit Lions

Smith was signed by the Detroit Lions on August 10, 2009. Smith was released during the final roster cuts in September 2009.

Second stint with Bengals

Smith was re-signed by the Bengals on December 9, 2009. He was waived on December 12 and re-signed on December 16.

Kansas City Chiefs

Smith signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 10, 2010. In consecutive weeks, he was accused by players from the opposing team of grabbing them in their private parts during play. Alex Mack of the Cleveland Browns made the first claim after the two teams' Week 2 matchup, followed by Anthony Davis of the San Francisco 49ers, who drew a penalty for retaliating against Smith in Week 3. Smith denied the allegations.^[2] Smith scored his first career rushing touchdown on Week 12 of the 2010 season against the Seattle Seahawks.

Smith re-signed with The Kansas City Chiefs on November 5, 2012.^[3] He was not re-signed for the 2013 NFL season.

References

External links

• Cincinnati Bengals bio