Smith hopeful as NFL lockout lingers

Photo by: William D. Lewis

Photo

Brad Smith of the New York Jets, a graduate of Chaney High School, holds his one-year-old niece Kennedy Carpenter of Youngstown during the United Way’s “Champions Among Us” annual banquet Thursday at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman. Smith and Ohio State junior lineman and Cardinal Mooney High School graduate John Simon spoke at the event and were honored by organizers as local champions who have represented the Mahoning Valley in a positive manner.

Photo by: William D. Lewis

Photo

Ohio State junior lineman and Cardinal Mooney High School graduate John Simon during the United Way’s “Champions Among Us” annual banquet Thursday at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman. He was honored by organizers as local champions who have represented the Mahoning Valley in a positive manner.

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

Boardman

Well, at least the University of Missouri isn’t going anywhere.

Over the past few months, Chaney High graduate Brad Smith has seen his former high school eliminate athletics while his current employer, the NFL, become mired in a lockout that, until a few days ago, seemed destined to interrupt part of this season.

Meanwhile, his current team, the New York Jets, may or not be able to keep him this season, something that depends on whether he’s a restricted or unrestricted free agent, which of course won’t be settled until the league negotiates a new collective bargaining agreement.

“It’s been tough not knowing. The uncertainty,” said Smith, who was in town Thursday for the United Way’s annual “Champions Among Us” banquet at Mr. Anthony’s. “But I’ve had a chance to work out on my own and get healthy in some areas, so I try to get the positives out of it [the lockout].

“It’s unfortunate that it’s gone this far but we’re making progress, so hopefully it will end soon.”

When the lockout ends, all signs point to Smith becoming an unrestricted free agent since he just finished his fifth year in the league. His versatility — he’s a special teams standout and can also play wide receiver, running back and quarterback — and his production over the past two years should make him attractive to several teams.

“I can’t say that I’m confident [I’ll stay with the Jets],” said Smith, a former record-breaking quarterback at Missouri. “I don’t really know. Being a free agent, I’ll have to gather all the information I can and look at things objectively and try to make the best decision I can for my family.

“But I love the Jets and I love my teammates and I couldn’t imagine playing with any guys other than the ones I fought for the last five years.”

Smith, whose wife, Rosalyn, and son, Bradley, came with him to Thursday’s event, said he was sad to hear his former high school decided to drop athletics beginning this school year.

“It’s absolutely tough,” he said. “If you didn’t go there, if you didn’t experience the whole thing, you wouldn’t miss it as much as some of the alumni do.

“It’s unfortunate that it happened like that but as long as the school is still open, maybe there’s a chance they’ll bring it back. But you have to do what’s best for everybody and I think a lot of people understand.”

Smith will hold his fourth True Foundation football camp for kids age 8-14 on Saturday at Youngstown State. He said it’s one of the most rewarding things he does each year.

“It’s great just seeing little kids who never played football before and getting to teach them something,” Smith said. “Maybe I can come back some day and be listening to them at a United Way banquet.”

YSU allows Smith to use Stambaugh Stadium for free each year, but since the school just installed new turf, they did give him one rule.

“They told us to keep all the gum and candy off it,” he said, laughing. “So hopefully we’ll just have a lot of sweat and a lot of fun on Saturday.”