1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: Welcome back to More to It, where I talked to athletes, entertainers, 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: and unique folks to find out the stories beyond public perception. 3 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: Looks are deceiving and there's nothing simple to achieve it. 4 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: I'm ourselves Wiley, and on today's episode, you'll be hearing 5 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: from the legend, the myth, the sack Man himself, Bruce Smith, 6 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: known and respected as the NFL's all time career leader 7 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: and quarterback sacks. This eleven time Pro Bowler, eight time 8 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: All Pro, and four consecutive Super Bowl competitor, is much 9 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: more than his accolades and titles. On this episode, we 10 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: dive deep into who Bruce Smith the man is and 11 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: why as a son, a brother, a father, a husband, 12 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: a friend, and a mentor. We talked about the sacrifices 13 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: of his parents to the very moment in college that 14 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: changed the trajectory of his entire football career and his 15 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: romantic life, miss fight against targeted hate during his first 16 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,839 Speaker 1: year in the NFL, to now standing as an activist 17 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: and a voice for the people of that very same community. 18 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: And you know, I had to ask how you dealt 19 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: would still being in the league. As the NFL began 20 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:20,119 Speaker 1: to Crown quote unquote new Bruce Smith. That's me, y'all. 21 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: All of that plus so much more. To say that 22 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 1: this is an honor is an understatement. We all have heroes. Um, 23 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: We're all not blessed to meet those heroes, befriend those heroes, 24 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: or even call those heroes family. But right now I'm 25 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: about to talk to one of my heroes who checks 26 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: every one of those boxes, the greatest defensive end of 27 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: all time, Pops, my football father, Bruce Smith. How are 28 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: you doing, Pops? Oh? Man, I'm You're getting me all 29 00:01:56,440 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: choked up. I'm doing great. It's it's good to see 30 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 1: your face, It's good to hear your voice, it's good 31 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: to see your family in the background and picture. You know. 32 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: My love for you, man is never ending, and I'm 33 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: just glad that God put you in my life. But brother, 34 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: so passed before we get to the moment where we 35 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: finally met and connected and dreams came true for me. Uh, 36 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: just tell me about your upbringing. Is it Norfolk or 37 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: is it Norfolk? And how was it growing up in 38 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: north Folk? Norfolk? Norfolk? Yeah? It man, it was. It 39 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: was challenging, to say the least. Um growing up in 40 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:48,959 Speaker 1: the sixties, blue collar working parents. My father drove a 41 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 1: truck for a company called Evie Williams. My mother worked 42 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: for General Form Plastic company. Uh, and oftentimes they had 43 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: to have a second job, my mother so Leivan probably 44 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: back in those days whose mother didn't um. But the 45 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: meaningful part to me was they always made and found 46 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:23,119 Speaker 1: time to make sure that I felt important. My upbringing, uh, 47 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: my my teachings. My father used to take me fishing 48 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: out in the Chesapeake Bay. We had a little robot 49 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: when we first started off, well actually we started off 50 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: on a pier. Then it was a robot. So those 51 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: those life lessons and the times that I spent with 52 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: my father, uh, stick with me to this very day 53 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: in my understand standing my worth to society and to 54 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: to him being a father. Uh. He took that job serious, 55 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: and so did my mother. And that's why I'm so 56 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: truly blessed and grateful. Yeah, you can hear it. Your 57 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: foundation was laid. And I noticed the pronown you use. 58 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: You said they mother and father in the home, just 59 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: like I had both parents in the home, in the 60 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: nuclear family growing up. And you know, the narrative for 61 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: a lot of professional athletes, especially the NFL is single 62 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: parent home, inter city kid. But it sounds like your 63 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 1: upbringing was different. It sounds like not only did you 64 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 1: have the stability, but you also learned proper principles from 65 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 1: both parents. Well, there were struggles, I won't deny that, 66 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: but the principles that they laid down in that household 67 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: with my brother George and my sister Linda, and I 68 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: was the youngest, um so after both of them. My 69 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: brother is four years older than I am and my 70 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: sister is ten. Uh so I was the last in 71 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: the house. And my father made sure he kept me 72 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: in constructive and deductive environments to keep me off the streets. 73 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: That was playing sports. I can remember my father going 74 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: to work at six o'clock in the morning and coming 75 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: home at six o'clock in the evening. But he would 76 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 1: always find that time to take me to practice or 77 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: to take me to the necessary places that would put 78 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 1: me in a constructive environment that kept me away from 79 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 1: different elements that could have steered me down the wrong path. 80 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: And I think that that's where I have to count 81 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 1: my blessings, because you can you can get your teachings 82 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 1: from your your parents or your that village that that 83 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: helps to raise you, or the streets can teach you. Uh, 84 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: and those are hard lessons when the streets get a 85 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: hold of you. Yeah, there's an old saying if you're 86 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: not taking in the home, that the streets will certainly 87 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: do the job for you that school. It's great to 88 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: hear that you had that upbringing where you had that 89 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: leadership in the home. Um, failure to me is natural, 90 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: like if you just wake up, Bruce, don't do anything, 91 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: just say hey whatever. It's easy to fail. But success 92 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: is sought and taught. And obviously, you being Bruce Smith, 93 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: the greatest d N of all time, there was a 94 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: time where not only did you participate in football, but 95 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: you had to feel maybe I'm pretty special at that 96 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 1: When was it that you noticed that, hey, I'm not 97 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 1: just another guy on this roster, but I have tremendous potential. Well, 98 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 1: you know, there were different stages. Um, there was the 99 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: stage in in high school whereas I was a better 100 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 1: basketball player than I was a football player. But because 101 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: of the athleticism and and the hard work and and 102 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: my high school basketball coach Zeke abray In, my high 103 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: school football coach Cal Davidson kind of collaborated in into 104 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: helping to shape and mold me away from home orre. 105 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: It was my parents a job and duty, but there 106 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: were different stages. I didn't know anything really about playing 107 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: football in high school. All I know is I got 108 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: a chance to hit people and I didn't have to 109 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: get in trouble. In college, I started getting a sense 110 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: and then I got hurt. My sophomore year, I missed 111 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 1: eight games UH due to a crushed vertebrate in my 112 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: uh my back. And at that point in time, I 113 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: had that opportunity to sit back and watch and reevaluate 114 00:07:55,040 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: my circumstances what I wanted to become in life, and 115 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: I knew that I just didn't want to be mediocre. 116 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: So I recommitted myself too, not just doing enough to 117 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 1: get by, but to making a statement. That happened in 118 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: the weight room, it happened in the classroom, UH, and 119 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: certainly it happened on the field. And my junior year, 120 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: I remember some scouts from the the USFL and the 121 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: NFL came to Tech to see me and to uh 122 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: study some film with me, and they invited me into 123 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: the room to check out some film of their players 124 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: UH that was currently on the roster and When I 125 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: saw that, I said to myself, I can do that. 126 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: I'm doing that already. They're going through one on one drills, 127 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 1: pass restrials, and so forth. And it gave me the 128 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: opportunity to to actually, I think bigger than I ever thought. 129 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 1: And when I started thinking that way, things just started 130 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 1: falling into place. It was a mindset, it was an 131 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: attitude adjustment. It was me wanting to embark upon a 132 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: journey that failure was not an option. A year later, 133 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: I became the first player picked in the draft to 134 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 1: the Buffalo Bills and the rest of history. Yeah, I 135 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: mean to your point, like, it's always a journey. It's 136 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: always a roller coaster ride. And the champions, the greats, 137 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: they just hold on and they get up one more 138 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: time after being knocked down. Uh. And it's funny it 139 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 1: didn't always fall into place for even Bruce Smith. Because 140 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: you were supposed to, at least in desire, go to 141 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: University of Virginia. Turns out you go to Virginia Tech. 142 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: How did that impact you? How did that feel being 143 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: that guy not being able to live it all out? Well, 144 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: you you're you're gonna get some real stories here. Actually, 145 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: it was North Carolina State University. Oh, why I signed 146 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: a letter of intent with North Carolina State. But that 147 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: was my father. He wanted me to go to NC State. 148 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: That wasn't me. U v A actually came to visit 149 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: my high school and told my coaches that my feet 150 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: were feet was too slow, I wasn't quick enough. Maybe 151 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: that was a way of him motivating me, or maybe 152 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 1: that was the actuality of what the scout was saying, 153 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:37,839 Speaker 1: but nevertheless, it left the lasting impression on me. And 154 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: that was one of the things that I had never 155 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 1: heard in my career that my feet was too slow, 156 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: or I wasn't fast enough or quick enough, or or 157 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 1: what have you. But I think I took it out 158 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: on u v A every time I played against Well, 159 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: you must have played against u v A every single 160 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: week in the NFL as well, because you took it out. 161 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: I don't know. The pointed to Bruce Smith, number one 162 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: pick of the NFL Draft. We get to see it 163 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,319 Speaker 1: from the outside. We get to see the fan fair, 164 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 1: we get to see the love, the accolade, but we 165 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 1: don't get the fill it. Not only did you have 166 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 1: the shortest weight of that draft, but you had to 167 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:23,559 Speaker 1: have the heaviest weight lifted off of you because you're 168 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,959 Speaker 1: the number one pick in the draft. Tell me how 169 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 1: it felt when you heard your name called, Well, the 170 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: actual name calling was, you know, somewhat. I knew two 171 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: months ahead of time that I was going to be 172 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 1: the number one pick. The Buffalo Bills and my agent 173 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: had been working out the contract and and they told 174 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: my my agent, Brig Owens, who just passed away, that 175 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: they were going to select me as the number one 176 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: player pick. So it was pretty much academic. It was 177 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: just the fact of waiting until the actual draft and 178 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: going up to New York and walking out on the 179 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: field and Paul tag Leaboo with the first player picked 180 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 1: in the NFL draft, Bruce Smith out of Virginia Tech. 181 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: It was pretty damn sweet. Having said that, I didn't 182 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: know what I was stepping into. Um, you know, a 183 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: kid from a little kid from north of Virginia. Uh 184 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 1: had only been out of the state a few times. 185 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 1: It was quite the ride in a short period of time. 186 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:42,199 Speaker 1: Sounds like a little bit of social shock, and by reports, 187 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:44,680 Speaker 1: sounds like a little bit of culture shock because you 188 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: get to Buffalo and some of the reports come out 189 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: early Marv Leavy, the great Bruce. How do I say it? Overweight, 190 00:12:55,000 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: self indulgent and bad practice habits. What did that feel 191 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,559 Speaker 1: like to one day here that you're the greatest thing 192 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: since sliced bread? The next day to hear did nothing 193 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: but crumbs on the table um that was part of 194 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: that shaping and molding that that piece of clay. You 195 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: have to take constructive criticism. What are you gonna do 196 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 1: with that constructive criticism? Are you going to apply it 197 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: to your decision making ability that will make you not 198 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: only a better person, but a better player? Or are 199 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: you gonna sit back and pout and say who do 200 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: who do they think they're talking to? And so forth 201 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: and so on. Well, Marv was right, and those are 202 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 1: some of the lessons that I learned, uh from Marv 203 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: and Bill Polian and and uh so many of the others. 204 00:13:53,040 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: And it really energized me and motivated me to change. Uh. 205 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: First of all, I didn't know what I didn't know. 206 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: I didn't know how to practice. Uh. I didn't know 207 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 1: about conditioning. Hell, I'd go out for two and a 208 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: half mile run and a pair of basketball tennis shoes. 209 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: I didn't know anything about running sneakers and so forth. 210 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: So it was a process. Uh, and that process including 211 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: putting people in my life that could have a direct 212 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: impact and show me how to be successful. Marvel was one, 213 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: Ted Control was the other. Rusty Jones was was the other. 214 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: Along with all the other teammates. I remember, uh when 215 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: I got to Buffalo and and I didn't know a 216 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 1: great deal about about conditioning, and during the all season, 217 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: I blew up to three pounds. If you could have 218 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: heard the word, as I said, when I got on 219 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: that scale, Uh, it just it did something to me 220 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: that I felt that I was on the way to 221 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: becoming a failure because of the lack of discipline and 222 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: and the things that that are necessary to make you 223 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: that well rounded player on and off of the field. 224 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: Um so that's the impact of of of those folks 225 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: being in my life. Yeah, man, three ten, that's like, yeah, 226 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: that's what I'm seeing right now. Uh talking to right now, Bruce, 227 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: I don't know what's more shocking about hearing yet you 228 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: were three hundred and ten pounds one the number three ten, 229 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: Bruce Smith, or two that you didn't know that you 230 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: were close to three ten. That means you had weighed 231 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: yourself in a long time. That means you really let 232 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: yourself go. How did you get to that place? You 233 00:15:56,920 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: don't even know, maybe three tens of potential possibile bad habits, 234 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: bad bad habits man, eating late at night, eating, um, 235 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: all kinds of just jump man. And and I just 236 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: had to make some lifestyle changes. I don't call it 237 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: the diet. I call it lifestyle changes. So far as 238 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: my eating habits were concerned, my conditioning, my sleeping and 239 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 1: so forth, I worked out twice a day, uh during 240 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: that all season. I cut back on fatty foods, fried foods, uh. 241 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: And the whole lot of desserts, A whole lot of desserts, 242 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: not desserts, a whole lot. One of the problems was, 243 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: you know, when I was young in my career, my 244 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: mother would cook dinner, and at the time, my girlfriend's mother, 245 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:00,080 Speaker 1: Carmen mother would cook dinner. So I had eat to 246 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: Sunday meals trying to be nice. Yeah, well look both 247 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 1: of those meals were the best. Man. Oh my goodness, 248 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:15,680 Speaker 1: that just that good Southern cooking man. The corn bread, 249 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: the collar greens, the chicken, the mashed potatoes. The I 250 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:28,959 Speaker 1: mean over there, going back, you're going to remission. We 251 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: don't need three ten again. I have to get my 252 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,399 Speaker 1: towel like my touth here. So so I had to 253 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:39,360 Speaker 1: learn to be more disciplined and to pull away from 254 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: that that that table uh and and only eat at 255 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: one of the houses on Sunday uh and uh. Things 256 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: kind of work themselves out. I lost about forty pounds 257 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:56,880 Speaker 1: and never looked back. And that's when my career just 258 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 1: took off. Yeah. I mean to the point that we 259 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,919 Speaker 1: had before we were saying successes, sought and taught the 260 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 1: discipline to actually go out there and finally make all 261 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:11,160 Speaker 1: of those thoughts, all of those desires real material actions. 262 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: And that's what you did. And one of those lifestyle 263 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: changes was meeting Carmen, was becoming Bruce Smith, the married 264 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 1: man and still currently married to the beautiful Karmen. Talk 265 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 1: about that lifestyle change and how that helped and translated 266 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: on the field. Yeah it Uh, it was a change, 267 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:35,119 Speaker 1: and I needed that change at the time, you know, 268 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: being a young man, uh, coming into a great deal 269 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: of money, uh, and not having a lot of world experiences, 270 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 1: and and being fortunate enough to meet her when I 271 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:53,479 Speaker 1: was in college, I was was certainly a blessing. So 272 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: I'm grateful and thankful, and and we have a outstanding 273 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: young man, uh son by the name of Austin Smith, 274 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 1: who is the light of my life. That young man, 275 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: just my business partners mentioned his name when we engage 276 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 1: in conversation, and there's just a smile on my face 277 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 1: from from cheek to cheek. He's just really a joy. 278 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaker 1: He's a god fearing young man. He brightens our day 279 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: just his his pure presence brightens the whole house, just 280 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: like that bus behind you brightens that entire office of 281 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 1: dude right there, the Hall of Fame bus that is 282 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: in your office right now. And Bruce, ah illustrious career. 283 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: Obviously we know of your greatness on the field, but 284 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: when you take a step back to the casual fan 285 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: and you bring up two things, the Buffalo Bills or 286 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:55,440 Speaker 1: even Bruce Smith, they don't go to the high points. 287 00:19:56,080 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: They actually go to the four Super Bowl losses. And 288 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 1: then I want to have a conversation after that. So 289 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: now I must ask someone who went through those four 290 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: Super Bowl losses talk about not only the defeat in 291 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,919 Speaker 1: terms of score, but how defeated did you guys feel 292 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: in every one of those losses. Knowing that we still 293 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: haven't got over the hump. Yeah, man, that that was 294 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: the load of loads, um, particularly the first one losing 295 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 1: by a field goal. Actually we lost by the score 296 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:40,119 Speaker 1: was nineteen twenty. I believe you were there, you tell me, yeah, 297 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 1: but we we lost by field goal Scott Scott no 298 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:52,880 Speaker 1: with mr the field goal. But I often uh say 299 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: to myself, we it should have never come down to 300 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,679 Speaker 1: uh to that field goal. But nowadays as you you 301 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 1: were like, you know, guys are kicking fifty and sixty 302 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 1: yard field goals to to ice the game. But that 303 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: was perhaps one of the worst experiences that that a 304 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:16,920 Speaker 1: person could feel, and you just feel deflated. But the 305 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: one thing that really stayed with me was this team's 306 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: desire to never give up. No matter how many times 307 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: we got knocked down. We kept getting back up and 308 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: back up and back up to get into the fight again. 309 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: So that's what impresses me and and and folks can 310 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: there are some critics that can talk about, yeah, they 311 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: lost four straight Super Bowls. You can look at whether 312 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: the cup is half empty or half full, if you're 313 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: a pessimist or an optimist. I happen to be an optimist. 314 00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: I look at the cup as being half full. We 315 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 1: accomplished something that no one else in NFL history has 316 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: ever accomplished, and maybe we'll never be duplicated again, going 317 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: to four straight Super Bowls, winning four a FC championships, 318 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: So that in itself is worthy a phrase. Oh absolutely, absolutely, 319 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,120 Speaker 1: that's my mindset and and and how I feel about 320 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:32,400 Speaker 1: the whole situation And we're thirty years removed from it now, 321 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 1: so we can sit here and now theorize about it all. 322 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 1: You mentioned Scott Norwood. Obviously we both played football. You 323 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 1: can never blame a game on one play, except when 324 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: it comes to a last second field goal. That's kind 325 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: of the closest we can get to like a bro 326 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 1: If you do that, it's a little different. But I 327 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:57,360 Speaker 1: ask you this question. Would you take the reality of 328 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: the four Super Bowl appearances but coming up short, or 329 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 1: we just went to one and we won one? Which 330 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: one with Bruce Smith? Take? Now? Oh man, it's I 331 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: won't say it's easy to go to one and win one. 332 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:15,439 Speaker 1: But if you if you go to one super Bowl 333 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 1: and then you disappear, that's not a legacy that that's 334 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:27,159 Speaker 1: that's not creating history that stands the test of time. 335 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:32,120 Speaker 1: Each and every Super Bowl that we played in, and 336 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 1: that journey, the course of the whole year, has meaning 337 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:42,920 Speaker 1: and it has helped shape our lives and mold our lives. Um. 338 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 1: While I am not defined by the four Super Bowl losses, 339 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 1: what I am defined by is my determination to be great, 340 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 1: to be a part of something great, to leave a 341 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 1: legacy behind that others would like to follow and emulate. 342 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 1: That's what this is about. UM, So one and done 343 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: and win one. Man, that's great, But try doing it 344 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: back to back to back to back. That that that 345 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,639 Speaker 1: has nothing to do with with luck, That has nothing 346 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:26,360 Speaker 1: to do with well, you got a call or two 347 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:32,720 Speaker 1: here and there. Man, that's skill. That's good. That's determination, 348 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 1: that's overcoming adversity, that's putting work in. And that's what 349 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,120 Speaker 1: I'm talking about. And what I'm talking about is it 350 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 1: didn't define you. It didn't define your greatness in your career. 351 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 1: Having the most secs of any NFL player in the 352 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 1: history of the game properly defines you. But what people 353 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: don't understand or even no is that Bruce Smith did 354 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: that in a defense that was a priority to stop 355 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:09,399 Speaker 1: the run, not get after the quarterback. So Bruce, please 356 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:14,119 Speaker 1: explain how you become the all time sack leader in 357 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:18,359 Speaker 1: a three four defense, where a double team it's just 358 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:22,400 Speaker 1: another walk in the park. Yeah, it's it's it's like 359 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:26,440 Speaker 1: the man. It's it's like the sun rising. It's gonna happen. 360 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: Double team is a way of life. It's a part 361 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 1: of life, and and and occasionally the triple teams. Uh. 362 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 1: But but I like the way you you set the stage. Um. 363 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 1: A three or four defense is set up for defensive 364 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:48,200 Speaker 1: linemen to make tackles, not to get a ton of sacks. 365 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: So to be able to becoming the all time sack 366 00:25:55,200 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: leader while playing in a three four defense, uh, it's 367 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 1: like being a an Olympic diver. You know, they have 368 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 1: that degree of difficulty when when the divers do the 369 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: dives and so forth and so on. Well, to be 370 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 1: able to accomplish that in the three or four defenses 371 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:18,920 Speaker 1: off the scale. But let me take it a step further. 372 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: Not only was I fortunate enough to become the all 373 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: time sack leader, um, I'm also the all time tackler 374 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 1: amongst defensive linemen in NFL history. So to to be 375 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 1: the all time sack leader and the all time tackler 376 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 1: amongst defensive linemen in NFL history sets the stage and 377 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: defines the dominance that had taken place during the course 378 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 1: of my career. Now, let me take a step back, 379 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 1: because I attribute a lot of that to this potent 380 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 1: offense that we have, the no huddle offense with Jim 381 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: Kelly Thum and Thomas Andre Reid and so in the 382 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 1: offensive line that we had, they put points on the 383 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:11,879 Speaker 1: board quite often, very quickly. So it made teams have 384 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 1: to throw the ball, and it gave not only myself 385 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: but other players more opportunities to get after the quarterback. 386 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: And we had one heck of a defense. Uh you know, 387 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: Darryll Tally and Corneas build it. Then. It just to 388 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:33,439 Speaker 1: name a few, and I'm very blessed and fortunate to 389 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 1: have had Ted Cotrell, defensive line coach Whalk, Corey even Um, uh, 390 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 1: Wade Phillips, and and a few other coaches. But they 391 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,880 Speaker 1: had us prepared. Man, when we went to the meetings 392 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:52,159 Speaker 1: that that Monday, they gave us all the information we 393 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:56,440 Speaker 1: needed to prepare and study for the next opponent. Yeah. 394 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 1: But I was in those meetings to Bruce and Um. 395 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 1: I used information to say, so don't don't don't be 396 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:03,679 Speaker 1: so humble that you just say, oh, it was just 397 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,679 Speaker 1: what game plan. No, no, no, let me let me 398 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 1: tell you this if well you were in the meetings. 399 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 1: But if if a coach comes in and says, here's 400 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:20,200 Speaker 1: their favorite place, here's their favorite place in passing formations. Okay, 401 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 1: you you just giving me only in for you gave 402 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:27,959 Speaker 1: me a cheat cheap for the test. So once I 403 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: I you know, with me studying film, being the first 404 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:33,680 Speaker 1: one in the building and the last one to leave, 405 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 1: coming in on my my days off to study more 406 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 1: film and to get a workout in and get get 407 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 1: a conditioning workout in. Uh, sitting down with with the coaches, 408 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:48,480 Speaker 1: so I can get little tips about an offensive lineman, 409 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 1: whether he's heavy on his hands or he's light on 410 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 1: his hands, or that that offensive guard is cheating back 411 00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 1: just the hair so he could pull man. These are 412 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: things that that gives me that competitive edge and allows 413 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 1: me to play faster. So I'm just saying, if you 414 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 1: put the time and the work in, it will show 415 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 1: up on the field. Okay, Now I'm gonna give it 416 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:16,480 Speaker 1: to you like this because there are players who are 417 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 1: getting that type of intel who can go out there 418 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:23,960 Speaker 1: and play faster, who are great players in today's game. 419 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: You can name some of Michael Parsons a youngster right now, 420 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 1: a T. J. Ward. J. J. Watt was threatening for 421 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: a while there. Do you think anyone will ever break 422 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 1: Bruce Smith's sack record which is two hundred sacks, which 423 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:43,400 Speaker 1: means you must play twenty years and get ten sacks 424 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 1: a year, or play ten years and get twenty sacks 425 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 1: a year. The floor is yours, man. That's putting work in. Work. 426 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: You gotta put some work in. You've got to have longevity. 427 00:29:56,360 --> 00:30:01,040 Speaker 1: You have to have uh somewhat of an injury free career, 428 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 1: although I had eleven surgeries during the course of my career. 429 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: You have to have an offense that's putting points on 430 00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 1: the board, that puts the opposing team in a position 431 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,959 Speaker 1: to have to pass the ball. So there are a 432 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 1: lot of factors that have to come into play for 433 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:24,640 Speaker 1: a record like that to be broken. Um. You know, 434 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:28,000 Speaker 1: I can say the same thing about Emma Smith Rucker, 435 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 1: the all time rushing leader. They're not running the ball 436 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 1: as much as they used to. UM in this particular case, 437 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 1: they're passing the ball more so. It's giving defensive players 438 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 1: an opportunity to get to the quarterback. But again, with 439 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 1: all of those factors, it's going to be awfully difficult 440 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 1: for someone to play fifteen years and sustain that high 441 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:02,480 Speaker 1: level of play of that long and a mask that 442 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:06,600 Speaker 1: number of sacks when opposing teams are gonna do everything 443 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 1: and anything they can do to try and stop you totally. Um, 444 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 1: I could just say it for you concisely, and frankly, 445 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:16,800 Speaker 1: no no one's ever breaking that record, as I only 446 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 1: have forty four career total sacks and I know how 447 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 1: hard it was to get to forty four to get 448 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:24,840 Speaker 1: the two hundred. All you guys just have fun in 449 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 1: the process and the journey, but you're not gonna get 450 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:31,960 Speaker 1: to that destination. Hey, Bruce, you're known as a Buffalo Bill, 451 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: but you didn't finish your career in Buffalo. Now, I 452 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,360 Speaker 1: never asked you this question because I wanted to make 453 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 1: sure that other people can hear the answered, so I 454 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 1: could feel protected and we could be away from each other, 455 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 1: because this is something that I always wanted to know. Now, 456 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 1: when I got drafted, I don't know why these tabloid 457 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 1: news beat writers start saying we just drafted the next 458 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: Bruce Smith, and I was like, who now? Mean, I'm 459 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 1: trying to be the first mors Wally and that's even 460 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:09,800 Speaker 1: gonna be an interesting place. But when you heard and 461 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 1: all the work you have put in, you know, eleven surgeries, 462 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:15,440 Speaker 1: now you know two hundred sacks, but at the time 463 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 1: not all of that in totality. But you know who 464 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: Bruce Smith is. When you heard that the guy you're 465 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:25,480 Speaker 1: talking to right now was supposed to be the next you, 466 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:30,120 Speaker 1: what did you really feel? You can say I knew 467 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:35,600 Speaker 1: my time was was coming to an end at some point. Um, 468 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 1: yet it was time for me to go back to work. Uh, 469 00:32:39,640 --> 00:32:43,880 Speaker 1: it was time for me to show why they drafted 470 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:48,120 Speaker 1: me number one while I was still extremely productive and 471 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:52,760 Speaker 1: I wasn't going anywhere. But instead of me looking at 472 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:56,920 Speaker 1: you as a threat, I embraced you. That was the 473 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: first opportunity that I had really had to be able 474 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:09,360 Speaker 1: to mentor a young wet behind the ears. Reminded me 475 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 1: of myself when when I came into the league and 476 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 1: and I embraced the opportunity to be able to teach you, 477 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 1: to mentor you and and to help you navigate Uh, 478 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:29,760 Speaker 1: this this this road, this journey uh becoming a professional 479 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 1: football player, and it gave me a great deal of joy. 480 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 1: Uh to be able to do that. Yeah, and you 481 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:41,800 Speaker 1: totally did that. I mean to look at you from commercials, 482 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:47,720 Speaker 1: growing up and knowing you on posters around locker rooms, 483 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:50,520 Speaker 1: and then to finally meet you and to see that 484 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 1: I got to be able to go behind that wall 485 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:56,760 Speaker 1: because of my talents, because of my desire to learn 486 00:33:56,840 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 1: the game, but because of your open heart, how bigger 487 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:04,440 Speaker 1: heart you have. It was amazing and to be taken 488 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 1: in like that was just icing on the cake on 489 00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:11,640 Speaker 1: just being a Buffalo bill which was amazing in itself. 490 00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:16,680 Speaker 1: But it's interested in reading about your history in Buffalo 491 00:34:16,719 --> 00:34:20,359 Speaker 1: as a player. Buffalo certainly adopted you and took you in, 492 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:24,880 Speaker 1: but it came with its issues, and unfortunately some of 493 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:28,799 Speaker 1: those issues in terms of racism, has poked his ugly 494 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:31,719 Speaker 1: head out once again in the city of Buffalo with 495 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:36,440 Speaker 1: the Buffalo grocery store massacre. Talk to me about the 496 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:40,400 Speaker 1: racism you dealt with in Buffalo and what you're doing 497 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:44,560 Speaker 1: now still in activism to try and change things. The 498 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:50,480 Speaker 1: racism that took place at the Top Supermarket came from 499 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:56,120 Speaker 1: outside of Buffalo. This this this person, this racist travel 500 00:34:56,960 --> 00:35:01,640 Speaker 1: three hours away from buff Healo to come to Buffalo 501 00:35:02,040 --> 00:35:04,480 Speaker 1: to commit this massacre, you know, to be able to 502 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:09,279 Speaker 1: lay this and properly put it in its perspective. Uh, 503 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:12,880 Speaker 1: This did not come from within. This came from outside 504 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:16,279 Speaker 1: of Buffalo. Uh. And they went to He went to 505 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:22,040 Speaker 1: the most vulnerable community, the African American community, and it 506 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:27,440 Speaker 1: just it was devastating because from my understanding, he made 507 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:33,839 Speaker 1: the journey almost ten times scoping out this particular location 508 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:38,319 Speaker 1: where he was going to commit this racist act. And 509 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:42,200 Speaker 1: for me, it happened in the community that embraced me. 510 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:45,880 Speaker 1: When I got to Buffalo. One of my best friends 511 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:49,440 Speaker 1: who was a police officer, Larry White, who you know, 512 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:53,880 Speaker 1: uh and has since passed away. J T who was 513 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:57,400 Speaker 1: the state trooper who's from Buffalo, and I used to 514 00:35:57,480 --> 00:36:00,680 Speaker 1: get my hair cut and go to gigs, and go 515 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:04,720 Speaker 1: to Lee's barbecue, and and and and hang out down 516 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:09,600 Speaker 1: there at some of the establishments. So it was personal 517 00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 1: for me. Just imagine your grandmother being shot up just 518 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:20,920 Speaker 1: by going to a grocery store, your father going to 519 00:36:20,920 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 1: get a birthday cake with the security guard Aaron Salter, 520 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:30,040 Speaker 1: who was there trying to protect lives and ultimately lost 521 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:34,960 Speaker 1: his life trying to protect and allow others the opportunities 522 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:39,680 Speaker 1: to get away. So it became personal and I wanted 523 00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:43,200 Speaker 1: to do whatever I could to lend my voice UH 524 00:36:43,239 --> 00:36:47,839 Speaker 1: and get involved. And UH this past summer, we put 525 00:36:47,840 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 1: on a charity golf tournament for the Aaron Salter Foundation, 526 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:57,160 Speaker 1: and Darryl Talley came out, Jim Kelly came out, Steve 527 00:36:57,239 --> 00:37:01,120 Speaker 1: Taster came out. UH, just just to name a few, 528 00:37:01,239 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 1: Thurman Thomas came out, and all the work that that 529 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:08,400 Speaker 1: Thurman and Patty Thomas did UH through their foundation raising 530 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:13,719 Speaker 1: moneys for all the families that were affected. But what 531 00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:16,680 Speaker 1: I'm extremely proud of and in the midst of this 532 00:37:16,920 --> 00:37:22,440 Speaker 1: horrible tragedy is Buffalo. Buffalo known as the city of 533 00:37:22,560 --> 00:37:26,960 Speaker 1: good neighbors, and they proved that in the midst of 534 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:31,280 Speaker 1: this horrific tragedy, they really stepped up to the plate 535 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:35,480 Speaker 1: and showed a tremendous amount of love and support for 536 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:41,440 Speaker 1: these families and quickly condemned this racist attack on the 537 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:47,200 Speaker 1: most vulnerable community UH that exists in Buffalo. Amazing work, Bruce, 538 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:53,440 Speaker 1: amazing work, And I love how you personally used your platform, 539 00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:58,480 Speaker 1: your voice to spread this message to greater surroundings than 540 00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:03,360 Speaker 1: just the city of Buffalo, and you had personal issues 541 00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:07,960 Speaker 1: at times in terms of being taken in in Buffalo. 542 00:38:08,280 --> 00:38:13,040 Speaker 1: Reports say that you receive enough hate mail that you 543 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:16,760 Speaker 1: asked for a trade and was denied that same trade. 544 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,560 Speaker 1: Talk to me about the experiences that made you go 545 00:38:19,719 --> 00:38:23,400 Speaker 1: upstairs and say, I love you Buffalo, but enough is enough? 546 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:26,239 Speaker 1: And how did that impact you and your family in 547 00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:32,120 Speaker 1: those moments. Well, Um, I didn't share it with uh, 548 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:36,880 Speaker 1: with the family. I talked it over with Marv. I 549 00:38:36,920 --> 00:38:42,520 Speaker 1: showed Marv the letter or letters, and Marv being Marv UH, 550 00:38:42,719 --> 00:38:47,280 Speaker 1: he was disgusted, UH and he was appalled. But again 551 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:51,680 Speaker 1: I have to think that some of those letters that 552 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:55,200 Speaker 1: that were sent to me were sent outside of the 553 00:38:55,239 --> 00:39:01,200 Speaker 1: Buffalo area. It was disturbing, it infuriated. But these are 554 00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:05,919 Speaker 1: the struggles that sometimes that we have to deal with. 555 00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:10,799 Speaker 1: And I thank God UH for for Marvi and his 556 00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:14,880 Speaker 1: wisdom and and the folks that were around me that 557 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:18,719 Speaker 1: I was able to discuss these issues with and and 558 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:24,960 Speaker 1: keep me focused on the job at hand, which was 559 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:29,799 Speaker 1: addressing these issues and calling it out. But at the 560 00:39:29,880 --> 00:39:34,080 Speaker 1: same time, I wasn't going to let a few people 561 00:39:34,280 --> 00:39:39,440 Speaker 1: with these bad intentions and bad thoughts and racist attitudes 562 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:43,640 Speaker 1: drive me away from a place that I dearly loved. 563 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:46,600 Speaker 1: There you go, and that's that perseverance we talked about 564 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:49,400 Speaker 1: in the beginning of this interview. That's the foundation that 565 00:39:49,560 --> 00:39:52,400 Speaker 1: was laid. This is the same guy who could lose 566 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:55,319 Speaker 1: four Super Bowls and say Nope, I'm still gonna keep 567 00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:58,120 Speaker 1: fighting because you got that type of heart. And it's 568 00:39:58,200 --> 00:40:01,080 Speaker 1: amazing that Bruce bringing it full circle and bringing some 569 00:40:01,200 --> 00:40:05,600 Speaker 1: levity to it that even in the most trying times, 570 00:40:06,200 --> 00:40:09,400 Speaker 1: you shine the brightest brother, not only on the field, 571 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:17,040 Speaker 1: but obviously in your services and off the field. Let's 572 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:20,560 Speaker 1: make this all come to a close with some lighter topics. 573 00:40:20,560 --> 00:40:23,799 Speaker 1: Real fast. Good luck with Bruce talking real fast, because 574 00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:26,520 Speaker 1: I know Pop's gotta break it down on everything, but 575 00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:31,000 Speaker 1: quick answers right here, Bruce. Uh. The quarterback I'd like 576 00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:37,359 Speaker 1: to sack the most is was Mario? Why he didn't 577 00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:41,560 Speaker 1: go anywhere? No, he had the quickest release in the game. 578 00:40:42,120 --> 00:40:45,840 Speaker 1: He was the he was the least sacked quarterback in 579 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:51,640 Speaker 1: that era than any quarterback because he had this this 580 00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:56,040 Speaker 1: this this sense about him that he always knew where 581 00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:58,920 Speaker 1: the Russia was coming from and he got rid of 582 00:40:58,920 --> 00:41:04,239 Speaker 1: the ball. So a Marina. Greatest offense alignment I ever 583 00:41:04,360 --> 00:41:11,359 Speaker 1: faced was, Wow, I can't just go with one, but 584 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:15,560 Speaker 1: he's golf buddies. Come on, man, stay one well, Anthony Moos, 585 00:41:15,719 --> 00:41:22,719 Speaker 1: Jonathan Ogden, Walter Jones, I mean you you're talking about, Uh, 586 00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:31,040 Speaker 1: these guys were just incredible technicians. Huge. You know Jonathan 587 00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:38,439 Speaker 1: Ogden six nine. You know you got Walter Jones that 588 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:42,400 Speaker 1: that moves like a like a point guard. Uh. You know, 589 00:41:42,520 --> 00:41:45,799 Speaker 1: that's how agile he is, and and and and and 590 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:49,279 Speaker 1: his his balance and so forth. So you have to 591 00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:53,279 Speaker 1: really look at guys like that. And and Willie Rove 592 00:41:53,520 --> 00:41:56,120 Speaker 1: was was outstanding. Okay, now you just got the whole 593 00:41:56,120 --> 00:41:59,080 Speaker 1: forceom in here. You gotta stop. Okay. My biggest mentor 594 00:41:59,640 --> 00:42:06,600 Speaker 1: in life has been my pops, my father. My welcome 595 00:42:06,640 --> 00:42:12,560 Speaker 1: to NFL moment was who my first mini camp. I 596 00:42:12,560 --> 00:42:15,160 Speaker 1: got to hear about it a little bit. Yeah, I 597 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:19,920 Speaker 1: gotta hear that it was. It was in my Hall 598 00:42:19,960 --> 00:42:24,120 Speaker 1: of Fame speech. Uh. It was May, I think around 599 00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:29,160 Speaker 1: twentie my first minicamp went out on practice. There were 600 00:42:29,239 --> 00:42:34,000 Speaker 1: some dark clouds over off at the distance, and I 601 00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:37,000 Speaker 1: looked at Lucia Sam and I said, Lucius, man, those 602 00:42:37,040 --> 00:42:43,799 Speaker 1: those clouds look a little rough. Within fifteen minutes, it rain, snowed, 603 00:42:44,000 --> 00:42:47,000 Speaker 1: and hell, and I said, what the hell have I 604 00:42:47,040 --> 00:42:51,520 Speaker 1: got myself into the same day. So that was my welcome. 605 00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:54,960 Speaker 1: That was my welcome to the NFL and welcome to Buffalo. Moment. 606 00:42:55,560 --> 00:42:57,879 Speaker 1: Let me get you out of here, pops on this one. 607 00:42:58,560 --> 00:43:08,120 Speaker 1: That's amazing. To days players are blank. Oh wow, Um, 608 00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:15,640 Speaker 1: today's Hi did jealousy? Hi did jealousy? Job? They get paid? Yeah, 609 00:43:15,840 --> 00:43:18,880 Speaker 1: today's players are getting paid. There you took it right 610 00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:24,920 Speaker 1: out of about they get they getting paid, getting paid? 611 00:43:25,880 --> 00:43:31,640 Speaker 1: And are they playing the same level of football. It's 612 00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:36,200 Speaker 1: a different game. The rules have changed. They don't hit 613 00:43:36,239 --> 00:43:41,799 Speaker 1: as much. So that that's that's how I characterize it. 614 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:47,680 Speaker 1: When you don't hit as much, uh in training camp, 615 00:43:48,120 --> 00:43:52,800 Speaker 1: when you don't hit at all during the regular season, 616 00:43:55,280 --> 00:44:03,920 Speaker 1: um even in the game. Well you know, well you stupid. 617 00:44:04,080 --> 00:44:07,839 Speaker 1: But what I tell you, it's man, it's it's entertainment. 618 00:44:08,040 --> 00:44:15,000 Speaker 1: And and I am glued to the TV, particularly when 619 00:44:15,040 --> 00:44:20,000 Speaker 1: I can watch someone master their craft. And you know 620 00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:23,880 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the the Aaron Donald's, 621 00:44:23,960 --> 00:44:30,400 Speaker 1: the von Miller's, the the TJ's, uh even even uh 622 00:44:30,600 --> 00:44:34,200 Speaker 1: jj when he was when he was healthy and and 623 00:44:34,200 --> 00:44:39,240 Speaker 1: and in in his heyday. You know Jones from Uh 624 00:44:39,360 --> 00:44:43,160 Speaker 1: from Kansas City and Cox. I'm I am that dude 625 00:44:44,320 --> 00:44:48,360 Speaker 1: that is glued to the defensive line and the pass 626 00:44:48,440 --> 00:44:53,040 Speaker 1: rushers that have mastered their trade. And it's so so 627 00:44:53,080 --> 00:44:56,960 Speaker 1: good to hear from somebody who not only mastered his trade, 628 00:44:57,480 --> 00:45:01,400 Speaker 1: but changed how the trade was even perceived. After Bruce Smith, 629 00:45:02,160 --> 00:45:07,240 Speaker 1: the goal the bar set so high, uh, looks unattainable, 630 00:45:07,520 --> 00:45:09,879 Speaker 1: but it's certainly gonna be fun to watch all these 631 00:45:09,880 --> 00:45:13,719 Speaker 1: young talents try and accomplish it. Pops, you know how 632 00:45:13,760 --> 00:45:16,200 Speaker 1: much I love you. I can't say it enough. I 633 00:45:16,320 --> 00:45:19,799 Speaker 1: respect everything about you and how you contributed to this 634 00:45:19,880 --> 00:45:24,480 Speaker 1: game and more importantly to my life. Appreciate you brother always. 635 00:45:24,719 --> 00:45:29,239 Speaker 1: I love you too, man, and it it always pleases man, 636 00:45:29,560 --> 00:45:32,360 Speaker 1: puts a smile on my face and brightens my day 637 00:45:32,840 --> 00:45:35,560 Speaker 1: when I can have a moment just to either text 638 00:45:35,600 --> 00:45:39,840 Speaker 1: you or in this particular case, see your face and 639 00:45:40,200 --> 00:45:44,640 Speaker 1: share some time with you and obviously with your your audience. 640 00:45:44,680 --> 00:45:47,840 Speaker 1: So uh, bro, you you keep doing what you're doing. 641 00:45:48,040 --> 00:45:52,920 Speaker 1: You make us all proud. Well man, the only, the only, 642 00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:55,279 Speaker 1: I don't even say the one and the only the 643 00:45:55,400 --> 00:46:04,120 Speaker 1: only forget one is Hill, Bruce Smith, my Don That's 644 00:46:04,120 --> 00:46:06,959 Speaker 1: gonna do it. For more to It, check the show 645 00:46:07,000 --> 00:46:10,360 Speaker 1: notes for all the information on our guests and topics today. 646 00:46:10,760 --> 00:46:13,719 Speaker 1: You want to keep the conversation going, let's talk. You 647 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:17,359 Speaker 1: can find me on all socials that Marcellus Wiley. More 648 00:46:17,440 --> 00:46:20,160 Speaker 1: to It is brought to you by Dan Patrick Productions, 649 00:46:20,280 --> 00:46:24,480 Speaker 1: That Dude Entertainment, Workhouse Media, and jam Street Media. The 650 00:46:24,520 --> 00:46:29,200 Speaker 1: show is executive produced by Dan Patrick, Marcellus Wiley, Paul Anderson, 651 00:46:29,360 --> 00:46:33,680 Speaker 1: Nick Panella, and Maddie Stout. I'm Marcellus Wiley. Thanks for 652 00:46:33,719 --> 00:46:37,839 Speaker 1: listening and thanks for those reviews. They help. There's more 653 00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:41,239 Speaker 1: coming for More to It, talk to you next week.