Rod Smith remains a Bronco.
He isn’t playing, and there is a strong chance he will never play again, but Smith, in his first public words since his 2007 season was shelved, made it clear he still has a role to play.
“I’m still a part of this football team, no matter what,” Smith said. “I’m going to be here every day … out there at every practice and every football game and help facilitate in any way I can, interpret defenses and help our players and let them know about winning football. My role is limited, but my heart and my desire for us to win football games is not limited, by no means. And I’m going to go out there every day and try to make us better.”
Smith, the Broncos’ all-time leading receiver, said he isn’t ready to talk about his future.
“I’m not worried about it. As far as next year, I’m not worried about it,” he said. “I just want to get through this football season and actually get comfortable with my body, because right now I still have discomfort in my hip….If nothing else, I want to be able to live a normal life, whether I play football again or not.”
Smith, 37, said rehabilitating from February hip surgery has taken longer than he expected. He said he initially expected to be on crutches for two weeks. He ended up hobbling on them for 2 1/2 months. A projected eight-month recovery period now projects to a year.
Smith’s 2007 season officially ended last week when he couldn’t practice. He had practiced for three days starting Oct. 31, but was unable to continue.
Smith’s decision on whether to try to play next season is not expected until the offseason.
“It’s been horrible,” he said. “It’s kind of tough for me right now knowing last week I wasn’t going to get to finish the season as far as getting a chance to play. But I have to be realistic. I took something that was realistically a 12-month injury and tried to make it (back in) 8 1/2, 9. It was a grind, and I was basically tearing my body up trying to do it. Everybody did what they could to try and help me get back.”
