Article:Players from the past (NFL edition 2): Timmy Smith

Timothy LaRay Smith, January 24 th 1964, Hobbs New Mexico

Some players have long illustrious careers that start off slowly and then they become elite players later in there career. Other players are dominant all of the way thru there careers. However there is a select group of players that start there career great and then flame out quickly. That is the case with todays player from the past in Timmy Smith.

Timmy Smith was a running back from Texas Tech that was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 5 th round of the 1987 draft. During his career Smith played for both the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys in his career that spanned a total of three years. He retired as a Cowboy in 1990.

Smith’s career rushing stats are sub-par at best. He ran for a total of 602 yards and 3 touchdowns. Beyond that he averaged a meager 3.2 yards per carry. So what makes Timmy Smith worthy of being remembered as a famous player from the past? Smith is a very rare type of player who will be remembered forever because of one great day.

Super Bowl 22 was one of the most dominant performances ever put forth by one team in a championship game and Timmy Smith was a big part of that for the Washington Redskins. Smith had the best running day in Super Bowl history amassing a total of 204 yards and 2 touchdowns. Beyond that he averaged 9.3 yards per carry. What makes this game even more surprising is that it was Smiths first and only career start! Even though he had an amazing performance Smith was not the MVP of  Super Bowl 22,  his teammate Doug Williams put forth one of the best efforts in Super Bowl history so Smith’s great accomplishments are sometimes forgotten but he will always be remembered by most fans as the guy who lit it up for one amazing day on the biggest stage of all.

Smith is also a sad story. He was a young guy who was on top of the world and it all came tumbling down. He fell out of the league in 1990 having never started a regular season game and having only one 100 yard performance. In 2005 Smith was caught trying to sell cocaine to an undercover police officer and he served two and a half years in federal prison.