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First and 20 with Will Smith
by Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com
Monday, April 13, 2009



First and Twenty with Will Smith

New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith was selected by the Saints with their first round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Smith, a team captain in 2008, is a veteran of 78 career NFL games, with 59 starts to his credit, and owns 342 career tackles, 36.5 sacks for 245 yards, 13 forced fumbles with 13 passes defensed and six career fumble recoveries. In 2008 Smith signed a six-year contract extension with the Saints. Smith, who made the Pro Bowl in 2006, talked today after his morning workout about his preparations for the 2009 season.

NewOrleansSaints.com: ?You were banged the second half of last season with a painful abdominal injury, but you never missed practices or games and you refused to use it as an excuse. How are you feeling these days and is it something you are worried about moving forward??

Saints Defensive End Will Smith: ?I?m feeling great. I had a little surgery right after the season to get it corrected and then spent the first part of my off-season rehabbing it and it?s feeling 100%. It was a one time thing and isn?t something that?s going to be anything that I need to worry about going forward.?

NewOrleansSaints.com: ?There are a lot of new faces, particularly on defense, that have entered the locker room via free agency. As a team captain, what sort of things do you do to get to know the new guys and how do you see them fitting in??

Saints Defensive End Will Smith: ?I?ve had the chance to sit down and talk to all of the new guys. A guy like Rod Coleman I was already familiar with because the Saints and the Falcons play each twice a year, so I know what kind of guy he is and what kind of competitor he is and what type of person he is. But for the most part it?s talking to them and getting to know them and letting them know how we do things and what?s expected. I met with (Paul) Spicer a few weeks before he signed here and really enjoyed getting to meet him and learn more about him. The new guys have fit right in.?

NewOrleansSaints.com: ?What has your off-season been like? What sort of things have you done since the end of last season??


Saints Defensive End Will Smith: ?At first it was just getting healthy after the surgery and getting rested, then it moved into the rehab phase and now into the strength-and-conditioning phase. Off the field, my family and I have done a little bit of traveling, but for the most part it?s been staying around New Orleans and just laying low and getting ready for the upcoming season. I?ve been here at the facility pretty much every day.?


NewOrleansSaints.com: ?Have you gone back to Ohio State at all recently? Do you keep tabs on the guys that people are talking about being drafted from Ohio State??


Saints Defensive End Will Smith: ?I still have a home there, so I try to make it back to Columbus every few months and make sure my house is still in one piece. I keep up with Ohio State and follow what the players are up to and try to keep in touch with the program. It?s nice to see the nice things that people are saying about some of the guys that are projected to go high in the draft. From what I am hearing it looks good for some of them. You never know, a few of them may end up here.?

NewOrleansSaints.com: “Are there any sports teams that you follow as a fan? Follow to the point of knowing their record, who everyone on the team is, and that you don’t miss a second of any of their games?”


Saints Defensive End Will Smith: “I am a huge sports fan. For starters, if the Buckeyes are on TV then I’m watching it and rooting for them, regardless of what sport it is. I am a big New York Yankees fan and know them and keep up with what they’re doing every day. In basketball I am a Cleveland Cavaliers fan and know those guys pretty well and keep up with them. In golf, I’m a Tiger Woods fan and watch him and try to learn from the best.”

New Orleans Saints - First and 20 with Will Smith