Legendary defensive end Bruce Smith stared at his Buffalo Bills teammates while they surrounded him before a game and instilled the dominant attitude that led to his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“We’ve got to be selfish,” Smith commanded years ago in a scene preserved by NFL Films. “When it’s third-and-long, say, ‘I’m going to make a play!’ Don’t depend on nobody else.”
Decades later, Smith is sending a similar message to a young man he hopes to mentor -- Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
“He’s got all of the physical talents, the God-given talents,” Smith told the Beacon Journal on Tuesday night during a phone interview.