Chris Smith

How about you? Good? Um? Just can I get one? I don't want three, just just one? How are you? Gerard? I can't be all that well. How are you gonna limit me? I don't feel like being I'm not being limited today. It's almost Black History Month. I will not be limited speaking of Black history. Backstage stage pulled up Joe, please step up too the mic? How are you today? Good afternoon, fellas? How y'all doing? What up? Man doing excellent? Please walk us through How does a brother like Joe operate?

Moving forward in Black History Month? It seems like every time backstage Joe gets called to the microphone, there's some discerning events to take place. You only, I told you, you you only reveal yourself from the from the shadows of the cut to it production when you have something pertinent to say. And we had some conversation outside of the studio that it was hilarious, hilarious. Well, the names will

be protected please to hide the innocent. But there is a individual individual that that I know very well that is in the You just know, we just know. So, Um, she came home and at all the individual that went

to her house. Excuse me, this individual that I heard from a guy who my cousin Bradley knows, your buddy John, and said that she went home, hold on, hold on, hold on you those names, uh, a black storyteller and a white storyteller, because Mone would have been like, so, what happened was he was over there, he said, Bradley, Bradley,

Bradley's cousin John and Karen. So this young lady was telling me about what they're learning in school, obviously for a Black History Month, and you know, we were all familiar with that, and they you know, they, yes, you went to school, right, yeah, okay, making sure you went to school. I think I don't know how far you went. But at some point in time they probably discussed this. So she was going over some of the topics that they were going to be going over in class to

to pay homage to uh Black History Month. So I'm all ears now, and you guys know where I'm going with this worded the way it was worded, they were reviewing, Yes, reviewing. So do we review Christmas? No, we have Christmas celebrate, we celebrate Chris. Do we review Thanksgiving? Celebrate that too, Easter celebrate it Hanakah celebrate. All right, all of the above, we don't review. Let's review Black History Month. They were

celebrating black in this school. And and I will phrase it to our listeners as I phrased it to you, gentlemen. And it's gonna be multiple choice as far as options, as far as options on what they were gonna be learning throughout the school throughout the month. So one might be you know the famous Martin Luther King junior speech on how it you know, solidified and everybody understood where it was coming from, impact, rights and impact. That that's

an option. Didn't go there. Second one, um, maybe we can go with Rosa Parks and our impact out. Okay, Boycott, maybe a little Harriet Tubman, just just to understand the influence and the impact and what she went through and everything. So so many different choices, so many choices. And in the final, the final one, they were going to learn how to step step step step like like for like wait in a minute, and don't put no boom in it. They were so you go, you got Luther King, Harriet

Tubman and then stepping. This young lady looked me in the eye and said they were going to be going over and learning how to step. Okay, why who are they going over? Too? Um? So there was another individual in her class who was a minority, who was a minority who was black. It was black splitting hairs here, but yes, yes, and they were going to celebrate Black

History Month. And this young lady's mother happened to be who was adele to which I'll let you to expand on what that means in the air quotes here world of stepping. So in Black History Month, we gott another we gotta we're gonna review options celebrate. So let me get this right. So you got six years are are are too younger? They're saying, yeah, I gotta, I gotta one year old and six year But so do see a miya are to say? So you're gonna ask, you're

asking a group of children for Black History Month. Do you want to read, remember and regard your all of those or do you want to dance? That would be like asking Mia and Deuce, Hey, you can have cake for dinner, chicken or Brussels sprouts? Which do you think she's gonna pick Brussels sprouts? They want the activity and and that is this is not to the mean because we got a bunch of listeners. It's not to the mean. The Divine nine, any of the historically black sororities, fraternities,

they have so a rich history. So many of MLK wasn't was an alpha there. There's so many UM fraternity sororities who have had meaningful contributions to not just Black history history overall they served the community. However, we should not be hold on now before now is the teacher of this individual's class a delta no black? So so the influence, So the influence came from where? So what made teacher decided this is the route where I was stepping? No?

How how is the how is the curriculum built by a parent and not the school system or at least a teacher. Yeah, we're gonna skip over ros apart anything, Harriet tub We just y'all gonna I'm gonna teach you how to Oh, first of all, I'm gonna we're gonna step yep, I said. And not that there's anything wrong, it's it's the fact that it's an option. Like there's so many other activities they couldn't experience or individuals that we can that we can talk about. And Frederick Douglas right,

so they're a dB. Right, you might get another technical you go into the challenge and so so how does her I was just this instructor, this this uh educational provider, I would assume north. So, fifth year old white lady has given a classroom full of non black folks. There's two she told me this individual so the dynamics on the table. So there's two black kids in the class. And then one of the parents of the black kids wasn't offended. She goes, oh, I know what to do.

I'm gonna teach them how come on for black history for blacks like this, So like just there's there's so much that there's so much more that we could have done. And I don't know if the teacher just wanted to class have a voice. Yeah, because you know, I want to hold on the temperature the country right now. I better listen to them, which is fine. So you're gonna categorize them like, well, I know little Lisa can't read. She's killing it on that stomp. Yeah, just so many

different ways we could have went. Um so Marshal the Boy, like, there's so there's so much. So it's a treat with a bunch of George Washington Carver right, doing one, trying to attend one of his inventions, right, creating something right, Jackie Robinson, No, nope, we're gonna step and then the

parent falls into the trap. She won't sign herself, right, I don't know if there's an approval form coming home, like like I'm not we didn't have the Black History curriculum built way in advance, Like this ain't our first year doing this. It's only one day on the right, and it's Christmas the short wind. Yeah, yeah, yea, let's put it on there. Right, every four years you get an extra day. That's what I'm saying is that it does that extra day fall all this year. So y'all

get you all some was public schooled. I don't know. That's horrible. Dog. Well, so so that's this individual that you don't know but very close to. Um what did they decide? Um? So of course she could have k because she could have Brussels sprouts. She chose the cake and she was ecstatic. And you know, as I'm as, we're starting to understand more of this social media game from backstage joke, the whole TikTok thing, like she was

all about it, trying to figure out different moves. So she was going on, she's gonna get an A. I'm gonna promise you that she's gonna get an eight. So I've heard this individual that I don't know, But so tell us how did they divide out the teams? Well, I mean there's a team captain. Oh god, it's pretty easy start. I I wonder who which the team captain?

These are your tax dollars at work. A very good friend of mine who speaks on another network on Thursday night, always taught me that you have to paint a picture for the audience. But I think this picture is painted captains? Are you know? Uh? Please tell though, in case who

the team captain. It's Bradley and caring. It's a damn caring in here, all right, that's what your So this young lady that I may or may not know very is super excited to do it, just you know, to go for the real for a second and reving fund. But um, I've been real the whole time. So if backstage joke can be serious for a second. Oh, learning that culture and learning all the individuals we talked about, obviously,

we we've taught in our household. I got two fine young gentlemen like you guys that that that she learns from if she was around and was that she has the luxury of understanding and looking, you know, towards the world. And you know, I heard like, just for a quick example, around the holidays, this young lady might have gotten a shirt or a sweatshirt that said just be a good human and and that's what these fine parents of these

of this little girl tried to instill in her. So I know, we make light of it, and you know we we here she does her best to be able to include all and make everybody equals. But I just thought it was hilarious, and of course I had to tell you guys about it. When I found out about it the grape Vine that they actually we're going to be teaching stepping for Black History Months. But I just say time, man, it's we don't have a cane at the house like that's I don't that's that's fraternity because

the Greek folks are not gonna come with me. You know how sad that is for Black History? You teaching these kids how to step? That is I don't want to say that this that is so racist. Racist you're gonna say for Black History. Yeah, y'all need to identify, so we're gonna teach you all. It's just like I said, it's it's definitely there. It's it's a it's a big time reach. It's a big time reach because again, the

contributions of our fraternity sororities is unparalleled. However, there's just so many different ways that that that we could just go beyond. And you just look at a normal Black History Month curriculum where there are things that get glossed over. There are things that we don't always include. But man, we at least could have got to the to the to the mlks, to your point, the rosa parks of the thirty Good Morsels to to all these other things.

We went straight to that. That's when we're gonna spend the month. Though, Holy y'all gonna spend a month, shoot, I don't take about two months for all of them. Off beat that's got I'm a family, I mean that parents of that dog. So they're gonna they're gonna go into March. I gotta get inside of this on the podcast today. Coming up on the Cut to It Podcast, we've got Chris Smith, a defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders. He was all sec at Arkansas. He's a

father of three and a native of North Carolina. Chris Smith on the Cut to It Podcast, Thanks for having me, man, and we appreciate you. Our first segment, it's called get Iced Up. So you you're from North Carolina, you're familiar with Smitthy, you're familiar with ice up Son. This is our version of Icebreakers. We gotta get you iced up. Their random icebreaker questions. You don't know what's coming, might be a follow up, might not be, but Smittie will

get you the first one. It's time to get iced up. Okay, I ain't study for this one. But I love it. You know why, because it is an open book test about you, Christopher. So if you fail, it's because you stupid. I read it already, all right. What are you afraid of? Mm hmm. I'm afraid of failure, That's what I'm mean.

Why is that? Just because? I mean, you wanna, you know, want to win, like in everything you know, so when especially I guess when it comes to ball or whatever and just things that life, you just want to win everything you know you can't, you know what I'm saying. Everything like, man, I hate but you don't. But you've learned from a failure. Yeah, you learned from it though you hate it, but you know it's a bitter sweet though. You learn from it though you know what I'm saying,

it's necessarily evil. Yes, yes, if you can learn a new skill, what would it be a new skill? Mm hmm I would Uh. You know. I'm a music guy, man, I always, like, you know, growing up in church, I played drums and stuff like that. I always wanted to learn how to play the league. Good talk. I don't think a lot of people know that about me, though I always want to. My cousin could do it real well. He never taught me though, but I was always a drummer.

But I always want to know how to play the league, the talk, you know what you want time because sometime drummers at church they sometimes running a little bit late. I did you give me that look though? You know, but how you y'all came from the same house. How you late? And she drove, I know, man, especially when I was able to drive though, you know what I'm saying. She was like, yeah, man, I was. I was late. Man, I was late and there the fellowship hall up. No good,

Oh my god. Uh um, are you a restless or RESTful sleeper? Oh? I think both? Mmm, I think I'm both, man. I mean, I guess it's just really um, I've been told, you know that I snore and stuff like that and everything, but like, uh, I think it's a little bit of both, though I think really mostly um. You know, this is my first time playing on the West Coast team, so I ain't I'm in bed. But first I was in

bed by like seven o'clock. That was rest folks sleeping, you know, because but it was kind of going back and forth because I had to give this to the time change. But it's getting better now, So I said a little bit of both. Though. All right, last one, this is a curve ball. You're in Las Vegas. You're also currently formerly the Oakland Raiders. Being on the West coast, Oakland has a huge Latino community. Facts, facts, facts. How do you say football in Spanish? Oh? God? In Espaniel,

that's how you say? No, almost cursed. I'm telling you the defensive players, so you don't know. Would you like me to tell you? Yes, I need that football Americano football Americano, football Americana. That was a good curb. But I did not know that one. I was the time I was like hold on, It was like afterwards, you know what I'm saying. No, I was, I was. I was holding on hand, Chris hand. You still want to still get on the on the full stomach. No, no,

you just ain't re tried. You just but that's crazy though you say that I did not know that they have a big you know, Spanish base. You know, um No, you didn't know that. I did not know that until I got here. Oh till you got here. See that that just olds the East coast, West coast, the lack of knowing each other, because when I moved to Charlotte. There were things I just like, I did not know

about the Southern culture of the South. Time. Yeah, it was different, different when you laid back, No man laid back. Laid back is an hour late the South. Is you two hours late on the wrong day. It's not even it's not even punctuality thing. It's just everything moves slower. Let's tell a quick story. One time I had just a landscaping guy, scattered deployment one two o'clock, twelve o'clock on a Tuesday. This dude came Thursday at three, just got you gotta you gotta mixed up? Yo, My man,

what's you're doing? Oh I'm hearing such and such. Hey bro, you' about two days later and you two hours late to be kissed look off my property? Oh, what's the big deal? We had it on Tuesday, I blocked off my schedule and you come on Thursday at three. Yeah, I can't work with you. South is different, man, But you you get a cosme to it. Now you almost you will you honorary Southern or now? I don't bring your ass on two days. He don't define the South. We ain't

gonna let that dude define us. I run into a quite a bit of those though. That's that's that's the South though many I would have been hearing at that too. So what what what is what has been the eye opening culture change for you? Coming from you know, Rowan County, coming from a small town of North Carolina, going to you know, uh, Las Vegas slash Oakland like that west Like Las Vegas and Oakland are West Coast, West Coast, like they rule West Coast. They busy West Coast and

they are get out my way. I'll pull a gun out on you at the red light. West Coast facts facts I feel like um mostly with me coming here. I mean, other than the time change, but you know, just you know you West Coast is a vibe though it ain't gonna lie, it is a vibe where you know there it is unmatched from the East Coast. But I think the one thing that I do miss, and it's different out here, like it is the southern hospitality yea and everything like that. So that's one thing that

I do miss. Like you know, I'm walking through my neighborhood and how are you doing? And they just walked right past you, so you know they just bought play past you and stuff like that. But I think that's you know, but as far as just everything else though, man, it's I mean, it's beautiful. Like especially people think when you were in Las Vegas. They think you're on a strip every day, you know, But I stay in Henderson the battle So this is my brother. My brother is

a fireman Ville so he works out of there. Yeah, and it's like it's like a vibe man out here where you know, it's not you ain't gotta you know people, you know, especially back home country town people. Oh you just at the gambling day. My mama said, you're gambler. I'm not a gambler first of all, but you know, that's what they first think. But it's really like a really nice places out here, man um and especially in Henderson area and stuff like that. Man, really nice place.

We have to take a break and the morning thing, we gotta pay some bill. You got checks. I love cut to It, and I love it even more when you download us and subscribe and you can follow us on social media too. Smithie, where where at that's at? Cut to It on Instagram? What about Twitter? At? Cut

to It? Facebook? Cut to It featuring Steve Smith singr what about online and you can follow us at cut to it podcast dot com where you can buy merch and you can subscribe to us wherever you listen to podcasts. I got all my answers questions. Um, yeah, I got all my questions answered. That's what I'm here for. A brother, cut to a podcast dot com. What did you inspire what you want to be? Grown up? Um? I always? I always, Um, I thought I was gonna be the

next Lebron James, the sixth one. I thought I was, but it worked out that way to my coach got on me and everything. But yeah, I didn't. I didn't play foot. I always played a little league and stuff like that. Football, but I always, you know, ran track when I was a little basketball obviously, but I didn't play football. My freshman year, my mom and dad it was like they want you, we want you to focus on your grade, show to choose one. So I come from a basketball family, so I was like, you know,

I'm gonna play basketball. I played. It's a freshman on varsity and uh he's passed away. But my my my high school coach man he was He's like, you crazy. You can get any thousand dollar scholarship, you crazy or whatever like that you're never gonna make any basketball And I was like, man, you're just hate him. But then I came out my sophmore year for football, man, and like just just I mean I always played when I was at but what you call it, like it just clicked.

Everything just clicked, man, and just coming off the edge of the speed Russia. So yeah, man, that's that's how it all came and came into place though. But I didn't have dreams like I guess like most of most people are being a basketball player. Where are you from? And the place you call your hometown? Salisbury, North Carolina? All right? Now, is there like a little small as that he giving you? He giving you the next largest? Yeah, I'm talking about You ain't gonna say I'm from North Carolina.

You ain't gonna. I got it right here. I don't want to know where you from. I don't want to pronunciated incorrectly. But I also want you to tell me if you know yo not you're yo from home town? Mr Smith. If you would have been from Salisbury, you would have said North Rowan, you would have said where are you? What it is you know? Where high school? With the Mount Ula Mount. My home address is Salisbury R. Mount. What you play in the NFL, You've experienced some highs

and lows. Mm hmm. Here's some unique things about your hometown. And I'll let you chew. On of the residents at least completed high school. Percent of the residents have received bachelor degrees or higher. Is that a fair assessment from your observation of leaving and coming back? Yeah, yeah, I don't believe that. I mean, yeah, I can see his mind working. Now. That's that's why Jerome act the way

he acts. I believe that You've got a lot of people who graduated high school, but you know, in college, you know they'll get home sick or you know, the party too much, and then you know, by after year one or whatever, a year to day day out, you know so or it's just not even on your radar. I don't you mentioned what he was dreaming about being Lebron Like, I don't even think I really dreamt like

in high school or anything like that. I worked for I worked for Bollow and I was a cash year and I was a backer, and I really talk for

a while. I would see our general manager coming and he had a brand new forward and for a good bit even my senior high school bro, I really sat and thought about, man if I just stay home and I worked my butt off at this grocery store, I can be I can be a general manager and I'll drop around the You don't go many and Chris correct me where I'm wrong, But you see so many people

when you're back home. You're not exposed. When you're from a small town, you're not exposed to some of those larger things, like when you do get those opportunities to go visit a college campus, or you get an opportunity to hear a guest speaker come to your to your high school, that's someone on the staff maybe knows or something like that, or you do have that rare occurrence where there's like ah for for for me, deems may you know tight End comes back and talks to come

back and talk to you. You don't see those things when you're from a small town. So I can honestly say, for a while, like I didn't have a dream, Like I was like, all right, I just do what everyone else does. Or you you know, you want to go work at everyone else works at furniture factories or whatever it is that these small towns are known for. You just kind of hop in line and next thing you know, you're on the you on the factory line, doing what

everyone else does. So I mean, Chris hop in. But that's that's kind of how it is sometimes when you had a small town in in north of South Carolina or some of these rural areas in the South. That's crazy you say that because that was one of the reasons they might be country and solid. I went to Arkansas because it's like it reminded me. Certain parts reminded me of home, even though it's far away from home.

But everybody know Arkansas. You've got Little Rock, pom Bluff and all that, and what the school is, fair Bill. Certain parts reminded me of back home. I mean, I know, a lot committed right away. And then you know everybody from like you know, Solisburry, amount of other and everything, like you said, Morels, all that space and everything. Everybody just got that like that Southern hospitality. And that's how

it was in Arkansas. You know, everywhere you go, especially you know, being playing for the Razorbacks, whether you are the ProTeam anyway or whatever. Yeah, like I mean this is that the Southern Hospital. I committed right off the back or whatever, and I always told my mom and dad like it was like, you'd like it here. And then when we came out and I did my official visit or whatever and everything, that was like, you're right, it does like certain parts remind you of back home.

And I think that's why committed so fast. Did you also commit because you had no other option? And it's crazy to say that. I would say yes because of just seeing so many guys before me, like they would kind of like steaks home and they didn't like, you know, sit seed and stuff, and I had to get away. So you had the highs of winning nationally, winning the championship in high school? What were some of the loads of that success? Um, I would say, And y'all would

be some of the first to hear this. Um, okay, having the big junior year because one of my sophomore year, you know, that was the first time I played football because I didn't play my freshman year. So my sophomore year made off conference, all county all that. So my junior year, Um, that's when I had the big season or whatever. Uh, you know, twenty eight sacks or whatever like that. We won the state championship. So it's like senior year, you know, that's when I had you know,

offers and stuff coming up and everything. You know, I had got hurt or whatever, and it's kind of basically, you know, kind of trying to live up to that expectation. So my year I was like, and I don't make no excuse, but I was. I had like hurt my achieys.

I had like a spring Achilles or something like the whole I remember, like the whole season, and I had committed in Arkansas, and man, my coach was, I'm glad he did, but he had, uh stayed hard on me, like you you're not you're not playing good enough for the ben sec my ass and all that he said, say everything, but I was really hurt so and everything like that. So I guess that was one of the main thing, you know, playing through injury, but you know

you gotta still like you still gotta go. And he was, I mean, I'm glad he did that or whatever. He prepped me for college and uh and everything like that. But that was probably the one of the probably the like the diversities I had to deal with and stuff like that. But I ain't gonna lie my college coach. Mhmm, did he? I would say, out of any level of football that I played for. I know, y'all know Bobby, he got a he got a party mouth. Yeah boy,

Oh my god, he was a little weird. I ain't gonna lie he do we gotta party about but he he that's one of the hardest coaches I ever played for. Man, Oh my gosh. When would you learn from coach between the great course? But basically, I mean he was all business like and you know, he didn't take no junk or whatever like that, and basically just really prepped your minds.

I remember when I first committed the Arkansas he came to my high school and he was like, I know you can play physically, but can you handle it mentally? And I didn't really know what that means, you know,

coming into Arkansas and stuff like that. But now as I'm you know, going to my aviar in the league and Steve, you know how this is the ups and down with the business and stuff like that, and you know the for football at the national the top level, man, you gotta you gotta be, you know, saying mentally strong top, because if you're not, it can take you this way and that way, you know what I'm saying. So that that was one of the things I learned is mental

toughness from Petrino. As far as the football park, what have you learned that you did not know anything about? As far as the business of football, The thing about it is they always trying to replace you no matter how good you play. Um, it's all about and it's Chris Clemens is one of one of my guys, you know, to help me, you know, when I was a rookie

and stuff like that. He had a saying they're trying to get you the best for the cheapest like that, and that that was one of the main things about it. And and it's politics is as highest level you know, And and that's I mean, I hear O'Dell say that's one of my my boys, and stuff like. Like. The one thing that you know, coming from college into the NFL is like it kind of takes the fun out of it. But you gotta in the NFL, you gotta like separated to the business and football and basically put

your own fund into it. Because that's I mean, it's like, as you know, it's a business at the end of the day, you know. So that was my my first experience. I'm going to give you example. You know, I get drafted fifth round with Jacksonville. I made you know, had a great preseason. Um, I made the fifty three Fine Colors, and you know, I was in act of the first game I think we played Philly, and then the second

game or whatever. Uh, right before we fin I think we're finn to go play It was the San Diego charge and then we're gonna go play them. Like. They cut me on that Saturday, and I'm like, what do I do wrong? Like why are you cutting me? Well, this guy had a concussion and you were the healthiest man on the three man roster, so we gotta cut you. But we're gonna bring you back though. The reason why we cut you on Saturday is because want nobody to see you or whatever like that. So I'm like all sad.

They're like, oh no, non't be sad. No, we were just doing this. We want to keep you here or whatever. So we're gonna put your on practice card or whatever like that. So I was gonna practice card for like four or five weeks. I'm thinking, like I'm like, man, like, this is how it go. I'm down to myself or whatever. And then like when I started to be line and got hurt or whatever, and then I'm back up or

whatever and like off a limited STAPs. I think I played in the six games or whatever like that and had three sacks or whatever, and you know, finished with a good reki season. But it's just like in the NFL now sart of the business, like it's like you just can never get to high your high, never get too long your loans man, and let's go back, because I think people are not really following. Is you were you play on Sunday, You're released on the Saturday. Mm hm.

The reason that's important and why teams do that is because they go into Saturday with a set mind. They already know on Saturday Chris is not playing. He may be on the bus, he may be on the plane, but he ain't getting New Jersey unless something strategic, something horrible happens. But even if that happens, well, his ass ain't playing, so right, So they they and and here's

the worst part. Here's the worst part about that. They knew that Wednesday when he came in at eight am and he's having and he's having eggs for breakfast right

now in the facility. They know Chris ain't playing. And they also know by before at least before Friday, when it's Freedom Friday and it's UH and it's a catered company coming in with that good meal, that Chris won't be playing either on Friday, but yet there practicing him, making him feel like he's part of the team, when they know at some point in the next several days he will not be part of the team. He will not need a jersey. He may need a sideline sweatsuit,

but he will need click. You don't need a mouthpiece. It's not something getting used to when you you just walked us through when you were in West Rowan and you got almost a hundred tackles, sixteen sacks, you uh, second All team SEC. And now you get to NFL. And they and they gave a card with his name on it, with his information, his height. They gave it

to the draft person. That draft person said, with the such and such pick for Chris Jacksonville Jaguars, we select Chris Smith from Arkansas and they call you, Hey, appreciate ate you. We love what we saw in your film. Hey, we can't wait to get you here, and they give you it's like a recruiting trip. They give your lobster one day. When when they recruiting you, then they draft you. Hey the Bolognian cheese down down the hall here the right you on that and now now you got to

get adjusted to the business of the NFL. What's what's that transition? Like, I mean it was it was hard, um uh you know, because I mean I got cut like my second week, um and everything, and it was just crazy, Like you know, people back home were like, well, he got drafted. I know he you know what I'm saying that that's all he was gonna do. He wasn't gonna see it in the league. But you know they always say, like, you know, once you understand the business

of the NFL, you'll be okay. How long did it take you and your feelings to adjust to the business

of the NFL? I would say the first time I got cut, and then I would say my going into my fourth year when I got traded to the Bengals, I would say that because I always tell people I haven't been through everything in the league, like as far as everything, you know, like nothing surprises me now, but I would say that was the like two times, like after I got traded, I was like, okay, like you know what I'm saying, This ain't no scholarship, no more

over the year out of scholar this one actual you know, contractual business. What did they tell you when they traded you. Was there a conversation or dialogue or in the transaction? Well? Actually, uh, I was driving remember this clear asday. I was driving to go get food. It was the off season, a week before. We had had just been going to all season workouts and I was driving to go get food and the GM called me. He said, Chris, how are you doing today or whatever? So I'm thinking, like they

let me go, you know what I'm saying. So like, you know, you know, GM called, He's like, oh man, here go, and um you know, He's like, well, I think this is actually be a good thing for you, you know, because they used to always had me up and down or whatever when I used to play, I used to produce. But he was like, we're gonna trade you to Cincinnati Bengals. And I'm like, okay, we decided this morning. Everything think it's been a good thing for you.

So you know, keep working hard, man. We wish you the best. And it was like click process of being traded. Um, how it was, it was like a shock. I was like, man, I was like, it was like, man, I'm going to Cincinnati, you know, and you know I'm with Pat Man, Dracor Patrick Monte's and all them board. I was like, oh my god, you know what I'm saying like that. But

it was actually good though. It was somewhere I had an opportunity, you know, um to play you know, a guy like Michael Johnson, Like I said, um, Pat Man, um, Geno Atkins, um like that. So it was actually good, but it was stocking at first though. Like you said, it's already being premeditated. So yeah, man, I think it's about that time. Just so take a little breather, do it. Do it. Let's get down to do it. Hey Gerard,

why didn't you get that T shirt? You mean, oh yes, I got it from cut to a podcast dot com where we have exclusive merchandise shout out to our guys at seven or four shot. But yeah, you can go on, buy you a T shirt, subscribe to us wherever you listen to podcasts. How has this season been affected this NFL season been affected by COVID O. It's been like I tell and I tell people this man just to just to be like be and you know, be on a roster this year. Um, it's just like one of this.

It doesn't made me appreciate football even more. And you know, just hats off to the whole lead, the players and all that, because, um it's really like you're in like uh, like a jail kind of on your bye week in a Thursday night game, like you know, usually you know you can go and you know, see your family, you know, go kick it or whatever like that. Like you know, I got three, you know, beautiful children, like I haven't seen them since August, Like because I can't believe I

haven't seen them since August. Because you can't leave, um term out of town or whatever like that. Um, because you have to take COVID tests every day. Um. We got to the point now where my whole defensive I think the defensive that coach or whatever like that called COVID, I obviously called a coordinator, called a couple of guys.

It's somebody every week that is catching it. There, Steve, we won't even go in the building like we have virtual meetings from the house or whatever, and you're only in the building for like an hour and a half and that's just for practice. You know, you live and are you and you gotta get all? Are you allowed to shower? And you know, not not asking too much to your mind, but it's just more operational just because wow,

they're time. So you you time, you gotta time shower man, Yes you like so how example how yes you go like you gotta you gotta, you gotta take you gotta you gotta be quick with it because you gotta. We was one of those teams that was on protocol because you know, we had a guy like every week catching it catching COVID. So um they give you like only um a certain amount of guys can be in the

locker room or whatever. Only ten guys can live, you know like that, So like you had to be like out to be probably I think by what we will get done practice it like one thirty you gotta be out the building probably like two thirty five and you got zoom even from home or whatever like that. It's it, bro, It's it's crazy, man, like crazy. From my advantage point, that doesn't sound like a blessing. That doesn't sound very like. I don't know why you would I'm being a little

bit sarcastically. Why you would be appreciative of being able to have a time shower and being able to you only can lift at this time and you you basically the old school at the butcher shop or at the DMV when your numbers called, you're allowed to be served until your number called. You can't get up. Yeah, facts, I would say appreciative in a way just about special.

I was always told my brothers in this like about this year about guys that you know that as far as like they didn't have no pro day or whatever like that, guys just coming in that was coming in from college or whatever. Like just think about how many guys did that, you know what, and if you wasn't the high name or whatever, like you really just didn't

get a shot. It was basically off a straight film like that, and like how many guys like see they cut like the guys that think they had already paid like you know, I mean I got one guy that, um, this is my boy, he signed to rest and he saw them you know, one year, five minute, you know, guaranteed, like and they just cut them, like just to cut costs, because you know, you can't have no fans, like you can't, you know what I'm saying, do this that in the third,

so like it's a lot of money the NFL was losing. So just to be on a roster doing this time

like it's just like it's a blessing in itself. And then with all the changes because you know, like we go back to that that business part, especially when they ain't got no fans and you know this that in the third and all that, like you know, you gotta cut coughs somewhere, you know what I'm saying, Let's roll up our slaves and and and really get a little bit deeper into you know, into Chris Smith September eleven. We all know that was a horrible day for Americans.

For you, this is also a harder day. Take us through that day as all that stuff is going on in New York. You're at that time going about your day. But obviously that night ends in a way that no one seemed coming. Mm hmm. Um. Basically that's that's one of like being I mean, that's the hardest day of my life. Um. But I always tell people you gotta like cherish and live life each and every day because

you don't know when that should last. Um. I was, you know, with my girlfriend Beard at the time, and we actually was hit at the dinner. Um and you know, because she had just had you know, our baby girl Haven. So you know how women is. You know, I want to take our shore, you know, a good time. We're

actually going to play the Jets on Monday night. So I took her out to eat or whatever like that and and everything, and we went to like a hook cooking lounge or whatever because she loved hood cause and stuff like that. And as we're driving, um, I hit something in the road. We do a three sixty spin. We hit the you know, the side of the highway. And that the most craziest thing about this story is like you think that's the miracle because we got out

without a scratch. My car was totaled everything, I mean, got out without a scratch. You think that's the miracle. And this happened where this was in Cleveland. And you know she they they they she stands on the side where the people tell you to stand. And I was I went in the car and was looking for my phone or whatever, because I told her to call my brother, to call my teammate. This is one of my good friends,

I'm Christian Kirksey to come pick us up. And Christian Christian was on his way and I was trying to find my phone or whatever, but she had hers. And when I'm in the car from my phone, I just just just this big bang. It happened so fast from the impact, I thought it was in front of it, in front of me, but it was really behind me.

So I'm looking forward everywhere everything. And I actually walked down like thirty yards from the car and I see her shoot and like as soon as like that I've seen that, Like my adrenaline started running, and I went thirty more yards and like I walked up on her body and she was like when I walked up on I knew it, like it was gonna be Amra Cody for her to come back alive and everything like so it was just that was that was this the day that like really put life in perspective, just to like,

you know what I'm saying, live, you know, every to the fund because you don't know when it should last, you know. I tell people like I'm black man, adrenaline is really a drug, because like my adrenal was running so so fast. It like then when it happened or whatever, and they pronounced her dead, like I didn't even like cry nothing like. It was just like I was just like, okay, like somebody waked me up from this dream. You know what I'm saying. It was it was it was crazy.

It was crazy, you know. But the one thing about it is like that then I tell people all the time, it's just like, you know, God don't make no mistakes or nothing like that. But then you gotta really, you know, cherish your loved ones and and things that nature, because like you don't know when it's your last man, you know. And that was just something that just just crazy how it happened. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy,

what I went through on September, you know. So, But that's one thing about it that people always, you know, they love hate this about I mean, I always, you know what I'm saying, in a negative situation, always he a positive. I got a beautiful daughter, you know, she's um. She turned one and August and stuff like that, and I'm just just thank God, but she wasn't in the corner was both of them. So at least I still have a piece of Patar, you know what I'm saying.

So the one thing about it and and everything like that, but yeah, man, that was a crazy day man for me. Man, But it's one thing about it. That's the mode that going through that helped me obviously in life, but even on the field, to man, and just that's the most top adversity you can ever go through, you know, with anything. Truly, I know the meaning of that saying they always say, we don't kill you, make you stronger, you know, because

it don't get easier, but you just get stronger. And that's you know, that's how I was able to get through and still get through to this day. Because she's never gonna be forgotten, man, never gonna be forgotten. So Christ, how will you explain this to your children? That's that's gonna be the second hardest part. Um My, UM My daughter was seven, um and my son was four. But um when haveing, you know, And what's the crazy thing

about it? But haven even though Patar passed away when she was three weeks three weeks oh or whatever, three weeks and you can show the pictures of now my mom, and she still knows her mom, like she still knows that's her mom, even at that young age three weeks, she still knows her mom. So I always tell people, don't getting through it, you know, and I'm moving past and everything, but that's gonna be the next hardest step when Haven comes to me and be like, Daddy, how

did mama pass away? Or Daddy she goes to school and be like, well why this someone so had their mom? Those are going to be the hard conversations and stuff like that. But you know, we're gonna talk and you know, get through it, man, and and everything. And I have to let her know that she has her aunt, she has my sister, you know, my mom and dad. You know bitars mom and dad and stuff like that. So I just gotta let you know, just let her know that.

But it's that's that's gonna be the next toughest part, you know what I'm saying like that. So in our last segment, it's called the Deep Three. They're just a series of three questions that just allowed us to take the conversation to a deeper level. So Smithie go ahead and give him the first of the Deep three what's the most important thing you've learned in your life and what was your life like before you learned those lessons?

M hmm. I think the most important thing I learned in my life is just basically how to take advantage of the position I'm in. Oh, And I think the main thing is, you know, before that, you know, especially you know, being and the football and stuff like that. But but before that, not knowing how blessed I am and actually seeing that I'm really blessed. Um, I think that would be the main thing about that. Uh, as far as knowing now and then prior to then, what

are you most grateful for? My kids? Man? My kids man, they they they I remember I put up a caption they always ask God to make some better means. Man. My kids, man, they keep me driving, to keep me going. Um, you know, they've they're growing up and seeing their personalities and stuff like that. And I'm just grateful for my kids. I wouldn't be where I'm at the day without my kids. Man. How have the lessons of football being applied in your

everyday life? Mm hmm, Man, these questions are good man. That because we actually that, because we actually do research. I don't want to know what is it like to tackle? Just like the tackle we care to check home care big ass falling on passion. You're posting, you're right, You're right, I would say this man, And that's a good question

because with football, UM, I don't know if y'all know. UM, I know trainer Dre told you Steve Um, I'm starting to restaurant um all lounge and uh actually just we're doing a business and having you know, with football, teaches me what that is. And it really doesn't help me as far as this year and everything become a better business man. Is they basically knowing there's gonna be ups and downs, um, and just knowing how to keep you composure and keep moving forward. You know, I um with

my restaurant lounge cloud like I always are. I wanted to happen so fast, but I know it's just a process. Is it's gonna happen, But I know it's a process with getting through you know this that in the third or whatever, And that's the same thing with football, Like it was a process or whatever. This got me ready for the greater purpose, um, and which I'm blessed to going to my a vier in the league. And stuff like that. But there's a certain process I had to

go through. So that helps me in every day like as far as not even with my business, but just in everyday life. As it is, like I go back to my saying, I know I sound like a broken record. You can never get to how high I never get too long your loads. You know, you gotta win each day.

And that's the same thing in football about winning each day. Heck, I always tell people you get paid to practice, and you know that Wednesday practice hard, like you know, Steed that Thursday the past day, Friday reads on Saturday walked through to do the cleaning policies, and then you go out there and play on Sunday, you know. So you know this just winning each day and you do that

every day in life, you know, and everything. So that would kind of answer that question about how football my lessons of football show to teach me my lessons in life. I appreciate you coming on, man, it's it's been outstanding. Congratulations on your restaurant and your hookah bar. And I I've learned this and you can keep it if you want, you can discard it, man, But I I read this

a couple of weeks on. I've been I've been really holding on this and knowing what you've been through and how much, um, and knowing you've been raising a church, and also knowing how much life has tattered you a little bit. You got a little bit of you know, you don't have that duck's back. You got some welps and and and a little bit weather refinery every refinery. And so when I say this, and I will read

this to you, tell me what comes to mind. So here it goes you Ready, there's something that I believe in and I and I'm going into into one and moving forward with And it goes like this, I am unique. There is only one person like me. I am worthwhile, competent and lovable. Mhm. It's powerful walk um. I would just say when first thing comes to mind to me, it's just shoo. Just loving yourself and believing in yourself, man, and investing in yourself, and they'll take you a long way.

Spen Staff, you know, situation. I went through a year though, like that's that's the main thing. You know, we're starting the beginning of the year. And yet this is a man who has you know, according to everyone, according to Lorenzo O'Neil. We get you know, we have we get to. We have experienced in in the NFL any sports to get paid a king's ransom to play a child's game. And with COVID going on in Central workers people losing their jobs left and right, awaiting on the government to

give stimulus checks out just to keep people afloat. And these these men and women are playing sports because that is there way of income. Whether you like the amount so not, that's their way of income. And there are people you heard Chris saying that he hasn't been allowed to see his kids, not because he's a dead beat, not because he's a degenerate or h ohs a debt to society is because protocol is not allowing him to see his children, and that's a major part of his life.

I for one, I knew that there was a lot of protocol around, not just NFL, but NBA, and it's it's it's gotten tightened across all these different leads. For me, it just begs the question, why are we doing this in the first place. I hear what you're saying, that's that's how there's how they're making their their their living.

But it's also um Man at that point in time, that would have to be tough to to play through that, even from from your advantage point being a former NFL player retired, now, could you put yourself in those shoes right now? It's I answer every time. It depends on the way my bank account of sat because that financial freedom gives you the ability to say, I don't want to deal with this. But if you don't have any other source of income, or your source and income just

started this year, all you have is this. You got mortgage payments, you got insurance bills, you you have that cell phone, like all of that stuff, and so you know not to get in his in in his pocket. But it's just one of those things. He's also at that pivotal point where he doesn't know how much longer the NFL will allow him to still keep playing. But even you didn't see some of the high or earning players, they haven't opted out, so they're still playing for some

sort of reasons. What would be what would be the balling point, what would be the frustration? Well, some guys are playing because the love of the game, the routine of being an athlete, and then sometimes and I've had it in retirement. What do I do if I don't do my job that I've been doing since I was It wasn't a job when I was a kid, but it's a job now and it's part of my life. Like when I when I quit playing football, I literally had a morning period where I missed football, like I

missed that first love. He's like, I'm not gonna be able to do it anymore. So it is not just a means to an end or a way to make income. It is something that is a part of you. And if you played it like I started playing football, this flag attack on the third grade, the third grade, it's a huge part of your life. Man, it's it's it affects you and you don't really what as they say, you don't realize how much you miss something until it's

not available for you. That's why. So you've been sharing with our listeners an excerpt from one of your readings. It's not a meditation in a Catholic or or Buddhist, it's a it's a meditation. It's a men's meditation based on I try to start my day every day reading God's word and it's and it's focused on is based on God's word, but also based on a quote or excerpt a scripture and then also just words of encouragement.

And it's focused on men and and I think a lot of a lot of men that I know question their value. Question are they worthwhile? Are they more than just making checks to bring home, you know, making expect it more than just bringing home to baking? Like, what is what is my worth? What is my value outside of monetary? Outside of materialistic? What do I bring to the table that says I'm good enough, bare bones as who I am? And so I I really love books

that really focuses on it makes me think. And if I'm not thinking, then I just kind of feel like I'm just well, you know, I'm just kind of I'm just skipping through life, right, just walking down the street with no direction. And so that that's why it's it's it's something that really, Um, I was always had a plan for football. Um, now I have a plan for my life outside of football. How do I impact? And really for me is um being able to leave an

imprint on the world. And really that's that's my goal. And I don't know what that imprint is, but I'm learning following that imprint. Right now, I feel like just me being honest and transparent. Yeah, and and not not acting like I have all answers, but really just saying, hey, maybe in a room of ten, I'm the only jacked up person and I'm okay with that. But then I think, what's gonna what you're gonna find out is you're in the room of ten and then all ten hands can

go up because everyone's feeling the same thing. But at some point in time, but I'm confident enough to say I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm willing to be this but I want to let you

know I got problem as we all do. Man. Hey, you you were one day at a time, one step at a time, and if that's something with and with anyone, you have to find something that you can hold on to, whether it's something that you that you're that you're reading, whether it's something uh music that you hear inspirationally, whether it's whatever the case. Maybe everyone has had something they hold on too, So man, it's kudos to you for finding what that is and um just being willing to

improve every single day. Appreciately cool. You are a unique person. You are well worth it, you are competent and most of all your lovable. I'm Steve Smith, singer, I'm Gerard Little John and this is cut to It. Cut to It with Steve Smith Senior. That Is Me is a production of Cut to It LLC, Baltol Creative Media, The Black Effect and I Heart Radio. For more podcast from Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio, Apple Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows from Cut

to It. Executive producer Steve Smith, singr co host Gerard Little John, talent in booking manager Joe Fusci, Social media team Wesley Robinson and John Show from Balto Creative Media. Cut to It is produced by Brian Balta Chevic and Meredith Carter, with production assistance by Alex Lebrec. Production manager Sarah Pollock. Theme music by Alex Johnson, lyrics and vocals by Anthony Hamilton. If you ain't heard about it, then we're about to let you know. It's all