On Sunday, Fred Smoot was introduced to the media as the newest addition to the Washington Redskins. Always extremely popular with the fan base, Smoot’s signing consummates the return of the trash-talking prodigal son to D.C.
Perhaps the best part of the presser was when Fred was asked if he had talked to Shawn Springs and what Springs thought about Smoot coming after his job. Smoot replied that, “Somebody coming after everyone’s job… I’m sure someone’s coming after yours real soon.”
It was vintage Smoot.
Here are some highlights from the press conference:
Joe Gibbs on Fred Smoot…
“We appreciate everyone showing up… to what could be the longest press conference in history. (Laughs) Once we get Fred up here, there’s no telling what’s going to happen.”
“A lot of us make mistakes in life. ”
“It’s not often in life where you have a chance to make up for it, and I think that’s what we’re doing here.”
“He’s got a lot of people here that care a lot about him.”
“He’s a Redskin. He cares a lot about this organization.”
“This is where he belongs. He’s coming home.”
Fred Smoot on returning…
“I want to thank Dan Snyder for giving me a chance to come back home.”
“I’ve been smiling since last night.”
“I thought it was a mistake to leave.”
… on whether or not he considered any other teams:
“Not really. Plus Coach wouldn’t let me get on my plane yesterday.”
“Money wasn’t what I was chasing this time.”
“This will be my first time getting to play for the same defensive coordinator in my career.”
“There’s not always greener grass on the other side.”
… on the competition between himself, Carlos Rogers and Shawn Springs:
“I know Gregg Williams and he isn’t hesitating to put the best players out on the field. So I’m going to let that play itself out. I know he’s going to put the best two out there and most of the time it’s going to be all three of us anyway. So I’m going to let Gregg handle that.”
… on whether or not his first year here with Darrell Green and Champ Bailey influenced him to worry less about being a starter:
“Yeah because right now I’m concerned about winning. No matter where I fit in the plans, I’m going to give it a 100%. I know coach is going to put us in a position to win.”
“Whatever it takes to win, that’s what I came here to do.
… on what happened in Minnesota on the field:
I never really got comfortable for one. I’m an emotional player I love to play the game with my emotions. I never really got comfortable there, and I always felt like the step-child. So now I’m back in my mamma’s house and I’m good, I’m comfortable, and I’m ready to play football.”
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Mark Solway