Former Steelers safety Anthony Smith has retired, Mark Kaboly reports.
↵The Steelers selected Smith out of Syracuse in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played three seasons with the Steelers, collecting 103 tackles, 81 solo, and four interceptions with Pittsburgh, before playing for the Jaguars, Rams, Packers, and then the Titans, for whom he played last season.
↵NFL.com notes that Smith will probably be best known for guaranteeing the Steelers would beat the New England Patriots in 2007, a game the Steelers ended up losing.
↵↵↵Then came that pesky, failed -- and very public -- guarantee in 2007, when Smith vowed victory over the undefeated New England Patriots before their Week 14 game in Foxborough. Tom Brady shredded Pittsburgh's defense for 399 yards and burned Smith for two of his four touchdowns in a 34-13 victory.
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Looking back at the news reports from that time, it was an unfortunate moment.
↵↵↵"He better keep his mouth shut," [James] Farrior said, though he was laughing and wasn't angry at his teammate. "Oh well, I guess we've got to go deal with that."
↵Or maybe not. Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, asked by Fox Sports Radio about the comments, answered, "Who was it?"
↵Told it was Smith, Harrison said, "Never heard of him."
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Ouch. Anyway, Smith finishes his career with 173 tackles, 142 solo, and seven interceptions.
↵For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain.