No. 34 | |
Date of birth | November 4, 1946 |
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Place of birth | Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S. |
Career information | |
Position(s) | Defensive back |
US college | Oregon |
NFL draft | 1968 / round: 1 / pick: 12 |
Career history | |
As player | |
1968 | Washington Redskins |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Career stats | |
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James McCoy Smith (born November 4, 1946) is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins. He played high school football at Kearny High School (San Diego, California), and college football at the University of Oregon. He was nicknamed "Yazoo" because he was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi. He was an All-American his senior year (1967), and was drafted in the first round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft. He was the first defensive back taken in the draft, and the twelfth player overall.
He played all 14 games during his rookie season, but his career ended after one year because of a severe neck injury. [1]
After his career was cut short, Smith sued the NFL and the Redskins in federal court on the grounds that the draft was a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. He argued that he would have gotten a better deal if he could have negotiated with all teams instead of just one. He also sued for personal injuries.
Smith was awarded treble damages in the amount of $276,600. The Redskins paid him $50,000 for his first season, and an additional $19,800 for an option year on his rookie contract, for a total of $69,800. However, the district court found that he should have gotten a 3-year contract worth $162,200, like his free-agent veteran teammate Pat Fischer, who was also a defensive back. Smith's lawsuit was successful both at the federal district court level and appellate level and was eventually settled in 1979. In the meantime, the NFL agreed with the NFL Players Association to restructure the draft so it would no longer violate the antitrust laws. [2] [3]
Bruce Bernard Smith is an American former professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 19 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills. He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies, where he was a twice All-American, and was selected with the first overall pick by the Bills in the 1985 NFL draft.
Daniel Raymon Wilkinson, nicknamed "Big Daddy", is an American former football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he received consensus All-American honors, and was selected first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1994 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins.
George Washington Rogers Jr. is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons from 1981 to 1987. He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, earned All-American honors, and won the 1980 Heisman Trophy. He was the first overall pick in the 1981 NFL draft, and he played for the New Orleans Saints and the Washington Redskins.
LeCharles Vernon Bentley is an American former professional football player who was a guard and center in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, earned consensus All-American honors, and winning the Rimington Trophy. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft, where he played his entire career. Bentley was a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Saints.
Shawn Springs is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, earning All-American honors. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks third overall in the 1997 NFL draft, and played for the Seahawks, Washington Redskins and New England Patriots, and was a Pro Bowl selection in 1998.
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Sean Gilbert is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for Livingstone College, a position he has held since 2020. Gilbert played professionally as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the third overall pick of the 1992 NFL draft. He played college football at University of Pittsburgh.
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Terrance O'Neil Knighton is an American football coach and former defensive tackle. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft after playing college football for the Temple Owls. Knighton was nicknamed "Pot Roast" and "Mutton Chop" by his teammates. He also played for the Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins and spent time with the New England Patriots prior to the 2016 NFL season.
Patrick Ryan Kerrigan is an American professional football coach and former player who is the assistant linebackers and pass rush specialist coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers, earning unanimous All-American honors as a senior before being selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.
Aldon Jacarus Smith is an American former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Tigers, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Smith was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection as an outside linebacker with the 49ers in 2012. He also played defensive end for the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.
Jarvis Jenkins is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. He played college football at Clemson University.
Fletcher Cox is an American former football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, and was selected by the Eagles in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. During his career, Cox won one Super Bowl, was selected to the Pro Bowl six times, and was named an All-Pro four times.
Sheldon Adam Richardson is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Tigers, and was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. Richardson has also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings twice.
Paul James Krause is an American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins. Gifted with a great frame, speed and range, Krause established himself as a defensive force against opposing wide receivers. He led the league with 12 interceptions as a rookie before going on to set the NFL career interceptions record with 81 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Krause was selected eight times to the Pro Bowl during his 16 seasons in the NFL and is considered to be among the greatest safeties in NFL history.
Bashaud Breeland is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at Clemson, and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He also played for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Kansas City Chiefs, having won Super Bowl LIV with the latter.
Preston Demarquis Smith is an American professional football defensive end for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Mississippi State and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft.
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Tevita Tuliʻakiʻono Tuipulotu Mosese Vaʻhae Fehoko Faletau Vea, otherwise known as Vita Vea, is an American professional football nose tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies and was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Vea won Super Bowl LV with the team over the Kansas City Chiefs, and was selected to the Pro Bowl the following year.