IRISH IN THE PROS
game." On Oct. 19, he was
penalized $15,750 a few days after a horse-collar tackle on fellow first-year player Robert Griffin III, the quarterback for the Washington Redskins. Smith avoided another fine in week five, when he was kicked out of a contest versus the Tennes- see Titans after he pushed a referee who was trying to break up a scrum. "As a defender in
the NFL, you're more prone to getting fined than an offensive guy," Smith said. "That's just how the game is. If you get through the season without being fined as a defender, that would be pretty impressive. "My mom doesn't like
to see my name in a nega- tive way, so she doesn't like that. To me, it's re- freshing, especially when all the talk is about [how important money is to pro athletes]. "At the end of the day,
to me, it's football. I'm just glad I get to play at this level every week." On top of his pick-six
against the Cardinals, Smith brought former Irish teammate and fel- low NFL rookie Michael
Smith returned his first career interception 31 yards for a touchdown in a 21-14 victory over Arizona Oct. 21.
PHOTO COURTESY MINNESOTA VIKINGS
