On The Steelers: It's a fight to the finish for Aaron Smith
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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith takes a break between workouts during training camp at St Vincent College, Latrobe, PA.
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Most athletes will say they will know when it's their time to quit, that no one will have to tell them. Then, someone has to tell them.
Few retire voluntarily. Lynn Swann did. Joe Greene did. Jack Ham did. Not many others did. Center Mike Webster retired from the Steelers, joined the Kansas City coaching staff, then unretired and played for the Chiefs the next two seasons. Running back Willie Parker hasn't played a regular-season NFL game since 2009, but he is trying to return and is playing for the Virginia Destroyers of the UFL. Running back Tiki Barber tried to end four years of retirement this summer at age 36, but no one wanted him.
Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith adds a new dimension, saying he will not know when it is time to quit.
"No, I don't think I'll know. They'll have to tell me. My personality is I feel I can do anything. I've always felt anything is possible; you can always turn things around. I'm kind of an optimist. Maybe, it's denial to a point. It would be hard for me to admit it to myself.
"Someone would have to say, 'Hey, Aaron, you're not doing this, you're not doing that. You need to hang it up or something.' "
No one has told Smith that yet, but, if he is true to his word, someone will have to tell him. It could come this year because, at age 35, he's closing in on that day. He had two serious arm injuries that have ruined his past two seasons. He played five games in 2009 before he had to have surgery to correct a torn rotator cuff. He played six last season before he had to have surgery to repair a torn triceps.
Smith returned to practice this week after missing about 10 days and one preseason game because of swelling in his knee. He has practiced the past two days and said he feels good, but he knows he is not immune.
"The reality of this business is at some point you have an expiration date and that expiration date comes for everybody, some sooner, some later," said Smith as he enters his 13th season with the Steelers. "It is a reality in this business. I'll deal with it when it comes; until then, I don't think I've reached my expiration point."
His teammates would like to see him have a healthy, full season for a change.
"I love being on the field with him," said Brett Keisel, the team's other starting defensive end. "It's just been different. We're used to his leadership and stuff out there. That's what we're praying for this year, that he can have a good, solid 16 games."
First Published August 25, 2011 12:00 am
