Lamar Smith: In Review and Celebration

At the end of the 1999 season, 5’11”, 230-lb. tailback Lamar Smith was waived by the 3-13 New Orleans Saints, eager to clear house. Oddly, Smith was Ricky Williams’ backup that season, and in 2002, would be released by Miami in favor of him, as well.

Smith started two games in ’99 and averaged almost three and a half yards per carry, a stat good enough to land him on another team. That team, thankfully for them and their fans, was the Miami Dolphins.

Smith, with a chronic chip on his shoulder from a rookie season disaster resonating to his present life, would easily out-duel J.J. Johnson and Thurman Thomas for the starting job in 2000, and highlight a team that was supposed to be in a transition period.

As Jimmy Johnson gave way to Dave Wannstedt, and Dan Marino to Jay Fiedler, the popular conception was that the new Millennium would usher in a rebuilding era for a team fresh off a Divisional Round playoff berth.

Not only would Miami facsimile that playoff stature thanks to Smith’s punishing rushing attack and team orchestrated smash mouth defense, but they even won two more regular season games than the predecessor.

Before 2008, the last two Miami playoff teams were anchored by Lamar Smith at running back. 

The playoff victory in 2000, the team’s latest, saw the rusher set the NFL record for carries in a game (40), while his 227 yards from scrimmage out-gained Peyton Manning’s arm by over 30 yards.

Lamar Smith’s dash down the opponent’s strong side after effectively stutter-stepping the linebackers to the outside, with a hardcore stampede of tired and timid Jason Belser at the goal line, hence icing the game, remains a mainstay in my memory as I would expect all fellow Dolphin fans to admit, as well.

Smith was a hero in southern Florida that December 30, and though he’d be released by the team after 2001’s first round embarrassment against Baltimore, role players that well embraced for their drive and field charisma are worthy of a little memoriam every now and then.  So, without further adieu, here’s one for #26…

Lamar H. Smith was born in Fort Wayne, IN on November 29, 1970. He played his high school ball there, and eventually made way to the University of Houston where he suited up for Kim Helton in his second of two seasons (senior year; he was a transfer).

Though the Cougars struggled while Smith was there, Helton was a formidable offensive mind who had been the offensive lines coach for three NFL teams before taking the Houston job. He and his playbook proved a suitable mentor for a budding running back.

Smith was more impressive at the combine before the 1994 draft than his brief two-year stint with the struggling Cougars could ever denote. 

The Seattle Seahawks drafted him in the third round as the tenth running back and seventy-third pick overall, to effectively backup Pro Bowler, but oft-injured, Chris Warren.

The team wanted a heavy-headed tailback for single back situations in order of spelling Warren who had to miss two games the previous year.

The path for Lamar Smith was all but paved in gold until disaster struck, taking shape of that symbolic chip I referenced earlier.

Driving drunk one night in December of that rookie season, Smith drove his automobile into a pole, ending the career of a teammate.

He had to think about the ramifications throughout the entire following season, as his trial didn’t conclude until February 1996. 

Smith ended up serving a work-release program, which allowed him to keep his job. Also, by court order, he donated a large percentage of his future game checks to the wounded compatriot.

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