Alex Smith release ends great story in Washington
The Washington Football Team released Alex Smith on Friday, and it’s onto perhaps the final chapter of his football life.
Time waits for no man. This is true everywhere, but in the NFL, it’s practically law.
On Friday, Alex Smith continued to understand this credo. The veteran quarterback was released by the Washington Football Team. Thus, ending one of the most infamous three-year stints in league history. Out of respect for Smith — something to be understood in the graphs below — head coach Ron Rivera release this team statement, per NFL.com:
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“I had a chance to meet with Alex Smith this week and we had a very honest and real discussion. We had the chance to reflect on the 2020 season and talk about moving forward into next year. After the conclusion of that meeting we decided that it would be best for both parties to move on and we will be granting Alex his request to be released. I want to thank Alex for his contributions this past year. He made such an impact on our young roster and his leadership was one of the key factors in our late season success and in making the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Everyone here in Washington wishes Alex and his family the best going forward and appreciates all that he gave to our organization.”
Of course, he understands it well. Smith, 36, has been part of three organizations. A No. 1 overall pick in 2004 of the San Francisco 49ers, Smith was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs following the 2012 season despite playing his best football the year prior, only to be derailed by a concussion and the rise of backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
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In Kansas City, Smith found immediate and lasting success. He enjoyed five campaigns with the Chiefs and reached the playoffs four times, breaking a 23-year franchise playoff victory draught in 2015 with a 30-0 washout of the Houston Texans. Smith was a two-time Pro Bowler. Still, Kansas City selected Patrick Mahomes with the 10th-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The following year, he took over, became league MVP and has gone onto international stardom.
Smith ended up in Washington and had the team at 6-3 and leading the NFC East before shattering his leg against the Texans. This put him out the remainder of ’18 and all of 2019. His comeback in 2020 resulted in him winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. Smith is now on the street, trying to find his next and likely final destination.
If ever there was a player who deserved a fairy tale ending, it’s Smith. Then again, this is the NFL. Fairy tales are usually crushed dreams, something Smith knows so, so well.
