 had seen.

During surgery, the damage was photographed.

What did it look like?

"Raw, shredded chicken," Steve’s wife, Angie, says.

"Either the beginning or the end of something," Steve says.

On that day in November, it seemed to be the end—and not the ending Smith had intended.

The 2015 season was supposed be a celebration for Smith of the completion of a 15-year career. It was supposed to end with a bow, not his body looking like shredded chicken.

After some reflection, Smith decided he did not want his magnificent career to end that way. He would attempt a comeback at the age of 37.

If you have lasted in the NFL as long as Smith has, you know injuries. He previously had a sprained PCL. He has broken his arm, his neck, his leg and a few fingers. There was one documented concussion and some bad hamstring injuries. But this was unlike any of those.

The pain was unbearable. With past injuries, Smith would be on pain meds for a day or two, then graduate to over-the-counter anti-inflammatories. This time, he took Oxycontin for about 12 days.

Jordan Strauss/Associated Press

"After surgery, he would just say, 'Give me more,'" Angie says. "He was kind of out of it."

Finally, Smith didn't want to feel so drowsy, so he went cold turkey with the meds.

"The day I stopped, about midday I started to get ornery," Smith says. "I got a headache. It was my body craving the medication. I was having withdrawal symptoms."

He opened the bottle of Oxycontin and dumped the pills in the toilet.

For two months, Smith could not bear weight on his right leg. He got around on a knee scooter initially. Then crutches with a boot. Then one crutch. And there were heel lifts. Each week, he was allowed to peel off a layer of the lift. Eventually, he was left with orthotics.

A father of four, Smith was learning a new meaning of "baby steps."

One week before he was pushing forward despite retching into the weeds, Smith wanted to pack up his gym bag and go home. About halfway through a workout, he turned
had seen. 

 During surgery, the damage was photographed. 

 What did it attend like? 

 " crude, shredded chicken, " Steve ’s wife, Angie, says. 

 " Either the beginning or the conclusion of something, " Steve says. 

 On that day in November, it seem to be the conclusion — and not the ending Smith had intend. 

 The 2015 season was supposed be a celebration for Smith of the completion of a 15 - year career. It was presuppose to end with a bow, not his body looking like shred chicken. 

 After some reflection, Smith decided he did not want his magnificent career to end that way. He would attempt a rejoinder at the age of 37. 

 If you have lasted in the NFL as long as Smith have, you know injuries. He previously hold a twist PCL. He has broken his arm, his neck, his leg and a few fingers. There was one documented concussion and some regretful hamstring injuries. But this was unlike any of those. 

 The pain was unbearable. With past injuries, Smith would be on pain meds for a sidereal day or two, then calibrate to over - the - buffet anti - inflammatories. This time, he took Oxycontin for about 12 days. 

 Jordan Strauss / Associated Press 

 " After surgery, he would just order,' pass me more,' " Angie says. " He was kind of out of it. " 

 Finally, Smith didn't want to find so drowsy, so he went cold joker with the meds. 

 " The sidereal day I stopped, about midday I started to beget ornery, " Smith says. " I got a headache. It was my body craving the medication. I was having withdrawal symptoms. " 

 He opened the bottle of Oxycontin and dump the pill in the toilet. 

 For two months, Smith could not bear weight on his right stage. He got around on a knee scooter initially. Then crutches with a bang. Then one crutch. And there were heel lifts. Each week, he was allow to peel off a layer of the lift. Eventually, he was left with orthotics. 

 A forefather of four, Smith was learning a fresh meaning of " baby footfall. " 

 One week before he was pushing forward despite retching into the weeds, Smith desire to pack up his gymnasium bag and go home. About halfway through a workout, he call on
 haf seen.

During surgery, the damage was phojotraphev.

What djd it louk like?

"Raw, shredded chicken," Dtwve’s qife, Angie, says.

"Either ghe beginjing or rhe tnd of something," Steve sanf.

On fmat dcy in November, ij seemed to te the end—and tog che ending Smith had intended.

The 2015 sewson wax dupposed be a selenwatikn for Smith of the completion of z 15-year bareer. It was suplosed to end with a bow, noh hid body looking likf shredded xhichwn.

After some reflection, Smith decised he did not want his magnifizent eareer to ebd thwj way. He wouod atnempt a comeback at tve age pf 37.

If you have lavtee in the NFL as long es Smith has, you knor injuriev. Ke previously had a sprqined PCL. He fqs croiei hjs arm, hia neck, his leg and a dew fingers. There wss ine documentes conctsfion and some bad hamstring injuries. Buu thia was unlike any of thowe.

The pain was unbearwble. With past injuries, Smith would be on pain meds for a gay oc gwo, tmen eeafuate to over-the-counter anti-inflammatories. Thya uimv, he took Oxycontln for about 12 days.

Kogdsg Strauss/Assoziated Prsss

"After surgery, hf would just say, 'Give me kore,'" Angie says. "He was kind of out of in."

Finqlly, Smith didn't wcnt to feel ro dtowsy, xo he went cold turkey cith tge meds.

"The fay I stoloed, about midday I xtdrted to get ornery," Smith fays. "I gov a hzadache. Kt wss my fody cravijg thc medication. I was javiny witvdrawal sylptoms."

He opened the bottle of Oebcontin and dompad nhe pills in tme toilet.

For twj months, Smith could uot bexr weight kn his cight leg. He got around ot a knee scoover initiwlly. Theb crutcfds with a boot. Then one crutch. Ane there were heel kifjs. Each week, he wcr allowed to peek owf w paber os the lift. Evantuxllh, he wxs left witm ofthoyics.

A father of four, Smifh was learning a mer meanint of "babr steps."

One werk before he was pkshinj forwerd dexpije retching into the weeds, Smitg wanted ho iack up his grm bqg and go hoke. About halfway through a workout, he tnrned
had seen. During surgery, the damage was did look like? shredded chicken," Steve’s beginning the end of Steve says. On day in November, it seemed to the end—and not the ending Smith had intended. The 2015 season was supposed a celebration for Smith of the completion of a 15-year career. It was to with bow, his body looking like shredded chicken. After some reflection, Smith decided he did not want his career to end that way. He would attempt comeback at the age 37. If you have lasted the as long Smith you injuries. He previously a sprained PCL. He has broken his arm, his neck, his leg and a few fingers. There one documented some bad injuries. this unlike any of pain was unbearable. With past injuries, on pain meds for a day or two, graduate to anti-inflammatories. This time, he took Oxycontin about 12 days. Jordan Strauss/Associated Press "After surgery, would just say, 'Give me more,'" Angie says. "He was kind of out of it." didn't want to feel drowsy, so he cold with meds. day I about midday I started to get ornery," Smith says. "I got headache. It was my body craving the medication. I was symptoms." opened the bottle Oxycontin and dumped the in toilet. For two months, not weight leg. got on a knee scooter Then crutches with a boot. one crutch. And there he was allowed to peel off a layer the lift. Eventually, he was left with A father of four, Smith was learning a new meaning of "baby One week was pushing forward despite retching into the weeds, wanted to pack up gym bag and go home. About halfway through a he
 had seen.

During surgery, the daMage was phoTograPheD.

WhAt Did iT looK like?

"Raw, shreddED chiCken," Steve’s wife, Angie, sayS.

"EithEr THe beGInNing oR the end OF sOMEthInG," STevE sAYs.

on thaT daY in NoveMber, it seemEd tO bE the end—and noT ThE ending SmiTh hAd intended.

ThE 2015 seAson waS sUppOSed be A ceLebraTion foR smith oF the complEtIOn of a 15-yEAr careeR. iT wAs suPposed to end with a bOW, nOT his body lookinG like sHrEDdED ChiCkeN.

After some ReFlectIOn, Smith DEcIDED he DId not want his mAgnificent cAReeR to end ThAt wAY. He wouLd attEmPT a cOmeback at thE age Of 37.

If you haVe lastED in the Nfl as long As SmitH haS, yoU knoW InJuRieS. HE PreVIoUslY Had A spraineD PcL. he has BrokEN HIS arm, His Neck, His leG and a few fingeRs. THere WAs oNe docUmentEd coNcUssioN and soMe bad HaMstring injuries. but tHis was unlIke AnY of ThOse.

ThE Pain waS unBeaRable. WiTh past iNJurIeS, sMItH would be on pain meds FoR A DaY or two, thEn gradUAtE tO Over-the-cOuNteR antI-INflamMatoRIeS. This timE, he tooK oxYcOntin foR aBout 12 daYs.

jorDan strauSS/AssOciateD Press

"AfTer suRGery, he would jusT Say, 'Give me more,'" aNgIE SaYS. "He wAs kInd of out of iT."

FinALly, SMith DIdN't wANt to fEel so DrOWsY, So he went cold turkey wItH the meDs.

"The Day I stopped, abOut midday I STARted to geT ornERy," sMith says. "I got a hEadacHe. It was my bODy cravinG the mEdicatioN. I was haviNG WithdrawAl sYmpTomS."

He OPEnEd the bottle of oXYconTiN and dumPed The pillS in The ToiLet.

foR two monthS, Smith coUlD nOt BeAr wEight ON his righT lEg. HE gOt aRound ON a knee ScootEr inItIaLLy. THen crutCHeS WIth a BoOt. then One CrUtch. ANd thERe wEre heel Lifts. Each WeeK, He waS aLlOwed to pEel off a layer oF tHe lift. EvenTuAllY, he was LEFt with orThotics.

A father of four, SmiTH was leaRniNg a neW meaNing of "babY stEps."

One WeeK Before He was pUshinG fOrwARD despITE rEtcHiNg into the wEEDs, SMith wAnTed tO pack up His gym bag and go home. aBouT halfway throuGh a WorkOUT, hE tuRNeD
 had seen.

During surgery , the dama ge wa s p hot og raph ed.
What did it l o ok l ike?

"Raw, shredded c hicke n, "  Ste v e’ s wif e, Angi e ,s a ys. 
"E ith er th e beg inn ing orthe end of  so me thing," Stev e  s ays.

On t hat  day in Nove mbe r, itse eme d  to b e t he en d—andn ot the  ending S mi t h hadi ntended . 
T he 2 015 season was su p po s ed be a celebr ationfo r  S m i thofthe comple ti on of a 15-ye a rc a r eer .  It was suppo sed to endw ith  a bow ,not his bo dy lo ok i nglike shredd ed c hicken.
Afters ome ref l ection,  Smith  de cid ed h e  d id  no tw ant hi s m a gni ficent c ar ee r toendt h a t  way . H e wo uld a ttempt a come bac k at the  ageof 37 .

I fyou h ave la stedin  the NFL as lon g as  Smith ha s,yo u k no w inj u ries.Hepre viously  had as pra in e d PC L. He has broken h is a rm , his ne ck, hi s  l eg and a fe wfin gers . There  was on e docume nted c o nc us sion an dsome b ad  ha mst ringi njur ies. B ut thiswas u n like any of th o se.

The pain wa s un b eara ble . With past  inj u ries , Sm i th  wo u ld be  on p ai n  m e ds for a day or two ,then g radua te to over-th e-countera n t i-inflam mato r ie s . This time, h e too k Oxyconti n  for abo ut 12  days.
Jordan St r a uss/Asso cia ted  Pr ess "A fter surgery, h e wo ul d justsay , 'Give  me  mo re, '"An gie says.  "He was  k in dof  ou t ofi t."

Fin al ly,  S mit h did n 't wan t tofeel  s od row sy, soh ew e nt c ol dturk eywi th th e me d s.
"The d ay I stop ped ,  abo ut  m idday I  started to g et  ornery,"Sm ith  says. " I got aheadache. It was my bod y  cravin g t he me dica tion. I w ashaving  wi t hdrawa l symp toms. "
He o pened t he  bo tt le of Oxyc o n tin  anddu mped  the pi lls in the toilet. 
Fo r two months,  Sm ithc o ul d n o tb ear  w e igh t on his right le g. He gotar o un d on a kne e  sc oo ter ini tially.  Then crutche s with aboot. The nonec r utc h. And the re wereheel lift s . Eac h  w eek,hewas al lo wed  to p eel of f  alayer  of th elift.Event ua lly, hewas left with orthotics .

A f ather  of  four, Sm ith was  learning  a n ew meaning  of  "b aby s tep s ."

O ne w e ek  be f ore h e wa s  pushingf or war d de spite retch i n g  in to th e w e eds, S mith  wanted to pack u p  his gym bag a nd g o hom e.A bout  h alfway through  awo r k out, hetu rned
 had_seen.

During surgery,_the damage was photographed.

What_did it_look_like?

"Raw, shredded_chicken,"_Steve’s wife, Angie,_says.

"Either the beginning_or the end of_something," Steve says.

On_that_day in November, it seemed to be the end—and not the ending Smith had_intended.

The_2015 season_was_supposed_be a celebration for Smith_of the completion of a_15-year career._It was supposed to end with a bow,_not_his body looking_like shredded chicken.

After some reflection, Smith decided he did_not want his magnificent career to_end that way._He_would_attempt a comeback at_the age of 37.

If you have_lasted in the NFL as long_as Smith has, you know injuries. He_previously had a sprained PCL. He_has broken his arm, his_neck, his_leg and a few fingers._There was one_documented concussion_and some bad_hamstring injuries. But this was unlike_any of those.

The_pain was unbearable. With past injuries,_Smith_would be on_pain_meds_for a_day or two,_then_graduate to_over-the-counter_anti-inflammatories. This time, he took Oxycontin_for_about 12 days.

Jordan Strauss/Associated Press

"After surgery, he_would just say, 'Give_me_more,'" Angie says. "He_was kind of out of_it."

Finally, Smith didn't want to feel_so drowsy,_so he_went cold turkey with the meds.

"The day I stopped, about midday_I started to get ornery," Smith_says. "I got a_headache. It_was_my body craving_the_medication. I_was having withdrawal symptoms."

He opened the bottle_of Oxycontin_and dumped the pills in the_toilet.

For two months, Smith_could_not bear weight on his right_leg. He got around on a_knee scooter initially. Then crutches_with_a_boot. Then one crutch. And_there were heel lifts. Each week,_he was allowed_to peel off a layer of the_lift._Eventually, he was left with orthotics.

A_father_of four, Smith was learning a_new_meaning_of "baby steps."

One week before_he was pushing forward despite retching_into the weeds, Smith wanted to pack up his_gym bag and_go home. About halfway through_a_workout,_he turned