ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609170007
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.
SOURCE: Associated Press
THE EIGHT-TIME Pro Bowl defensive end from Virginia Tech has five sacks and 22 tackles in two games - but no new contract.
The way Bruce Smith played in his first two games this season, you would think opposing quarterbacks were members of the Buffalo Bills' front office.
Smith has jumped to the fastest start in his 12-year NFL career with five sacks and 22 tackles in the first two games. He was the Bills' best player in victories over the New York Giants and New England.
``I guess right now I'm the best bargain player in the league,'' said Smith, the 19th highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.
Smith could have 20 sacks already - or none - and it wouldn't have any effect on his wishes for a new contract. He has two years remaining on his current deal, which pays him $2.2 million this year and next.
Smith has been terrific yet frustrated, virtually unstoppable yet subdued. The eight-time Pro Bowl defensive end from Virginia Tech has stopped complaining, at least for now, and has channeled his anger onto the field - as quarterbacks Dave Brown of New York and Drew Bledsoe of New England know.
``I'm still not happy about it,'' Smith said. ``But I'm not going to walk around here every day with my head stuck up my butt because the front office isn't doing the right thing. I'm not going to do that. I'm going to play football.''
The Bills won two games largely because Smith was practically uncontrollable. He was named the team's player of the game after taking over against the Giants. He forced Brown's fumble in overtime that led to Steve Christie's game-winning field goal.
He would have earned the same honor after registering three sacks against the Patriots and old nemesis Bruce Armstrong, who limited Smith to eight sacks in 14 previous matchups, but Buffalo does not award the honor to the same player in successive weeks. Instead, it was given to linebacker Bryce Paup.
Smith, who had the flu and missed Buffalo's playoff loss to Pittsburgh last season, will have another crack at the Steelers this week.
``I hope they give [a new contract] to him soon, so he can get off this mission he's on,'' Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. ``To say whether we noticed him is an understatement. He's very noticeable on video. There's no question he's playing well. He's a dominant guy.''
Smith, who was recovering from off-season knee surgery, participated in few practices during training camp and played no preseason games. He threatened to skip Buffalo's first game because of the contract before taking the advice of his agent and several teammates.
The Bills are happy Smith didn't walk.
Smith's key sack of Bledsoe late in the four quarter gave him 1311/2 in his career, leaving him one shy of surpassing former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor for second place behind Green Bay's Reggie White on the all-time list.
``Who cares what motivates him as long as he keeps it going?'' defensive lineman Jim Jeffcoat said. ``He's off to a tremendous start. You have to admire a guy that can not have training camp and come out and play like he is. He's the same Bruce. He's proven to everybody here that he's the best defensive lineman in the league.''
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Bruce Smith celebrates his sack of New Englandby CNBPatriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe during the fourth quarter of their
Sept. 8 game at Buffalo's Rich Stadium. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL