Former Minnesota Viking running back Robert Smith reportedly lost his broadcasting gig with NFL network after
publicly admitting that he smoked marijuana while playing for the league during the discussion of a similar admission by Randy Moss. He later showed up on ESPN, covering college ball.
The well respected, well spoken Smith voluntarily skipped his sophomore year at Ohio State for academic reasons and counts among his interests astronomy, history, philosophy, chemistry, piano, the arts, computers and military science. He retired in 2004 and wrote a book.
Smith, who finished second in the NFL in rushing in 2000, twice averaged better than five yards per carry from 1997 to 2000. The Vikings have had a 1,000-yard rusher just once in the four seasons since his retirement, and Minnesota was 18th in NFL rushing offense last season with 113.9 yards per game. The team had a scandalous 2005 off the field by attending a wild boat party with lots of liquor and strippers.