Pred's Fantasy Football Forums - 4.02 Shaine Smith WR StL

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4.02 Shaine Smith WR StL

I’m taking Shaine Smith, undrafted rookie WR with the Rams. Interesting backstory. I’ve had my 4<sup>th</sup> round sights set on him since before the NFL draft.

<o></o>He didn’t get consistent high school play because his Mom moved him from NY to SD, where the family became homeless and lived in hotels or out of their Honda Civic. Dad (separated) finds out they're homeless and brings him back to NY where he gets in one solid year of high school ball. He doesn’t have the grades to go to Div I and <st1><st1>Michigan </st1><st1>State </st1></st1>wanted him), so he plays two years of community college football (do they even have community college football???). Then he goes to Hofstra, where he spends his junior year on the bench behind Colston and Devale Ellis (Lions). He finally gets to play his senior year and has a breakout year. NFL teams show interest based on his one year starting at Hofstra, but no one drafts him.

<o></o>Here’s my favorite part. The Eagles offer him an undrafted rookie contract. When you fail to get drafted, you have no leverage, you take ANYTHING you can get, right? Not this kid!:

<o></o>“’I thought <st1:city w:st="on"><st1>Philadelphia </st1></st1:city>was going to take me in the draft,’ said Smith, 23. When the Eagles' subsequent free-agent offer was less than expected, he and his agent ‘decided to try to see what else we can get on the table,’ Smith said. ‘They were trying to bring me in just for nothing. I believe that I'm worth a little bit more than nothing.’”

<o></o>That’s right, he holds out for more! I love it. He later signed with the Rams. The Rams WR corps is deep, but Linehan at least sounds high on him (of course, they sound that way on every guy): “’He has talent,’ coach Scott Linehan said after Saturday's two practices. ‘Guys like Shaine will get a lot of chances out here.’”

<o></o>Re the WRs in front of him (just a few little players named Holt, Bruce, and Bennett), Smith said: “’I don't want to come in here and say, 'I'm a rookie, I'm going to learn the ropes, so I'll just sit there behind these guys.' . . . I want to play my first year. That's my goal, and it will happen.’”

<o></o>If this guy is half as good as he thinks he is, he could turn into something! If nothing else, you gotta love the bravado :D

<o></o>Oh well, even if he does zip, at least I like the feel good story of a homeless kid making the NFL :)

<o></o>http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/B497FA6F8ECB95D8862572DA000F8636?OpenDocument

Can Hofstra WR magic strike again? Colston Part 2?