ANDERSON, Ind. —
Taj Smith’s road to the end zone Sunday was much longer than the two yards he was credited for after blocking a Dallas Cowboys’ punt at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Smith, whose full first name is Tajiddin, was one of the few heroes in the Indianapolis Colts’ 38-35 overtime loss. Ironically, a week earlier he’d been doing the same thing as the fans who cheered him so lustily when his block gave the Colts brief hope.
“I was home watching games,” he told reporters, “and eating Sunday dinner.”
Home is Newark, N.J., but Smith is the type of player for whom the term journeyman might have been invented.
He was primarily a defensive star at Newark’s Weequahic High School — the alma mater of Richie Roberts, portrayed by Russell Crowe in the 2007 film “American Gangster.”
Smith recorded 91 tackles and five sacks and returned two fumbles for touchdowns during his senior season, but he landed at Bakersfield (Calif.) Community College and became one of the top receivers in the program’s history.
He set a career record with 95 catches during his two years there and left ranked second on the school’s lists in receiving yards (1,670) and touchdowns (16).
It was enough to catch the eye of Syracuse recruiters, and Smith had a solid career with the Orange, catching 56 passes for 1,049 yards and eight touchdowns.
Ever the underdog, he then went undrafted by the NFL in 2008.
The Green Bay Packers signed Smith as a college free agent, but he was let go in August.
The Colts picked him up and took him to training camp in 2008 and 2009. He spent parts of both seasons on Indianapolis’ practice squad but never reached the field in the regular season.
This summer, after another preseason run with Indy, a hamstring injury led to his release Sept. 4. Indianapolis gave him an injury settlement, and league rules barred the Colts from re-signing him before late November.
On Nov. 30, with rookie Brandon James struggling and depth at wide receiver thin, Indianapolis signed Smith to the active roster for the first time.
In preparation for the Dallas game, head coach Jim Caldwell made a prescient statement.
“He’s been a guy that is really, really familiar with what we do from a special teams standpoint,” Caldwell said, “and someone that we’ll count on.”
Smith’s big moment came early in the fourth quarter.
With Dallas leading 27-21, Cowboys punter Mat McBriar prepared to kick from deep in his own territory. Smith came unblocked around the end, got his hand on the ball, watched it bounce toward the end zone and pounced on it for a touchdown and Indianapolis’ only lead.
“Once I got clean off the block,” he said, “I just read his steps and extended my hands to block it.”
Defensive lineman Keyunta Dawson engulfed Smith in the end zone as the crowd roared.
It appeared as though he’d stolen momentum away from the Cowboys, and a comeback victory was within the Colts’ reach.
But quarterback Peyton Manning’s fourth interception set up Dallas’ game-winning overtime field goal instead.
“It’s hard because we didn’t pull out the win,” Smith said. “We fought hard and continued to play well. Unfortunately, we got the L.”
There still is nothing promised to Smith.
He’s aware if and when the Colts’ receiving corps gets healthy he could be reassigned to the practice squad or cut free altogether.
Again.
But he knows this much: If he’s asked to leave Indianapolis again, it won’t be for lack of effort.
“It’s something that I have been working at,” he said. “You can’t predict the future, but I have been doing my job 100 percent.”
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Indianapolis Colts defensive end Keyunta Dawson, left, celebrates with Taj Smith after Smith recovered a blocked punt in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 5. The Cowboys defeated the Colts 38-35 in overtime. Michael Conroy
Discussion
December 9, 2010
An incredible journey
- Local Sports
-
-
Record-fundraising effort headlines Children's Clinic Classic
The team of Fox 59 chief meteorologist Brian Wilkes, along with Dave Redlin, Tommy Niemier, Johnny Kirkwood and Steve Hart, may have taken the first-place title at the 29th annual Children’s Clinic Classic at Anderson Country Club Tuesday, but the kids helped by the clinic were the real winners this year.
-
IFCA endorses Heads Up Football
The Indiana Football Coaches Association, and its counterpart in Minnesota, officially became the first state associations to endorse USA Football's Heads Up Football for their members on Monday.
- Shifting tides roll through NCC With conference membership changing across the state of Indiana, the proud North Central Conference in for at least three years of upheaval.
-
IU, Golf Channel celebrities headline Children's Clinic Golf Classic
After the Children’s Clinic Celebrity Benefit and Pairings Party Monday evening at Anderson Country Club kicked off two days of fundraising for the St. John’s Children’s Clinic, the event’s finale will tee off Tuesday with the Children’s Clinic Golf Classic, featuring teams of five golfers, pairing locals and celebrities alike.
-
Kaiser tops Winged Sprint action
Geoff Kaiser took advantage of the inverted start to lead all 30 laps of the HOSS Winged Sprint feature at Anderson Speedway on Aerco Heating and Cooling Night on Saturday.
-
Downing prepares for bittersweet return to PH
Indiana Hall of Famer Katie Downing will return as an assistant wrestling coach at Pendleton Heights, replacing her kate friend Eric Kriebel.
- Hargraves claims second Outlaw win ANDERSON — It was an eventful 50-lap International Outlaw Figure-8 Series race for Charlie Hargraves, but in the end he recorded a close win Friday at Anderson Speedway.
- Anderson Speedway remembers Leffler Jason Leffler came through Anderson periodically in the late 1990s racing at Anderson Speedway in the United States Auto Club National Midget Series.
- IOFS Outlaw Figure 8s headline Friday's program ANDERSON -- Racing action returns to Anderson Speedway on Friday, June 14 with IOFS Outlaw Figure 8's, IOFS Front Wheel Drive Figure 8's and Front Wheel Drives Oval. The AERCO Heating & Cooling Night of the Races is set for Saturday, June 1
- Rotary honors local sportsmanship The Anderson Noon Rotary Club recently honored 42 student-athletes for demonstrating good sportsmanship. An athlete from each sport at the three IHSAA participating local high schools was recognized, and an overall winner at each school was chosen by their award winning peers.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
