While Buffalo Bills wide receiver Brad Smith prepares for training camp, he is also preparing for a one-day camp run by his True Foundation, which gives kids an opportunity to meet successful professionals in all walks of life and figure out their own paths.
"We have life skills classes, professionals in every field," Smith said. "We've got executives from Boston Scientific, and Amway. We've brought in lawyers, Zumba instructors, everything."
Smith is also running a one-day camp at Youngstown State University, in which kids will get full instruction in the proper way to play the game of football. "Of course safety is the number one thing," Smith said. "It's not about the meeting professional NFL athletes thing. It's about fundamentals, learning how to tackle and be aggressive properly and protecting yourself properly from injury." He also was sure to note that kids walk away from his camp with a full understanding of how to respect the game of football and the people they play against.
Smith was also busy this offseason interning with Men's Health Magazine for a week, shadowing editors and getting an insider's look at the inner workings of style departments, how the magazine gets laid out, and how to deal with sponsors.
Of course, just because he is an NFL star he didn't get off without doing the busy work any other intern would be tasked with.
"There was a little grunt work I had to do," Smith said with a chuckle. "I had to fill trunks with clothes and hangers, pack up shoes, stuff like that. But I did some cool stuff too, like cover fashion week. I got to meet Tommy Hilfiger and learn from him. I did some things most other people don't get a chance to do."
On the field, Smith said Bills mini-camps were very energetic under new head coach Doug Marrone. "There's a lot of energy from the new coach and the staff. They all love the game of football and there's never a dull moment on the practice field."
When asked about the Bills offense, which was explosive last season and will have a new quarterback this year, with Kevin Kolb, and rookies E.J. Manuel and Jeff Tuel all vying for the starting job.
"Offensively we put up a lot of points last year and it wasn't always conducive to winning," Smith said. "This year we need to be more efficient and timely, and play complementary football with the defense and special teams. We need to put them in better positions to succeed."
He's basically saying the offense needs to take heed of the True Foundation's mission, which is to develop a focus and find the right path toward success. For more information about the True Foundation, visit Truefoundation16.org, or follow him on Twitter (@RealBradSmith).
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
