Yes, NFL players get paid incredible sums of money, a fact that is especially true of quarterbacks. Indeed, in the case of Alex Smith - in part by virtue of having been the No. 1 overall pick in his NFL Draft and in part due to him lasting 16 years in the league - the Washington Commanders ex QB is said to have earned a career total of $109 million.
But "earned'' is an important word here. Smith once suffered one of the most gruesome injuries ever seen on an NFL field after being crushed in a 2018 game against the Houston Texans. But the Washington QB fought his way back ... and went on to win Comeback Player in the Year in 2020 after going 5-1 and helping to lead Washington to a surprise playoffs berth.
Smith is retired now, but Washington fans still have their memories ... and Alex still has the gruesome scars.
Smith is featured in an ad campaign that shows him hanging out with his family in happy retirement. But in one frame, there's a photo of Smith's previously injured right leg - and it is not a smile-inducing pic.
The misshapen leg is a nasty mess featuring massive scar ... causing NFL fans who see it to 1) wonder how in the world he was ever allowed back on the field with that leg and 2) marvel at the will it must have taken for him to rehab to a return.
Smith will not be remembered as an all-time great player. But the scar serves as a reminder of a lot of things, including the fact that his comeback is one of the greatest in NFL history.
More must-reads: