Hall of Fame DE Bruce Smith convicted of DUI

by Brian Galliford on Jul 9, 2009 1:18 PM EDT in News Comment 12 comments

More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP

Former Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith has been convicted of DUI in Virginia court.

Smith was pulled over in mid-May for speeding and was later arrested after refusing to take a breathalyzer and failing field sobriety tests. According to Gregg Rosenthal (NBC Sports), Smith's lawyer argued that Smith "struggled with the heel-to-toe walk of the field sobriety test because of all his previous surgeries."

Smith was sentenced to 90 days' suspended jail time and fined $350. The NFL's all-time sacks leader is expected to appeal the fine. The Buffalo News also notes his driver's license was also revoked for a year thanks to his refusal to take the breathalyzer. As Rosenthal mentions, this isn't Smith's first run-in with drinking problems; he's been arrested three times previously for DUI-related incidents, but until today had never been formally punished.

Less than one month from today, on August 8, Smith - along with Bills team owner Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. - will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Some things never change

Way to go, Bruce. Have another one…sheesh.

It’s a shame, really, for a soon-to-be HOF player to tarnish himself like this. Just goes to show that our humanness (sic?) has its darker moments.

Appealing a chump change (for Bruce) $350 fine? What a joke. Pay the fine, Bruce. Maybe it will remind you to be a little more careful in the future. Be happy it’s only suspended jail time so you can actually be there in person for your HOF induction.

Get the Bills back to the big game!

by Blitz on Jul 9, 2009 1:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I guess he will have to ask Ralph for a ride to Canton.

No night spent pantsless is a wasted night.

by sireric on Jul 9, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Or maybe he should just learn to take a taxi…He should be able to afford that…

I love me some DB's...I might just be Dick Jauron's long lost twin!

by DBLuv on Jul 9, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Given his penchant for spending (sarcasm), I’m sure he would jump at the opportunity to carpool and split the gas.

If the glove don’t fit, it couldn’t be Whit...

by thatguy34 on Jul 9, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tremendous

that he gets off with another slap on the wrist. If this was any of us “common folk,” we’d be in jail for a good amount of time and likely never see anything other than a conditional license ever again.

Get some help Mr. HOF, this is one big tarnish on your resume.

Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 9, 2009 5:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

seriously. i got 180$ for a cell-phone ticket in NY when i could prove i wasn’t on the phone at the time or texting, and he gets 350$ for his third DUI?

by the_prophet on Jul 9, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

1st officially

the other two were either dropped or aquitted. Now I’m NOT saying anything in his defense here, just trying to point out that he’s only been convicted once. So it’s NOT $350 fine for his THIRD DUI. I’m just saying………..

Season Ticket Holder Sec: 312, Row: 15
"There's NO place like home when it's the Big Tree Inn"

by Pocono Bob on Jul 10, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but it’s his third DUI ticket, which shows a pattern.

by the_prophet on Jul 11, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

at least . . .

Bruce didn’t get a BUI like Cedric Benson. You shouldn’t drive hammered but people make mistakes and s**t happens. I don’t have any less of an opinion than I previously did, especially considering the nose candy allegations back in the day . . .

by uscBillsGamecock on Jul 9, 2009 5:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

1 time is a mistake, 3 times is a problem.

Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 9, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Atleast he hasnt killed someone

unlike senor Stallworthless

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

by NCbillsfan12 on Jul 10, 2009 2:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Could be just a matter of time

before he does. Better for Bruce to admit that Bruce has a problem now and deal with it, than have a HUGE problem down the road…like Donte’s “inferno”.

Get the Bills back to the big game!

by Blitz on Jul 10, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs