Broncos star receiver Smith retires

July 25, 2008

Denver Broncos receiver Rod Smith broke out a pair of dark shades and his two Super Bowl rings for the occasion, wearing one on each hand.

Smith, 38, stepped into a room in Denver full of family, friends and teammates yesterday and announced he was done after 14 seasons.

"I gave them everything I had," Smith said as he choked up.

Owner Pat Bowlen called Smith the best Broncos player not named John Elway that had played for him.

Smith has had two hip operations in the past year and a half. He holds franchise records for career receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389), touchdown catches (68), touchdowns (71) and 100-yard games (31).

•More Broncos Wide receiver Brandon Marshall met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week in New York concerning his string of legal troubles. Marshall has been arrested three times in the past year, and he's due in court in September for a trial on a drunken driving arrest in October 2007.

•Cardinals Wide receiver Anquan Boldin lashed out at the team for failing to follow through on what he said was a promise for a new contract. The two-time Pro Bowl selection said he had told his agent to end negotiations and that he would not re-sign with the team. Boldin has three years left on the four-year, $22.75million extension he signed after the 2005 season that keeps him under contract through 2010. Boldin said he was promised a new deal before this season.

•Packers The annual meeting of the franchise's shareholders at Lambeau Field hardly turned into a bring-back-Brett Favre rally. Most of the 9,375 shareholders attending the meeting pleasantly applauded general manager Ted Thompson and team president and CEO Mark Murphy, then gave a raucous standing ovation to coach Mike McCarthy.

•Titans Team officials and the agent for All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth are talking, and coach Jeff Fisher says he's hopeful their franchise player will sign his one-year, $7.25million tender in time to be on the field today for the start of training camp.

•Bills Buffalo has had little contact with Jason Peters in the past few months regarding his contract dispute and the Bills aren't sure whether the Pro Bowl left tackle will report for the start of training camp today. Peters missed two mandatory minicamp practices last month. •Lions Detroit and cornerback Leigh Bodden have agreed on a four-year, $27million extension, a person with knowledge of the deal told the Associated Press.

•Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning said he's "not really in very much pain" in his first comments since undergoing surgery to remove an infected bursa sac July14. He is expected to miss up to six weeks.

•Giants Wide receiver David Tyree was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list because of problems recovering from surgery in April on his right knee.

•Redskins Wide receiver Devin Thomas, the team's top draft pick, was carted away from practice after pulling his right hamstring at training camp.

•Vikings Defensive end Ray Edwards has aggravated a back injury and will start training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Coach Brad Childress said the move was precautionary.

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Broncos star receiver Smith retires

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Broncos star receiver Smith retires

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