Former Bucs star Ryan Smith comes clean on 17-game suspension for using banned substance

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Ryan Smith played with the team from 2016 to 2020, becoming a Super Bowl champion in his final year with the team.

He was then a member with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 and joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 and the Bucs again before being cut on December 6, 2022.

When the NFL announced their list of suspended players heading into the 2023 season, Smith stood out as he's suspended for 17 games, which is the entirety of the 2023 season.

Smith opened up to AP NFL Writer Rob Maaddi about what led to his 17-game suspension. He said he took some pills after he tore his knee with the Chargers and that he didn't know were banned.

"I tore my knee when I was playing with the Chargers, and I came home to do my rehab. I was recommended to go to this doctor where they prescribe for some pills that make them build a muscle around the knee, the weak part of your knee. You know, at this particular time I was low-key depressed. I was at a low point in my life. I've never been to this type of situation before. I'm not making excuses to you know, what happened.

"However, I was told I was misled. I was told the wrong information. And when I signed with the Colts do my drug test not thinking nothing of it, I don't do drugs. You can look at my history, I'm not a smoker and be popping pills, nothing like that."

Smith added that he takes responsibility for his actions and should have understood the guidelines better even after being a free agent.

"It's just an unfortunate situation. And I got tested positive for, I forgot the name of the pills. Honestly. I took those pills in May. And I think within a week or two, I realized that they won't even work, you know, so I stopped taking them. I got tested in September when I started for the Colts. And unfortunately, those pills were still in my system. It had nothing to do with football. It just it was just me trying to get back to where I was, you know, as far as health and strength. And while I wasn't trying to get over anybody, I wasn't trying to cheat the system."

"So yeah, just an unfortunate situation. Like I say, I wasn't trying to get one up on anybody. It was just I was at a low point. You know, I do take fault for not being certain about what I was putting in my body. We're supposed to know what we put in our body. However, I wasn't even on a team at that point. So technically, I feel like I wasn't in the field. I didn't know the proper guidelines to go through."

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Ryan Smith was suspended in 2019 for violating NFL performance-enhancing substances policy

Ryan Smith was suspended earlier in his career in 2019. On July 10, 2019, the league announced that Smith would receive a four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enchancing policies.

He was reinstated on September 30, and joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Smith's prior suspension for testing positive for banned substances could have played a factor into his hefty suspension for the following season.

In his career with the Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers, Ryan Smith has recorded 122 tackles, one interception, 12 pass break-ups, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

It will be interesting to see if Ryan Smith tries to make a comeback in 2024.