"Lions running back Kevin Smith had one the best games of his career in Sunday's victory over the Washington Redskins. He may not have had gaudy statistics, but he played well late, when it mattered.

But Smith's performance was even more impressive when you consider he did it while carrying a chip on his shoulder roughly the size of the Rock of Gibraltar.

"I like having a chip on my shoulder, but that's just because I'm in the NFL," Smith said Monday. "That's because I've ran for 2,500 yards and got drafted third round. All that's going to always stay with me the rest of my life. My son will probably feel that."

Smith had knee surgery last year, and after the Lions drafted Jahvid Best in the first round, Smith got a lot less attention. And the attention he did get wasn't very positive. He looked into a TV camera and addressed one of his notable detractors.

"I'm just happy to be here," he said. "They were screaming for me to get cut about three months ago. Drew Sharp, I'm still here.""