| No. 84, 64 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Guard /Defensive end | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | (1932-02-27)February 27, 1932 (age 93) West Columbia, Texas, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 241 lb (109 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Columbia(West Columbia) | ||||
| College: | Baylor | ||||
| NFL draft: | 1954: 6th round, 64th pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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James Ray Smith (born February 27, 1932) is an American former professionalfootball player who was anoffensive guard for nine seasons in theNational Football League (NFL) for theCleveland Browns andDallas Cowboys. He playedcollege football for theBaylor Bears.
Smith attendedWest Columbia High School where he practiced four sports. He accepted a scholarship fromBaylor University, where he was a two-way tackle and a three-year starter.
In 1968, he was inducted into theBaylor University Athletics Hall of Fame. In 1987, he was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was inducted into theTexas Sports Hall of Fame.
Smith was selected by theCleveland Browns in the sixth round (64th overall) of the1954 NFL draft with a future draft pick, which allowed the team to draft him before his college eligibility was over.
Because of military service in theU.S. Army (23 months), his rookie season began in November1956, when he was tried atdefensive end.[1] Although he was one of the fastest players on the team, the next year he was moved to the offense and became one ofPaul Brown's messengeroffensive guards, splitting time withHerschel Forester. In1958, he became a full-time starter and one of the best guards in theNFL, while blocking for futurehall of famerunning backsJim Brown andBobby Mitchell.[2]
Although he retired after the1961 season to devote himself full-time to his real estate business, the team was able to convince him to return. He retired again after the1962 season, but theDallas Cowboys convinced him to play in his home state and tradedoffensive tackleMonte Clark in exchange for his rights.[3][4]
In 2005, he was inducted into the Cleveland Browns Legends.
In1963, he started seven games atleft guard until suffering a knee injury during a kickoff return. The next year, he only played in four games (one start) after suffering a second knee injury. Although at times he played at the level of his previous years, his two seasons with the Cowboys were marred by two serious knee injuries, two broken hands and two concussions. He retired after the1964 season.
Smith was a member of the board of directors for theCotton Bowl Athletic Association.