Published: May 12, 2008 12:03 am            

BILLS DOSE: Bruce Smith to be added to Wall

Bruce Smith was a slam-dunk choice to become the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame’s 25th member. Owner Ralph Wilson gave him the news by phone. Smith, colorful and controversial during his 19-year NFL career, will be enshrined during a halftime ceremony of a game to be decided this fall.

It’s the eighth consecutive year a member of Buffalo’s four Super Bowl teams from the early 1990s will be honored. Smith follows Jim Kelly, Kent Hull, Darryl Talley, Jim Ritcher, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Steve Tasker.

Smith, whose speed and quickness put fear into left tackles and quarterbacks, was the defensive linchpin on Buffalo teams that compiled a 135-78 overall record between 1988-99 and made the playoffs 10 times in those 12 seasons.

“I’ve said on many occasions, there’s not a better fan in the world than the Buffalo Bills fan,” Smith said. “Buffalo and the Buffalo fans will always be a part of me.”

— Gannett News Service

        

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