Bobby Humphrey and Sammie Smith, running backs eager to forget their worst NFL season, were headed for fresh starts Tuesday after the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins completed a trade six weeks in the making.
Humphrey played little last season after a 97-day holdout. Fumbles caused difficulty for Smith, who was subjected by Miami fans to profane jeering after fumbling at the goal line in the final minutes of a 17-13 loss to Houston last October.
”Things have happened this past year, and I think it would be best for Sammie to have another opportunity,” Miami coach Don Shula said. ”Humphrey went through a very similar situation in Denver, and it looks like another opportunity is what he needs.”
Both running backs are 25, former first-round draft choices and entering their fourth NFL season. A statistical comparison gives Humphrey the edge-he rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, while Smith`s best total was 831 yards in 1990.
”I think I`m going to be a great attribute to the Dolphins,” Humphrey said. ”I feel they got the better end of the deal.”
Smith didn`t agree.
”We`ll just have to see when it`s all said and done who got the better end,” he said with a chuckle.
