Hall of Famer Bruce Smith: Not a day that goes by that I'm not in pain

Hall of Famer Bruce Smith admitted that he is still in pain from his days playing football.

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Hall of Famer Bruce Smith admitted that he is still in pain from his days playing football, he told the Buffalo News. 

Smith, 53, stepped away from the game in 2003 after a 19-year-career, during which he was named a first-team All-Pro nine times. 

Like many former NFL players, he says that daily life can be difficult because of nagging side effects from the game. 

“There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not in pain,” Smith said. “Multiple joints and things that I experience on a daily basis. It can be very frustrating sometimes and painful, but I’m very blessed.”

Smith also spoke about issues with memory loss, a trend that has been increasingly talked about as NFL deals with a concussion crises.

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“I forget a lot of things sometimes,” Smith said. “I’m not one to sit here and complain. While I did not know the severity of what continuous head traumas could do to an individual and the mind and so forth, I'm not going to sit here and complain. I'm very blessed to be standing here.”

Smith will have his No. 78 retired by the Bills at the team’s home opener on Sept. 15.