In a shocking development, Bruce Smith is complaining about his playing time. Coincidentally enough, he is still 1-1/2 sacks shy of tying Reggie White as the "all-time" sack leader in the NFL.

Smith is currently terrorizing left tackles around the league, as he is on pace to record three whole sacks this year, so why he would lose his starting role is unclear. Smith would like to point out to the unwashed masses that he is playing quite well, it's just that you can't see it. From the article:

Pass pressure has been a consistent problem this season, though Smith claimed his solid rush was hard to see with opposing quarterbacks getting rid of the ball and the interior line rarely generating any push.

Well, there you have it.

Look, anyone who knows Bruce Smith in any way realizes the only reason he has dragged his 40 year old self out there for another year was to break Reggie White's "record". (note: "record" is in quotes out of respect for Deacon Jones and others). He certainly has no desire to try again at 41 to rack up that one more half sack to put him over the top, so he has to get it this year. Or, as Smith himself put it:

"I want to know what their intentions are," Smith said. "I have goals that I would like to achieve myself — team goals and individual goals. At some point in time in your career, you have to take a stand and be a little selfish."

At some point in time you have to be a little selfish? This from the guy who missed every training camp under Marv Levy with some surgery or other, always scheduled right before camp opened? The guy who missed the Steelers playoff game with the flu? The man caught passed out drunk in his car during the season? The man suspended four games for substance abuse? Bruce Smith is one of, if not the, best defensive players ever. He also is one of, if not the, most selfish players ever.

I'm sure that there will be times, like at his HOF ceremony, when Bruce will wonder why he doesn't get the love that Kelly, Lofton, Thomas, Tasker and Levy get. Or even the Love Darryl Talley gets. And that's the best part about Bruce Smith. He never will figure it out.