Bruce Smith

Bruce Smith is the best defensive player in the National Football League.If you have any doubt about it, just ask him."I think I have emerged to be the most dominant player in the league," the Buffalo Bills defensive end said last week.Smith started making this claim two weeks ago, before the Bills played the New York Giants.He volunteered to speak to the New York writers on a conference call and startled them by saying that he had replaced Lawrence Taylor as the game's topdefensive player.

CINCINNATI -- Craig Smith, Bruce Smith, Billy Martin, Mike Giordano and Brandon Exeler are prepared for any emergency. Especially those of the culinary and beverage variety. The five lifelong Cincinnati Bengals fans are the proud owners of a "Who Dey" ambulance, an orange-and-black-striped (unofficial) emergency vehicle that they drive to a parking lot about a quarter-mile southwest of Paul Brown Stadium. Before last night's AFC North showdown between the Ravens and the Bengals, the five owners and about 15 more friends cooked up jambalaya and played a game that involved tossing beanbags through holes in platforms.

On July 16, 2006, MELVIN J.; beloved husband of the late Helen J. Smith; devoted father of Jeffrey and Bruce Smith; dear brother of Roy Smith and Pearl Miller. Relatives and friends may attend a memorial service on Tuesday, July 25 at 3 P.M. at Hamilton Christian Center Assembly of God, 6508 Old Harford Road.

On July 16, 2006, MELVIN J.; beloved husband of the late Helen J. Smith; devoted father of Jeffrey and Bruce Smith; dear brother of Roy Smith and Pearl Miller. Relatives and friends may attend a memorial service on Tuesday, July 25 at 3 P.M. at Hamilton Christian Center Assembly of God, 6508 Old Harford Road.

On November 2, 2005 NANCY L.; beloved wife of Bales (Bud) Elza; dear mother of Brian Elza and Teri Parks; sister of John W., Jr., David, Ronald, Timothy and Bruce Smith, Darlene Harris and Susan Schmincke and the late Peggy M. Smith; grandmother of Justin Elza and survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the family owned Gonce Funeral Service, P.A., 4001 Ritchie Highway, on Thursday and Friday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Services on Saturday and 10 A.M. Interment in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Bruce Smith, the Buffalo Bills' All-Pro defensive end, issued a revised version of the trade demand he made this week. Although it made front-page sports news -- which focused on the racial hate mail he has received from time to time -- Smith said the whole thing was overblown."

An 8-year-old Carroll County boy was in critical condition at Johns Hopkins Hospital after apparently accidentally shooting himself in the head yesterdaywhile his parents were at work.Christopher Jenkins, son of John and Shellie Jenkins of Old Hanover Road, in the Silver Run area north of Westminster, unlocked the master bedroom at his home and took a .25-caliber handgun from the closet, according to the Maryland State Police at the Westminster Barracks, who were called about 8: 30 a.m.They did not know if the gun was loaded when the boy found it, but while he was playing with the gun, it discharged, striking young Jenkins in the head.

Authorities are looking for a man who threatened a New Windsor couple with a gun early Sunday after entering their home and stealing money from a wallet, state police said.According to police, a man in his early 20s entered the home through an unlocked front door. When he was confronted by the couple in a second-floor hall, he pointed a gun at them and then fled, police said.No one was injured and the suspect made no spoken threats during the 2: 45 a.m. incident in the 300 block of Church St. The amount stolen was not disclosed.

1. The Redskins need to settle on the interior offensive line positions and have them produce, both in the running game and pass protection. 2. They must get some consistency and big plays at quarterback, whether it's Shane Matthews or Danny Wuerffel throwing the ball. 3. Their young wide receivers must come through and be in sync with the quarterback. Rod Gardner is the No. 1 receiver and he's only in his second season. 4. Running back Stephen Davis needs to be used in the passing game and given enough carries to represent a running threat.

A state prison inmate was in fair condition at a Baltimore hospital yesterday after being stabbed at the Central Laundry Facility at Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville, state police said.Charles A. Royster, 29, was found with two knife wounds about 8: 15 a.m. in a bathroom, police said. He was taken by state police MedEvac helicopter to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was evaluated and transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital, a spokeswoman at the trauma center said.Royster's condition was stable, a hospital spokeswoman said yesterday evening.

On November 2, 2005 NANCY L.; beloved wife of Bales (Bud) Elza; dear mother of Brian Elza and Teri Parks; sister of John W., Jr., David, Ronald, Timothy and Bruce Smith, Darlene Harris and Susan Schmincke and the late Peggy M. Smith; grandmother of Justin Elza and survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the family owned Gonce Funeral Service, P.A., 4001 Ritchie Highway, on Thursday and Friday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Services on Saturday and 10 A.M. Interment in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Today's games Atlanta at Indianapolis FALCONS: Doubtful: CB Juran Bolden (back); DT Edward Jasper (knee/ankle). Questionable: WR Brian Finneran (knee). Probable: WR Jimmy Farris (ankle); DT Ellis Johnson (knee); LB Keith Newman (foot); WR Peerless Price (knee); QB Michael Vick (ankle). COLTS: Out: TE Dallas Clark (ankle); LB Jim Nelson (collarbone). Doubtful: S Cory Bird (shoulder). Questionable: S Idrees Bashir (shoulder); CB Nicholas Harper (back). Probable: CB Walt Harris (knee); DT Montae Reagor (chest)

ASHBURN, Va. - Bruce Smith, the league's all-time leader in sacks, announced that he will retire after this - his 19th - season. The Washington Redskins defensive end made his announcement yesterday at the team's practice facility three days after collecting his 199th sack against the New York Giants' Jesse Palmer and surpassing Reggie White's league record of 198. Smith, who spent 15 seasons with the Buffalo Bills and the past four with the Redskins, said...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Bruce Smith and the Washington Redskins got what they so desperately wanted. Smith broke the NFL record for career sacks with his 199th, and the Redskins staved off a mounting tide of frustration and criticism by defeating the New York Giants, 20-7, yesterday at Giants Stadium for only their second win in nine games. The victory meant little except that Washington (5-8) beat New York (4-9) for only the second time in the teams' past seven meetings. Less than half of the announced attendance of 78,217 bothered to show up, much less stay for the duration of the game.

ASHBURN, Va. - People who have been in Bruce Smith's company know that he is reserved, even-tempered and relaxed. That's why, as Smith's Washington Redskins (3-3) prepare to visit the Buffalo Bills (3-3) at 4:15 p.m. Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the defensive end is single-minded - almost guarded - about returning to the birthplace of his NFL career. "I haven't been back there in four years," Smith, a defensive end, said. "I'm going there with a purpose right now and that's to win a ballgame.

LANDOVER - If there's one positive note the Washington Redskins can take with them for the holidays, they can breathe easy in knowing that they are better than an expansion team. The Redskins proved that yesterday by racking up a season-high 247 rushing yards and limiting the first-year Houston Texans to 166 yards of total offense en route to a 26-10 victory before 70,291 at FedEx Field. Washington (6-9) broke a three-game skid and collected only its second win in the past seven contests, leaving left tackle Chris Samuels to remark, "It's a big win. A great Christmas gift."