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Rude Awakening
By Michael McCarthy
October 22, 2007
Former Minnesota Vikings running back-turned-ESPN reporter Robert Smith had an excellent piece during Sunday's Outside the Lines on difficulties experienced by ex-NFL players trying to forge a second career in mixed martial arts.
Football players are used to being at the top of the toughness food chain. But they often become punching bags for more experienced fighters in MMA, Smith told viewers. "Unlike football, there are no timeouts — and nobody to come in and take your place. If you get hurt in here and can't continue, you've already lost."
"I've got two words for you: Johnnie Morton," said Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White, about the ex-Detroit Lions receiver knocked out cold 38 seconds into his first MMA fight in June.
