SMITH RETURNS TO THE FOREFRONT OF BUFFALO'S D.

Byline: Bucky Gleason Associated Press 

Bruce Smith was overshadowed on the Buffalo defense last season when Bryce Paup arrived, led the NFL in sacks and was named the league's top defensive player.

Not this season.

Smith, who took out blockers last year to help Paup get the glory, has the statistics again. At age 33, Smith is almost sure to make his ninth Pro Bowl, and his pass rushing, run stuffing and kick blocking make him a strong candidate for his second Defensive Player of the Year award.

Just ask him.

``I don't consider myself second, let's put it that way,'' Smith said. ``I pay attention to all the guys on defense. Over the last 12 games, I haven't seen a defensive player that has played consistently at that level and has made the same number of crucial plays in a ballgame.''

This is not cockiness or arrogance or selfishness. He's been accused of that from time to time in his 12 years, sometimes by his own teammates.

Going into today's contest against Indianapolis, Smith has 11-1/2 sacks, 86 tackles, 42 quarterback pressures, three forced fumbles and two blocked field goals. He is third in sacks behind Denver's Alfred Williams (13) and Carolina's Kevin Greene (12).

And most people don't realize Smith is nearly as good against the run as he is rushing the passer.

``I have a great deal of pride in what I do, the way I do it, how I work and how I prepare,'' Smith said. ``If someone asks a question, I'll try to answer it and tell the truth. If that's being cocky or wanting to be patted on the back, I guess I'm guilty. I'm only telling the truth.''

After years of hype about its offensive attack, Buffalo's defense is what draws attention these days. What Jim Kelly was to the no-huddle during the four-year Super Bowl run to start the decade, Smith is to an attacking defense the last two seasons.

Paup had 17-1/2 sacks last season. He, Smith and defensive end Phil Hansen all had at least 10 sacks, and the Bills racked up a league-leading 49. This year, Buffalo is on pace for 53 sacks.

The Bills (9-3) have credited their defense for no fewer than six wins this season while the offense struggled. If they reach the Super Bowl, the unit's play will be the reason.

Smith already is directly responsible for at least three of Buffalo's victories.

Against the Giants, Smith had a sack and a forced fumble that led to an overtime field goal. He had three sacks against New England, made a tackle on a fake field goal and closed a hole for Patriots' running back David Meggett to get tackled by Phil Hansen on the last play of the game.

Smith also dropped Philadelphia quarterback Ty Detmer on fourth-and-goal from the Buffalo 3 in the closing seconds of the game earlier this month.

``There's one or two plays that (Smith) makes that absolutely amaze me. He's the Barry Sanders of defensive ends,'' said linebacker Chris Spielman, who played for Detroit before signing as a free agent with the Bills. ``I don't think there's a higher compliment you can give somebody.''

Smith, defensive Player of the Year in 1990, is scheduled to earn $2.2 million this season and next, which currently puts him 19th among defensive players' salaries - something he's complained about since training camp. Bills management has promised to review the deal after the season.

Smith's whining about his contract wore on his teammates early this year and getting a better deal has been one of his chief incentives this season. The Bills don't care what motivates him - so long as he keeps squashing everybody in his way.

``He speaks in a little bit louder tone in a little bit different way. But once he gets on the field, he plays for the team,'' longtime friend Thurman Thomas said. ``We give him (grief) about it, but we just let it go in one ear and out the other. All the players realize that whatever he's asking for, at the rate he's going, he should get it.''

Like every one of his teammates, the one thing Smith wants more than anything is a Super Bowl ring.

Last year, the Bills were making a run toward a fifth appearance in the championship game before Smith caught the flu on the eve of a playoff game against Pittsburgh. The Steelers exploited his absence and ran away from Paup - playing where Smith would have been - and eventually won 40-21.

``The fact I have four rings that say AFC champions instead of world champions doesn't sit very well,'' Smith said. ``I want to be a world champion. Everybody in this organization deserves to be world champions. I'm going do whatever it takes to make sure we get it. If we don't, I'm going to die trying.''

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Photo

Photo: After playing second fiddle to Bryce Paup last season, Buffalo's Bruce Smith is once again a leader in defensive statistics.

Associated Press