MARIJUANA STORY COSTS SMOOT DEARLY

Five million dollars.

That's what Fred Smoot's agent says Smoot lost because of reports last week
that Smoot had been arrested on a marijuana possession charge, an arrest
the Oktibbeha County prosecutor says never took place.

The Washington Redskins took Smoot Saturday with the 45th pick in the NFL
draft. Smoot's agent, Zach Hirsch, said he had expected Smoot to go to the
Redskins on the 15th pick.

The 30-spot difference from mid-first round to mid-second round carries a
heavy price tag for Smoot, a Mississippi State star who played at Hinds
Community College and Provine High.

Arkansas safety Kenoy Kennedy, last year's 45th pick, signed a five-year,
$3.46 million contract with the Denver Broncos. Deltha O'Neal, last year's
No. 15 pick, signed a seven-year, $9.4 million contract with the Broncos.

Smoot, who had been rated the top cornerback in the draft, was the sixth
cornerback taken. Tears filled his eyes as the draft entered the second
round without his name being called.

"It's hard to watch guys I know I'm better than going before me," he said
after the Redskins picked him, "but ice always floats to the top. I've got
a point to prove, and I'm going to prove it. Believe me, I'll prove it."

Apparently, teams shied away because of New York Post and Associated Press
reports stating Smoot had been arrested in March. Prosecutor Roy E.
Carpenter Jr. said Smoot wasn't arrested but that Smoot turned himself in
after learning an arrest warrant had been issued. No charges were filed.

The warrant stemmed from a November party Smoot attended at which police
found a marijuana cigarette butt in a trash can. Jay Hirsch, Zach's father,
said investigators were trying to get information Smoot didn't have.

"They wanted a name, and Fred wasn't going to give a name for something he
didn't know anything about," Jay Hirsch said.

Still, the reports worried NFL officials. San Francisco 49ers general
manager Bill Walsh called Jay Hirsch during the draft seeking an explanation.

"He said, 'That's what I thought, but there's a lot of rumors flying
around,'" Jay Hirsch said. "(Redskins coach and director of football
operations) Marty (Schottenheimer) called and just asked the same questions
of Fred. 'What's your version?' So you know it was on the mind of every GM."

Said Smoot: "It scared a couple of people away from me. Coach
Schottenheimer said he knew a good kid when he saw one."

Smoot watched the draft with family and friends at the Forum, a sports bar
on Ridgewood Road. As the draft began, Smoot moved from table to table like
any good host. But what began as a party turned somber as hours passed
without good news on the big screen TV. Smoot and his girlfriend moved to a
quiet table near the middle of the first round, and he divided his
attention between watching the TV and reading The Clarion-Ledger sports
section.

By the 20th pick, Smoot's name was on TV, at the top of ESPN's online
survey showing which player fans thought should be selected next. General
managers, however, were thinking differently, and some of their picks
received boos from the crowd at the Forum.

Smoot's head sagged a bit with each pick. When the first round ended, he
moved to a private area away from reporters, and friends came over to
console him. At one point, Zach Hirsch burst into tears.

Afterward, Smoot and the Hirsches said they're glad he wound up with the
Redskins, who have two strong cornerbacks in Deion Sanders and Champ Bailey.

"It feels real good to be a Washington Redskin," Smoot said. "I'm fixin' to
learn from two of the best."