Sifting through the controversy: Former Michigan RB De'Veon Smith dismissed from USFL team for 'chicken salad' incident
The Pittsburgh Maulers’ dismissal of former Michigan running back De’Veon Smith has caused quite the stir online.
On the first episode of ‘United By Football,’ the weekly USFL all-access docuseries on FOX, Smith was shown being cut by head coach Kirby Wilson. In the clip, the coach alluded to Smith not adhering with some guidelines that were laid out in the team handbook.
“He crossed a line, so we had to deal with it,” Wilson said into the camera. “Line 46 addresses that: ‘Any disrespect of football or members, staff, hotel, etc., will not be tolerated.’”
Wilson responded, “It’s not important. It already happened,” when Smith attempted to tell his side of the story.
The former Michigan running back eventually got to speak, and pushed back, stating that the incident involved him declining the chicken salad the hotel staff members were serving and asking for pizza instead. The hotel employee asked if it would be a problem that he couldn’t have pizza, to which he said, “yes.”
“That’s all I said,” Smith explained. “I didn’t say no cuss words, no nothing. That’s all I said — I promise you. No disrespectful [words], I promise you on my dad’s life.”
The internet sided with the former Michigan standout, as one might imagine. Later in the day, the Maulers’ team Twitter account released a statement to provide further context.
“The show captures hundreds of hours of film with the intent of providing transparency to fans, but unfortunately, much of the context was left out in this moment. Smith had violated three team rules in a 24-hour span, and in this particular incident, disrespected a cafateria worked, which wasn’t captured on camera.
“Smith has subsequently reached out directly to Coach Wilson to apologize, and asked to be reinstated to the Maulers’ roster.”
The Maulers, who lost Monday night, 17-3 to the Tampa Bay Bandits, did not say if they’re open to bringing Smith back on board.
In response to the statement, the Michigan football alum fired off a series of tweets:
• “What rules did I break? Now you’re lying on my name????? Say less”
• “They really just put out a lie! Y’all really should be ashamed of y’all selves!”
• “See now y’all playing with my character and who I am as a man.”
• “Show me the three team rules I broke please!”
• “Now if I send these screenshots from our exact convo who’s the one lying?”
• “I was never made aware that I violated any team rules, let alone 3 in a 24hr span. I never disrespected anyone. Coach Kirby and I spoke after being released. In that talk, he said that he’d certainly vouch for my character.”
At Michigan (2013-16), Smith ran for more than 2,235 yards and 22 touchdowns in his four seasons. He went undrafted in 2017, before signing with the Miami Dolphins that season. He spent the 2018 campaign on the Washington Redskins’ practice squad, then played in the AAF in 2019 and XFL in 2020, where he led the league in rushing yards as part of the Tampa Bay Vipers. He competed in the CFL in 2021.
