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Frederic Charles Smerlas (born April 8, 1957 in Waltham, Massachusetts) is a former American football defensive lineman who was a 5-time NFL Pro Bowl selection during 14-year career as a nose tackle with the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and New England Patriots.
Smerlas, of Greek-American descent, graduated from Waltham High School in 1975, where he was a star football player and wrestler. He became a defensive lineman for Boston College before embarking on an NFL career. His 1990 autobiography, By a Nose, recounts his eleven years with the Buffalo Bills and their climb from cellar-dwellers to Super Bowl contenders.
Smerlas currently resides in Sudbury, Massachusetts and is a part-time co-host during football season on Sportsradio WEEI with Glenn Ordway on the Big Show, as well as a contributor to western New York radio stations WGR in Buffalo and WHAM in Rochester. Smerlas is an avid motorcyclist, who often rides to support various Boston based charitable organizations.
Business interests
All Pro Celebrity Tailgate
In December 2006, Smerlas had his New England Patriots season tickets revoked, because according to Boston.com, he violated the Patriots policy prohibiting ticket holders from reselling their tickets to third parties except through the team's own ticket exchange, where sellers are required to charge face value. Smerlas offered an "All Pro Celebrity Tailgate" package for $250-a-head that increased to $625-$750 if the customer also wanted a game ticket. Smerlas and Glenn Ordway were mentioned by name in the article, but both state that they did not make money on the resale of the tickets, only on the food and beverage tailgate package. [1]
On August 12, 2007, it was reported that Smerlas obtained a resellers license and had restructured the prices for his tailgate package to make it clear that game ticket is being sold at face value. According to an article in the Boston Globe, the new package consists of a basic food and beverage tailgate which costs $250, or a "$500 package that includes the basic tailgate plus parking, a VIP gift, and an ad in a program guide", adding a game ticket to either package costs the face value of $125.[2] In the same article by Bruce Mohl, Smerlas was referred to as an Ex-scalper, a description Smerlas took exception to as he "has never been charged with scalping or illegal resale of tickets." The Boston Globe published a clarification on September 2, 2007 acknowledging that Smerlas "has never been charged with scalping or illegal resale of tickets".[3] Smerlas has been quoted as being unsatisfied with the clarification and said he is seeking legal advice on other possible remedies.[4]
All Pro Productions
An investigation by WCVB-TV's 11-o'clock news, which aired on February 25, 2007 revealed that Smerlas's company All Pro Productions is the leading telemarketer contractor for police, firefighter, and similar agencies in Massachusetts. The investigation alleges that All Pro Productions' telemarketers misidentify themselves as police officers and apply pressure tactics to obtain donations. Further, it was noted that the company, on average, keeps 63% of the money donated while only 37% goes to the charities. In a telephone conversation, Smerlas defended his telemarketers saying "they identify themselves", "are monitored", and "read from scripts" although he refused to provide a script. He also claimed that "60% is reasonable" given telemarketing costs.[5]
Restaurant
Smerlas, along with friend and colleague Steve DeOssie, opened a steakhouse at Twin River's casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island in March, 2007 called Fred & Steve's Steakhouse. [6]
Political career
A Boston Herald article [7] announced on April 6, 2007 that Fred considered seeking the Massachusetts 5th US Congressional seat being vacated by Martin T. Meehan as a Republican candidate. He dropped out of the race on April 26 after supporting candidate James Ogonowski, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and brother of John Ogonowski, who piloted American Airlines Flight 11.
"No one tells me what to do, I have faith in Jim. I believe in this guy.", Smerlas reported in an April 27 Boston Globe article. [8]
In 2010, Smerlas expressed an interest in relocating to Western New York to challenge Brian Higgins or Louise Slaughter, believing that they have not adequately represented Western New York or the upstate region as a whole. He indicated that his son was considering attending the University at Buffalo anyway, and if he were to relocate, he may run either in 2010 or 2012,[9] later ruling out a 2010 run. He said that his first priority "would be to take a big saw and cut New York City off."[10]
Bibliography
Fred Smerlas and Vic Carucci, By A Nose: The Off-Center Life of Football's Funniest Lineman, Simon And Schuster, 1990. ISBN 0-671-70532-6
See also
Most consecutive starts by a nose tackle
External links
Fred Smerlas Football
Fred Smerlas Buffalo Hall of Fame
Fred Smerlas Statistics
Fred Smerlas Boston College
First & Goal, a charitable organization run by Fred Smerlas, sponsors events that support police and firefighters in Massachusetts
All Pro tailgate party Home Page
References
^ Mohl, Bruce (2006-12-03). "Patriots Play Tough". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
^ Bruce Mohl (2007-08-12). "Ex-scalpers appear to beat the system by joining it". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
^ "For the record". Boston Globe. 2007-09-02. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
^ "Was Smerlas smeared?". Boston Herald. 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
^ POSTED: 11:49 am EST February 26, 2007 (2007-02-26). "Telemarketers Raise Money For Police, Fire Departments - Team 5 Investigates News Story - WCVB Boston". Thebostonchannel.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
^ Doyle, Bill (2007-01-18). "DeOssie likes Pats Sunday". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2007-05-02.
^ [1][dead link]
^ Press, Associated (2007-04-27). "Ogonowski's House bid gets boost - The Boston Globe". Boston.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
^ "Smerlas For Congress? He Says Maybe... - WBEN NewsRadio 930 : Buffalo & Niagara Falls, NY". Wben.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
^ Rich Newberg Posted by: Eli George (2010-03-29). "Will former Bill make a run for office". WIVB.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
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