National Football League

At 52, NFL sacks leader Smith experiencing pain, memory loss

Published Jun. 7, 2016 6:01 p.m. ET

foxsports

BATAVIA, N.Y. (AP) Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith acknowledges not a day goes by in which he's not experiencing some form of pain.

At 52, the NFL's career sacks leader also has trouble with his memory, saying his wife informs him there are things he tends to forget. Smith shared those revelations while attending former teammate Jim Kelly's charitable golf tournament outside of Buffalo this week.

At a time when NFL safety concerns are attracting headlines, it's difficult for Smith to ignore the toll playing 299 games - including playoffs - and registering 200 sacks took on his 6-foot-4, 262-pound body.

And yet, if he could go back, Smith says he would do it all over again for the opportunity to play the sport he grew up loving.

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