Editing Fred Smoot (section)

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 5
|    height in = 11 3/8
|       weight = 172
|        bench = 1
|         note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Draft Scout Fred Smoot College Football Profile |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1724&DraftYear=2001 |access-date=August 11, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Athletes You Are Probably Stronger Than |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1501680-athletes-you-are-probably-stronger-than |access-date=August 11, 2023 |website=BleacherReport.com}}</ref>
}}

===First stint with Redskins===
Smoot was selected by the [[Washington Redskins]] as the 14th pick in the second round (45th pick overall) of the [[2001 NFL draft]] out of Mississippi State.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>  Many believed he was a first-round caliber player but because of questionable off-the-field problems many teams shied away from him.  Afterwards, he proclaimed himself to be the steal of the draft.  In Smoot's four years with the Redskins, he collected 16 interceptions, and formed an impressive duo with [[Champ Bailey]].

===Minnesota Vikings===
Following a strong season as part of the impressive Redskins defense in 2004, Smoot left the club as a [[free agent]] to sign with the Minnesota Vikings.  However, he was not able to duplicate his success in Minnesota.

Smoot reportedly bulked up in the 2006 offseason.  His playing weight was listed at 178&nbsp;lb for the 2005 season and in May 2006 the press reported he weighed about 200&nbsp;lb.  He faced very stiff competition for the starting spot since the Vikings drafted cornerback [[Cedric Griffin]] in the second round and cornerback [[Ronyell Whitaker]] was named All [[NFL Europa]].  In the third game of the season against Chicago, Smoot sat out the opening drive reportedly for discipline reasons.  Coach [[Brad Childress]] said that was between him and Smoot.  In the 11th game of the season, Smoot was benched in favor of starting Griffin instead.  Childress said the switch was merited in performance and Griffin had been doing an excellent job.

====Love Boat scandal====
Smoot was at the center of the [[Minnesota Vikings boat party scandal|2005 Minnesota Vikings boat cruise scandal]] involving several of his Minnesota Vikings' teammates.  Some Vikings players had rented a boat on [[Lake Minnetonka]] and reportedly hired prostitutes to have a "sex party" on the boat.  Smoot allegedly held a purple double-headed [[dildo]] and inserted it into the [[vagina]]s of two women who were lying on the floor in the lounge area. After one woman left, he continued to "manipulate the dildo" inside the other woman in front of the young crew.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/vikings/2005-12-15-boat-party-charges_x.htm|title= Culpepper, three other Vikings charged in boat-party scandal |work=USA Today |access-date=December 15, 2005 | first=Jeff | last=Baenen}}</ref>  Formal charges for the Boat Scandal were filed on December 15.  Smoot was also alleged to have organized the whole party, an accusation he denied.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Brandt|title=Four Vikings charged in boat party scandal|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/12/15_williamsb_vikingscharges/|access-date=December 23, 2015|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=December 15, 2005}}</ref>

On May 2, 2006, Smoot pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and being a public nuisance on a watercraft in connection with the Love Boat scandal.  He agreed to pay a $1,007 fine and perform 48 hours of community service.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2459618
 |title=Smoot, McKinnie plead guilty in party-boat case
 |date=27 May 2006
 |website=espn.com
 |publisher=    Associated Press 
 |access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref>  Vikings owner [[Zygi Wilf]] said, in addition to community service, he would participate in numerous service events that season.  NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said fines were likely, but Smoot would not be suspended.

On September 9, 2006, the NFL imposed a fine equivalent to one game's salary against Smoot and former Vikings teammate [[Bryant McKinnie]] for their role in the Love Boat scandal, Smoot's fine was $82,352.
[[File:Fred Smoot.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Smoot at [[2008 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] training camp in 2008.]]

====Car crash====
Smoot broke his jaw in a single-vehicle crash in Mississippi on December 22, 2006, where he was spending the week.  His jaw was broken in five different spots.  As a result, he was out for the rest of the season.

===Second stint with the Redskins===
He was released on March 1, 2007, from the Vikings.  On March 3, 2007, the Redskins signed Smoot to a five-year deal worth $25 million.<ref>{{cite web|work=Commanders.com|url=https://www.commanders.com/news/smoot-signs-returns-to-the-redskins-3454800|title=Smoot Signs, Returns to the Redskins|date=March 6, 2007|accessdate=August 11, 2023}}</ref> He was released on March 4, 2010.