Editing Rod Smart (section)

==Professional career==
===San Diego Chargers===
Smart signed with the [[San Diego Chargers]] as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2000. He finished [[training camp]] with the team, but was released by the Chargers prior to the start of the [[2000 NFL season]].<ref name="Oakland Raiders biography"/>

===Las Vegas Outlaws===
In the Spring of [[XFL (2001)|2001]], Smart joined the [[Las Vegas Outlaws (XFL)|Las Vegas Outlaws]] of the [[XFL (2001)|XFL]] and adopted the nickname of "He Hate Me" which he wore on the back of his uniform.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/tsminteractive.com/files/2012/03/rod-smart-he-hate-me.jpg|format=JPG|title=He Hate Me jersey photograph|website=Wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net|access-date=September 1, 2017}}</ref> He finished the season ranked second in the league in rushing with 555 yards.<ref name="XFL Statistical Leaders">{{cite web |url=http://www.all-xfl.com/xfl/stats/statleaders/statleaders.htm |access-date=August 21, 2006 |title=XFL Statistical Leaders |publisher=All-XFL.com}}</ref> He also finished third in average rushing yards (3.8 yards per carry), and scored three touchdowns over the course of the one and only XFL season.<ref name="XFL Statistical Leaders"/> He led the Outlaws in rushing, and was second on the team in receiving with 27 catches for 245 yards.<ref name="2001 Las Vegas Outlaws Final Regular Season Stats">{{cite web |url=http://www.all-xfl.com/lasvegasoutlaws/team/teamstats/index.htm |access-date=August 16, 2006 |title=2001 Las Vegas Outlaws Final Regular Season Stats |publisher=All-XFL.com}}</ref>

Of the over 300 players to don an XFL uniform during its lone 2001 season, league executives noted that while most saw the league solely as a way to further their own careers in hopes of returning to the NFL, Smart fully embraced the league's approach to football and [[sports entertainment]]. In the documentary ''This Was the XFL'', Smart stated that had the league survived for a second season, he was certain to have returned and had no intention of trying out for an NFL or CFL position before the XFL collapsed.<ref>Ebersol, Charlie (November 11, 2016). "This Was the XFL". ''30 for 30'' (ESPN Films).</ref>

===="He Hate Me"====<!-- This section is linked from [[XFL (2001)|XFL]] -->
"He Hate Me" is the phrase Smart chose to place on the back of his Las Vegas Outlaws [[Uniform number (American football)|football jersey]]. Though most sports organizations allow only a surname or first initial and surname to be placed on the back of a jersey, XFL rules permitted players' jerseys to be stitched with whatever words they wanted. The Outlaws happened to be playing in the league's first nationally televised game (the one that would, ultimately, be the most widely watched game, as the league's viewership plummeted after that point), and the league's choice of camera angles more akin to video games meant that Smart's jersey was prominently featured on the telecasts. The jersey was the XFL's best seller.

Smart explained the origin of the [[non-standard dialect|grammatically non-standard]] phrase in a January 30, 2004 article with the ''[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]'' as, "Basically, my opponent is going to hate me. After I win, he's gonna hate me. It is what it is. It's a saying I was saying when I'd feel something wasn't going my way. For example, (when) I was on the squad in Vegas and coach was putting other guys in, (if) I felt I'm better than them, you know, hey, 'he hate me.' See what I'm saying? Give me a chance. That's all I ask. It came from the heart. Within. The way I felt. I feel as if everyone hates me, from my mom to my dad and even my brothers and sisters everyone "Hates Me". My buddy Greg Kates always used to use it, so I took it from him."<ref name="Fans love 'He Hate Me'">{{cite web |url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=203873 |access-date=August 16, 2006 |author=Silverstein, Tom |title=Fans love "He Hate Me" |publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online |date=January 30, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513161851/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=203873 |archive-date=May 13, 2007}}</ref>

Smart stated that he originally planned to use a different nickname on the back of his jersey every week of the season but abandoned that plan when "He Hate Me" became a national sensation. He and his agent also credit the nickname with getting NFL scouts to notice him after the XFL collapsed.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2017/aug/11/mlb-players-weekend-nickname-jerseys-age MLB's nickname gimmick won't solve baseball's mounting age issues]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved August 11, 2017.</ref>

When Smart and the Outlaws played divisional rival the [[Los Angeles Xtreme]], two Xtreme players put "I Hate He" and "I Hate He Too" on the back of their jerseys to express their disdain for Smart. In a later game between those two teams, those two players changed their nicknames to "Still Hate He" and "Still Hate He Too". The curious maxim also caught the eye of American audiences (as well as Smart's future [[Carolina Panthers]] teammate [[Jake Delhomme]], who named one of his [[thoroughbreds]], "She Hate Me").<ref name="Fans love 'He Hate Me'" /> The title of Spike Lee's 2004 film ''[[She Hate Me]]'' was also inspired by Smart's nickname.<ref>{{cite web |author1=The Playlist Staff |title=The Films of Spike Lee: A Retrospective |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/08/the-films-of-spike-lee-a-retrospective-107307/ |website=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=November 25, 2018 |date=August 10, 2012}}</ref>

===Edmonton Eskimos===
After the end of the XFL season Smart signed with the [[Edmonton Eskimos]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL). He played one regular season game for Edmonton before being released in August 2001.

===Philadelphia Eagles===
The [[Philadelphia Eagles]] of the NFL signed Smart to their practice roster on October 2, [[2001 Philadelphia Eagles season|2001]]. He was promoted to the active roster on November 19, 2001, appeared in six regular season games, mainly on special teams, and rushed for six yards on two carries. The Eagles waived Smart at the end of their 2002 training camp.<ref name="Oakland Raiders biography"/>

===Carolina Panthers===
In September, [[2002 Carolina Panthers season|2002]], Smart was claimed off waivers by the [[Carolina Panthers]]. He played in all 16 regular season games, and led the Panthers with 24 [[special teams]] [[Tackle (football move)|tackles]]. He produced at least one special teams tackle in 14 games en route to recording the second-highest number of special team tackles in a season in team history.<ref name="Oakland Raiders biography"/>

In [[2003 Carolina Panthers season|2003]], Smart played in all 16 Panthers' games for the second consecutive season. For the first time in a Panthers' uniform, he was utilized as a [[kick returner]], in addition to his special teams coverage duties. He averaged 23.1 yards on 41 kickoff returns for 947 yards, including a 100-yard touchdown against the [[New Orleans Saints]] on October 5, 2003.<ref name="Oakland Raiders biography"/> He finished the Panthers' 2003 season ranked second with 14 special teams tackles and recorded his first career blocked punt. He also rushed for 49 yards on 20 carries and caught three passes for 11 yards on offense. He contributed to a Panthers' special teams coverage unit that ranked fifth in the NFL in opponents' kickoff return average.<ref name="Oakland Raiders biography"/> In [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]], Smart returned four punts for 74 yards.

Smart's [[2004 Carolina Panthers season|2004 season]] was cut short due to injuries. He played in the first three games of the season for the Panthers, but was inactive for the next four before being placed on [[injured reserve]] with an injured left [[knee]] on November 3, 2004. Despite his limited action in 2004, he averaged 21.1 yards on eight kickoff returns for 169 yards, with the longest return being 33 yards. He also rushed four yards on three carries, and caught one pass for five yards, on offense.<ref name="Oakland Raiders biography"/>

In [[2005 Carolina Panthers season|2005]], Smart returned to the Panthers healthy, played in 12 games, and led the Panthers with 29 kickoff returns for 615 yards (for a 21.2 yard average). He also recorded nine tackles and one fumble recovery for the Panthers' kick coverage unit. After four seasons, Smart was released by the Panthers on March 1, 2006.<ref name="Oakland Raiders biography"/>

===Oakland Raiders===
On May 4, [[2006 Oakland Raiders season|2006]], Smart signed with the [[Oakland Raiders]] as a [[free agent]].<ref name="Oakland Raiders biography"/> Being injured for part of the 2006 [[pre-season]], he failed to make the final, 53-man Raiders roster on September 2, 2006.<ref name="Oakland Raiders Transactions (2006-09-02)">{{cite web |url=http://www.raiders.com/team/transactions.jsp |access-date=September 2, 2006 |title=Oakland Raiders Transactions (2006-09-02) |publisher=Raiders.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824234557/http://www.raiders.com/team/transactions.jsp |archive-date=August 24, 2006}}</ref>

===All American Football League===
Smart was selected by [[Team Tennessee]] during the inaugural draft of the [[All American Football League]] on January 26, 2008. However, when the league was postponed for its inaugural season, all players were released from their contracts, leaving him a free agent.