The former Boston Celtics star received the sentence in May 2024 after he and four other prominent ex-players were found guilty of defrauding the NBA's healthcare plan out of $5million over four years.

Braden Smith contemplated everything and everyone involved as he reflected on an important life decision.Where would he and his family, his wife, Courtney, and their son go next after eight successful years with the Indianapolis Colts?Ultimately, the answer came through prayer and careful consideration of football factors and the negotiating skills of his agent, Michael Perrett.The veteran right offensive tackle decided to join the Texans, a longtime AFC South rival, via a two-year, $25 million maximum value contract that included $13.5 million guaranteed with an $8.5 million signing bonus.Thats how the Texans added a major cornerstone to their overhauled offensive line through free agency.Theres a lot that goes into it," Smith told KPRC 2 in a virtual interview after agreeing to terms this week. Ultimately its just kind of wanting to go to a team and be able to compete, want to be able to help them. Im laughing because Im like thinking of my wife, Braden, can we please go somewhere thats warm? It just felt like the right fit, like there was definitely a feeling behind it. From a faith standpoint, I feel like God places us where he needs us and feel like Houstons been on the mind for a while now. Ultimately, it happened the way that it needed to happen and I feel good about it.After trading versatile offensive lineman Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns one year after trading five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders and retaining right guard Ed Ingram on a three-year, $37.5 million deal and massive swing tackle Trent Brown on a one-year, $7 million deal, another reboot of the offensive line is underway. The vision the Texans have for the offensive line is underscored by what Smith is all about and his gritty style of play while battling through and conquering a history of injuries and overcoming a mental health issue he dealt with two seasons ago involving a form of obsessive compulsive disorder called religious scrupulosity. Smith sought help through medication and treatment and resumed football after taking time for himself in 2024. Hes in a very good place now.There was a lot of stuff going on in my mind and a lot of fears, Smith said. I was always trying to find an answer to things. Things just kind of spun out of control, but its journey Im very thankful for because I learned a lot about myself and about mindset and mindfulness, being in the present moment.Deeply religious and introspective in discussing his faith, Smith said he leaned on that and his family in making the decision to come to Houston. And it felt right to him.Coupe of weeks ago was when you really started thinking about, All right, this is becoming more real, just thinking about all the different options and what could happen, Smith said. Really, just one night I said: God,just put us where you need us.Im not good at making these decisions, especially when you let the ego version of myself kind of take over. All these different things, lets get down to whats really important and just make this decision for me because ultimately whats best for me and how the situations going to unfold."The Texans, under the direction of offensive coordinator Nick Caley and offensive line coach and run game coordinator Cole Popovich, want to build an aggressive, downhill running game designed around the tackle-breaking style of newly-acquired running back David Montgomery. And they want to continue to improve at protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was sacked a career-low 23 times last season.Thats all right up Smiths alley. At a lean 6-foot-6, 312 pounds, Smith has a reputation for toughness in the trenches.If I were to define myself, Im a physical player, Smith said. Thats my style of play. I like to really do the gritty stuff, the gritty work and just playing physical. Im not a finesse guy. I feel like Im very kind of old school. Especially with my days at Auburn, running the ball all the time. Thats just something I really enjoy. Im trying to be well-rounded and Ill do the finesse if I have to do the finesse, but my roots are in playing physical.Smith, 29, is a former Colts second-round draft pick from Auburn who has started 105 of 107 career games played for Indianapolis.Smith is tall and technically sound and he knows the AFC South division.Im very excited about it, Smith said. Ive loved playing in the AFC South for years. Theres always just good competition there. Just being able to join the Texans, its pretty exciting because theyre a high-level team.Im really excited about what theyre doing. They have a stellar defense, C.J. Stroud, a great quarterback, Im excited to join the offensive line and hopefully be able to help them out as much as I can and just do my part to help the team have success.Smith has a long background at right tackle. While he is capable of playing offensive guard, where he played collegiately, tackle is where he has gained a comfort zone in the NFL.The Texans havent discussed moving Smith inside during the free agency process. Hes a tackle.Ultimately, its up to the coaches, Smith said. Im a player and Ill do whatever they ask me to. Ive played a lot right tackle. If thats where they need me, then thats where Ill play. If they need me to do something else, then Ill do what they need me to do.When asked if the Texans had broached the idea of playing multiple positions, including guard, Smith replied: No, sir. There wasnt too much talk about position, but you just never know."A former all-rookie selection, Smith started 13 games last season before suffering a concussion and a neck injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hes fully healthy now and looking forward to playing for a playoff squad for the past three seasons that won the AFC South division title twice under the leadership of coach DeMeco Ryans."Im very much a guy that likes to look in the present moment because, all those things will come if I can put it in the work right now," Smith said. It starts right now. Free agency for me at least is over with. So, now its like, all right, now I can focus in and go to work. Theres a lot that can improve on as a player. Its looking within right now and trying to just take each day, just grow as a football player, as a human being. I think a lot of people just tell you, just taking it one day at a time and then the rest will take care of itself.Blocking for Montgomery is something Smith is really looking forward to.With the Colts, Smith blocked for one of the top running backs in the league in Jonathan Taylor. Now, hell apply those blocking fundamentals toward clearing a path for Montgomery. Montgomerys nickname: Knuckles.The Texans running game struggled last season with former team captain and Pro Bowl selection Joe Mixon missing the whole year with a mysterious foot injury. Mixon was recently released.Montgomery will join Woody Marks, who was forced to start as a rookie and overtook Nick Chubb as the primary back.I think that would be great, Smith said of blocking for Montgomery. I love that type of mentality and just being able to play with a guy like that, hopefully I can do my part and just open up holes for him and protecting for C.J. Just playing physical, I think thats where it all kind of starts and being able to bloody the other guy first.Stroud has already gotten in touch with Smith to express his enthusiasm about teaming up.He texted me just welcoming me and hes a great guy and really excited to get to know him on a personal level and just be around all the guys, Smith said. I was honestly kind of surprised, just kind of a warm welcome and just seeing a random number pop up on my phone and saying like, Hey, this is C.J. and just excited to get you here and work with you and it was really cool.Im very much a guy that just like kind of get right to work. Im anxious to get a playbook in my hand and start studying that stuff and just being ready to get out there and help as much as I can.Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com

Igor Tudor has delivered a defiant rallying cry to his beleaguered Tottenham squad ahead of Sunday's daunting trip to Anfield.The Croatian interim manager, whose position hangs by a thread following four successive defeats, urged his players to embrace confrontation rather than self-pity."Like everything in life, you can choose how to see the situation. So, you can stay and cry or you can fight," Tudor declared at the club's training ground on Friday."You can be the victim or you can say I can change something. This is the message I want to start and what I told to the players."Tudor's fighting message comes after GB News exclusively revealed that the Croatian has infuriated the dressing room with his cold demeanour and coaching style.This came to a head on Tuesday night when he took off Antonin Kinsky after 17 minutes against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, following two glaring errors.Tudor failed to acknowledge the 23-year-old as he came off while GB News understands the manager has no relationship at all with the players.Spurs sit precariously just one point above the relegation zone.The club's predicament has reached crisis point under Tudor, who took charge on 14 February following Thomas Frank's departure.Tuesday's Champions League humiliation against Atletico Madrid epitomised the malaise, with the north London side conceding four goals within the opening 22 minutes en route to a 5-2 thrashing.That defeat extended Spurs' losing streak to six matches in 2026 alone, an unwanted record in the club's history.The spectre of relegation from the top flight for the first time since 1977 now looms large over the club.Tudor, 47, acknowledged the gravity of the situation whilst maintaining his combative stance."Not easy situation, not an easy moment and from other side a big challenge to change things," the former Juventus manager stated.Tudor was emphatic in dismissing suggestions that supernatural forces or external factors were responsible for the club's woes."Don't think it's not about me. You know that can be the problem more than all these things about Tottenham and club, you know, like magic on the club, like bad black magic and these other b******s," he said.The interim boss insisted accountability rests squarely with those inside the dressing room and coaching staff."All the bs, all the other things are bs and sorry to use this word, but it's on us," Tudor added.The injury crisis afflicting Spurs has deepened considerably ahead of the Liverpool encounter.Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha have both been ruled out through concussion protocols sustained during the Atletico debacle.Their absence compounds the loss of Micky van de Ven, who serves a suspension.This defensive depletion means Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin are expected to form the central defensive partnership at Anfield against the reigning Premier League champions.Tudor has nonetheless challenged his depleted squad to rise to the occasion."Difficult moments don't last forever," he insisted, urging those available to demonstrate courage in their battle against the drop.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

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