Dolphins' Sean Smith grows up, ready for 'elite'

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — "It's OK to be a follower, as long as you're following the right leader." — Smithology

It's not easy being witty about someone who's wittier than you. And that's the deal with Dolphins cornerback Sean Smith. He's practices in the July sun, swats footballs away, answers questions in his upbeat manner ("Everything's great") and then goes to his hotel room and writes some new line of Smithology.

That's what he calls the stream of philosophy on his Facebook page. OK, it's not just his page. It's a family project. Two siblings — Rayna and Freddie — come up with the clever thoughts on Smithology that offer their look at life.

It started when Sean was in college at Utah. He found himself twisting words into thoughts. He found other people enjoying them. And he's quick with creating them, such as when asked about dropping some interceptions last season.

"You've got to let go of the past or it won't let go of you," he says.

It's after practice Saturday and he smiles. "There's one."

"If you tell the truth it becomes a part of your past. If you tell a lie it becomes a part of your future."

On the subject of the past, it's interesting to see what young players learn. Smith, for instance, learned more than most last year.

You know how cornerbacks like to call themselves islands? Well, he had a little island vacation while benched in the Buffalo opener.

The problem, he says now, was simple: "I wasn't being a pro."

He was late for meetings. He gave mixed efforts in practice. He didn't understand what was expected of him. Ask him. He'll spell it out. For all the ways coaches or teammates asked him to grow up, coach Tony Sparano's benching him did the trick.

"It was a wake-up call," Smith says. "I needed it. I'd be lying if I said I took everything seriously to that point. I had to change something. This wasn't college anymore."

His mind-set changed. He started working. Patience sometimes is the necessary emotion with young players. As testament to his progress, profootballfocus.com broke down the video and ranked him No. 8 among NFL cornerbacks last season.

That's not quite gospel. Darrelle Revis is ranked 18th. And even Smith shrugs if that's right.