Cleveland Browns defensive end Chris Smith announced Monday that he will play in the team’s game versus the New York Jets Monday night, even after the death of his girlfriend last week.
Smith was driving with his girlfriend and the mother of his four-week-old daughter, Petara Cordero, early Wednesday morning when a tire blew and caused the car to hit a median on I-90 West in Cleveland. According to a release by the Browns, the couple was able to exit the crashed vehicle without injuries, but Cordero was then struck by an oncoming vehicle and killed.
Smith told Cleveland.com, ““I am going to play (Monday) because it is something, she would want me to do. She would want me to keep doing what I love and stay strong. I play for her tonight. She is my why.”
The Browns and Jets are each playing for their first win of the season.
