Harrison Smith didn't want to use the word "excited" to describe his mood on the first day of his 12th NFL training camp. Too cliché, he said. All players and coaches say that.
"Whatever a synonym for 'excited' is," he said, "I'm that for what we could potentially have going here."
Here. Minnesota. Quarterbacking the Vikings defense.
Deep down, Smith knew he really didn't want to play anywhere else when presented with that option this offseason, even if staying with the team that drafted him required accepting a pay cut.
He looked and considered a few select teams.