The disadvantage of being transferred to a new team is that you may not receive the number you want, unless you’re ready to pay for it, which is just what Za’Darius Smith did after being traded from Cleveland to Detroit on November 5.
Smith had worn No. 99 with the Browns since the beginning of the 2023 season, but when he arrived in Detroit, the Lions informed him that keeping that number would not be an option.
“I came in and signed, and they were like, ‘Man, you got three options, you can get any number in the 70s, any numbers in the 80s, and I think it was the 60s.'” “And I was like, ‘No way,'” Smith told reporters on Friday.
Smith wasn’t satisfied with any of his ideas, so he came up with another one.
“I was thinking, ‘Who have No. 99?’ And they informed me who it was, so we looked up his phone and called him right away,” Smith explained.
The man they called was Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin, who wore No. 99 at the start of the season but will no longer wear it after selling it. Smith refused to reveal how much he paid, although he did provide a hint.
“What is the going rate?” “I’m going to say there are three zeros at the end of that,” Smith added.
If it ended with three zeroes, Smith paid between $1,000 and $9,000.
“I’m not going to tell you the exact price, but for sure, he’s going to have some good money, put some gas in his car,” says Smith.
In the end, the three-time Pro Bowler received the number he desired.
“Thankful to [Martin], a guy from Alabama, man, Tuscaloosa,” Smith muttered. “I was able to speak with him for a short period of time, and I had to give him a small fee, but everything is well. I have No. 99 now.”
Normally, players are not allowed to change numbers in the middle of the season, but because Martin has yet to appear in a game this season, the switch was permitted, and Martin will now wear No. 96 while Smith will wear No. 99.
Smith was given a number, but it is unlikely that he will wear it in Week 10. According to NFL.com, Smith is not anticipated to face the Texans. If Smith had stayed in Cleveland, he would have had a bye this week with the Browns, and it appears that the Lions will give him the week off rather than expect him to play all 18 games.
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