Tampa Bay Buccaneers return specialist Clifton Smith spoke with Carolina defensive back Dante Wesley this week and accepted his apology.
Wesley was suspended for one game without pay by the NFL for his flagrant hit against Smith during a punt return in Sunday's 28-21 loss to Carolina. Smith addressed the hit for first time Thursday and holds no animosity toward Wesley.
"He explained it just like he had it in the paper," Smith said. "He was just trying to make a play. It's understandable. We left it at that.
"He apologized. I accepted his apology. I appreciated it and I'll see him again."
In suspending Wesley, the league said this:
"Wesley left his feet, launched himself and made shoulder and forearm contact with the neck and head area of Tampa Bay punt returner Clifton Smith, who had not caught or touched the ball and was in a defenseless posture."
Smith left the game with a concussion and sustained throat damage. Asked if he thought Wesley's hit was a cheap shot, Smith took the high road.
"It's football," Smith said. "Just like (Bucs Coach) Raheem (Morris) said, gunfighters get shot sometimes. I took mine on the chin and we'll move forward from there."
Smith is unsure if he will play against New England on Sunday. He returned to practice on Thursday and feels healthy enough to play on Sunday, but understands the decision is not up to him.
"I feel like I can play," Smith said. "The trainers are doing a great job right now of holding me out and taking the precautions. We'll find out some things in the next couple of days and take it from there."
Tampa Bay plays at Carolina on Dec. 6.
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