What really happened between De’Veon Smith and the Pittsburgh Maulers that led to his being cut from the United States Football League (USFL) team?
On Monday, Smith took to Twitter and accused the Maulers of lying in their statement on his release – which claimed Smith “broke three team rules within 24 hours and, in this particular incident, disregarded a cafeteria worker who was not caught on camera”.
Last Saturday, a bracket in the documentary series United By Football: A Season in the USFL, which chronicled preparations for the league’s return, Smith showed how he appeared to have been circumcised by the Maulers for ordering pizza instead of chicken salad at the team hotel.
In the footage, Smith claimed that when asked if he ate chicken salad, he said no and asked if he could eat anything else. When an employee walked in with a pizza, Smith claimed he simply asked if he could have a slice.
However, Maulers coach Kirby Wilson had already “moved on” from Smith, saying in the clip, “I’m glad we did.”
De’Veon Smith plays for the Tampa Bay Vipers in the XFL in February 2020. XFL via Getty Images
“Please show me the three team rules I broke!” Schmidt tweeted Monday.
“Now if I send these screenshots from our exact convo, who is lying?” he wrote in a separate tweet.
In another tweet, Smith wrote: “I was never made aware that I broke team rules, let alone 3 in a 24 hour period. I have not disrespected anyone. Coach Kirby and I spoke after the release. In that conversation he said he would certainly vouch for my character.”
Blacksmith then reposted a tweet by Ron Selesky, former operations manager of the Tampa Bay Vipers, which read: “I worked with @i_BSmith4 every day. zero problems. professional. Respectfully.”
It’s unclear if the revised USFL is investigating the situation regarding Smith and the Maulers.