"I think the biggest thing he told me I'll never forget when I got there, he told me to always treat every year like you're a rookie," Roberts said. "I think that's one thing I've kept with me my whole career."
"I'm just thankful to have the opportunity to play there and be around one of the great receivers of all-time, who will definitely be a first-ballot Hall of Famer," Brown said. "Not just for on the field issues but learning things off the field. He developed me into a better man in a lot of situations."
Roberts, still friends with Fitz, said he's worked out with current Cardinals wideouts Christian Kirk and Trent Sherfield – "some young guys (Fitz) has taken under his wing and helped them grow." Brown has done with rookie Bills receiver Gabe Davis the same thing Fitz once did with him, inviting him to stay with him for a time in the offseason to show him how to be a pro.
"There are a lot of guys who have come through that I have tried to help and for some reason they didn't want to hear it or had their own plan," Fitzgerald said. "Smoke was one of those guys who always asked questions. It makes it worthwhile to know you can try to have a positive influence on guys."
