OXNARD, Calif. – Mazi Smith knew immediately.
It wasn’t the first time he had an allergic reaction to something he had eaten.
“I’ve had that happen a lot,” said the Cowboys defensive tackle. “You know, big guy. Eats a lot and stuff.”
“I know what to do if you have an allergic reaction. You can’t panic, especially if it’s something to do with your respiratory system. You just have to go to the hospital, get checked out and have others check you.”
Smith was on the team bus on Friday afternoon, en route to the airport to fly to Las Vegas for the Cowboys’ preseason game, when the attack occurred. He quickly notified medical personnel of the incident and stayed in Southern California rather than make the trip to the game against the Raiders.
Smith had something to fuel himself before getting on the bus, since the players wouldn’t eat lunch until the plane. He believes a dairy product – not regular milk, which is fine – caused the reaction.
There are no aftereffects from the first episode. Smith participated in the tryout on Monday and plans to complete the last two practices of this training camp on Tuesday and Wednesday, wearing protective equipment.
“Business as usual,” he said.
The last episode Smith remembers is his training in preparation for the combine ahead of last year’s draft.
“Honestly, I’m pretty careful about it,” Smith said of his diet. “It was a big surprise.”
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