On December 8, 1980 the Patriots were playing the Miami Dolphins in a nationally televised Monday Night Football game with a playoff spot on the line. The game was tied 13-13 in the final seconds of regulation with the camera panned in on Smith when Howard Cosell broke the news to the nation that John Lennon had been murdered. Smith had made two field goals during the game but the kick was blocked and the Dolphins won in overtime. After the game there was little talk of football as the media had been swept up in the story of Lennon. Smith was one of only two English NFL players at the time, the other being Mike Dawson. Smith was a fan of the Beatles in his youth and during his rookie hazing with the Patriots often sang Beatles songs to his teammates.