Bucs' Evan Smith explains decision to change name

Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Evan Smith, formerly known as Evan Dietrich-Smith, had a perfectly reasonable explanation for shortening his last name.

"I have to write it," Smith said Monday, according to Joe Kania from the team's official website. "I didn't want my daughter to have to deal with it her whole life. I went by Evan Smith for a really long time so it's nothing new to me. It's pretty much new to everyone else because nobody knew that beforehand."

Smith added Dietrich, his mother's maiden name, to his last name during his senior year at college.

"I actually really started going by Dietrich to kind of honor my brother when he was in the Army," Smith said. "Our name was so long that all they could put on the patch was 'Dietrich.' That was one of those things more of to just kind of honor him being in the service and all that kind of stuff."

The 28-year-old is now one of four Bucs with the last name Smith, joining head coach Lovie Smith, defensive end Jacquies Smith and offensive tackle Donovan Smith.