What Za'Darius Smith said in his first meeting with Lions reporters

On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions paid off all the reports, rumors and indications they would get him by completing a trade with the Cleveland Browns for defensive end Za'Darius Smith.

With the Browns having their bye this week, the Lions gave Smith a couple days off before he practiced with the team for the first time on Friday. So Smith's first meeting with Lions reporters also waited until Friday, in the locker room after practice.

Smith was asked about getting a couple days off before starting with his new team in-full. He had a chance to go down to his house in Florida to see about any damage from recent hurricanes, but he said he there was only "small things" (a few shingles, fence damage, truck with water damage) to deal with.

"It was big. Tuesday, obviously I was traded and coming from Cleveland, they was actually getting ready for their bye week," Smith said. "Coming here to sign, coach was like, ‘Man, we’ll give you a couple days but we’re not gonna give you the whole week.’ Happy that I got a couple days in."

"Happy that I got a couple days, got a chance to go back home to Florida and see my house from the hurricane, and it’s real bad down there,” Smith said. “But I’m glad he gave me the opportunity to go back home to see that.”

Related: 3 big winners from Lions trade for Za'Darius Smith

What Za'Darius Smith said in first meeting with Lions reporters

Smith drew attention with a "SMH" tweet early on Tuesday, and created some paranoia he wasn't getting traded to the Lions. He explained the viral tweet to reporters.

“It was just taking too long. It was taking too long,” Smith said. “But obviously they got it done, and I deleted it man. Sorry to the fans that were thinking otherwise.”

When still with the Browns and the idea or being traded to the Lions was suggested, Smith pointed to being able to play against the two NFC North teams he's already played for. He reinforced that notion on Friday.

"When I got the phone call, they told me I was coming here, I had that in the back of my mind that I get to come back to the North and play these guys again,” Smith said. “But all is well, I love those teams too, the cheese heads, great fan base. And going to the Vikings with the Skol was big too. But now I’m in the right place. . . . I get to face them twice so I can’t wait. It’s going to be big.”

As for if he'll play Sunday against the Houston Texans, Smith said it's a "Dan (Campbell) question", but he's clearly hoping to do so in whatever capacity he can.

"Obviously, I've been in the game for 10 years now, so I know actually football," Smith said. "It's just more getting the plays in and knowing the blitzes. They basically want me to be on cue with the blitzes, so hopefully something can work out here in the next 24 hours."

Smith was the Detroit Pistons' game on Friday night, as he quickly gets acclimated in Detroit.

Check out Smith's entire session with reporters below.