A Tribute to Mr. Smith
Hands like glue
whatcha gonna do?
Number 82 coming right at you".
- Jimmy Smith
This was Jimmy's part in an ill-advised rap song the Jacksonville Jaguars recorded on their playoff run in their most successful season ever, 1999.
The Jags went 14-2 in the regular season and had a first round bye in the playoffs. They destroyed Miami 62-7 in the second round, ending the careers of both Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson on a sour note.
The Jags went into the AFC Championship game facing the only team that beat them all year, the Tennessee Titans, twice. Retribution seemed near. The Jags had a 3 point lead at the half, that should have been more if it weren't for a fumbled punt return by Reggie Barlow and a bullshit pass interference call against Carnell Lake that took away an interception.
Regardless, the Jags' Super Bowl dreams were 30 football minutes away.
However, destiny took a turn at the half. No one from that team is yet talking about what happened in the locker room (the rumor mill says that a malcontent 3rd string defensive lineman started a fight), but SOMETHING happened because the Jags' laid an egg in the 2nd half.
The Jaguars failed to score again and the Titans went on the Super Bowl. The Titties lost to the Rams, but that is of little solice. 1999 was the Jags' year and the team came up short.
It took 6 seasons before the Jags' returned to the playoffs, only to get uncerimoniously dismissed by the Patriots last January, 28-3.
However, to a Jags' fan, there is hope on the horizon. Making the playoffs was the goal last season and it was achieved. This is a team on the rise. This team is young, has a great defense, a solid offensive line, a quarterback who could be a star, a stable of young running backs behind the great Fred Taylor and a mix of young receivers who will now be asked to pick up the slack, left by the retirement of the great Jimmy Smith.
Jimmy is the last of the original 1995 Jags to leave the team. Jimmy was signed as a street free agent in '95 because the team that drafted him, the Dallas Cowboys, cut him. Jimmy broke a bone in training camp his rookie year with the Cowboys, putting him on IR for the season. He needed an appendectomy before his second season, ending it before it started. Jimmy does, however, own a Super Bowl ring for being on the Cowboys' roster for their win in Super Bowl XXXI.
Jimmy Smith's goal in 1995 was to make an NFL roster and stay on it for 3 or 4 seasons. He wanted a few years of 6 digit paydays and he would be happy.
Jimmy turned into the Jags' best receiver of all time.
Jimmy has been to 5 Pro Bowls and has led the Jaguars in receiving yards and receptions for 10 straight years. He holds every receiving record for this young franchise and was instrumental in the teams' early success, making the playoffs from 1996-1999.
Jimmy turned down $3.5 million dollars this year because he didn't feel the burning desire anymore. When Jimmy signed with the Jags in '95, he would have been delighted to make $2 million dollars in 4 years. He left at the top of his game.
Jimmy Smith will most likely not make the Hall of Fame. That place is reserved for tremendous stats or memorable Super Bowl moments. Jimmy had great stats (but maybe not tremendous) and no Super Bowl moments.
Jimmy leaves a team that is heading to the Super Bowl either this year or next, knowing that he can't help them anymore. Jimmy leaves nothing but good thoughts with this Jags' fan.
Jimmy Smith is a performer who this sports fan will never forget. Congratulations on an excellent career, Mr. Smith.
Wednesday May 17, 2006 - 06:56pm (MDT)
whatcha gonna do?
Number 82 coming right at you".
- Jimmy Smith
This was Jimmy's part in an ill-advised rap song the Jacksonville Jaguars recorded on their playoff run in their most successful season ever, 1999.
The Jags went 14-2 in the regular season and had a first round bye in the playoffs. They destroyed Miami 62-7 in the second round, ending the careers of both Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson on a sour note.
The Jags went into the AFC Championship game facing the only team that beat them all year, the Tennessee Titans, twice. Retribution seemed near. The Jags had a 3 point lead at the half, that should have been more if it weren't for a fumbled punt return by Reggie Barlow and a bullshit pass interference call against Carnell Lake that took away an interception.
Regardless, the Jags' Super Bowl dreams were 30 football minutes away.
However, destiny took a turn at the half. No one from that team is yet talking about what happened in the locker room (the rumor mill says that a malcontent 3rd string defensive lineman started a fight), but SOMETHING happened because the Jags' laid an egg in the 2nd half.
The Jaguars failed to score again and the Titans went on the Super Bowl. The Titties lost to the Rams, but that is of little solice. 1999 was the Jags' year and the team came up short.
It took 6 seasons before the Jags' returned to the playoffs, only to get uncerimoniously dismissed by the Patriots last January, 28-3.
However, to a Jags' fan, there is hope on the horizon. Making the playoffs was the goal last season and it was achieved. This is a team on the rise. This team is young, has a great defense, a solid offensive line, a quarterback who could be a star, a stable of young running backs behind the great Fred Taylor and a mix of young receivers who will now be asked to pick up the slack, left by the retirement of the great Jimmy Smith.
Jimmy is the last of the original 1995 Jags to leave the team. Jimmy was signed as a street free agent in '95 because the team that drafted him, the Dallas Cowboys, cut him. Jimmy broke a bone in training camp his rookie year with the Cowboys, putting him on IR for the season. He needed an appendectomy before his second season, ending it before it started. Jimmy does, however, own a Super Bowl ring for being on the Cowboys' roster for their win in Super Bowl XXXI.
Jimmy Smith's goal in 1995 was to make an NFL roster and stay on it for 3 or 4 seasons. He wanted a few years of 6 digit paydays and he would be happy.
Jimmy turned into the Jags' best receiver of all time.
Jimmy has been to 5 Pro Bowls and has led the Jaguars in receiving yards and receptions for 10 straight years. He holds every receiving record for this young franchise and was instrumental in the teams' early success, making the playoffs from 1996-1999.
Jimmy turned down $3.5 million dollars this year because he didn't feel the burning desire anymore. When Jimmy signed with the Jags in '95, he would have been delighted to make $2 million dollars in 4 years. He left at the top of his game.
Jimmy Smith will most likely not make the Hall of Fame. That place is reserved for tremendous stats or memorable Super Bowl moments. Jimmy had great stats (but maybe not tremendous) and no Super Bowl moments.
Jimmy leaves a team that is heading to the Super Bowl either this year or next, knowing that he can't help them anymore. Jimmy leaves nothing but good thoughts with this Jags' fan.
Jimmy Smith is a performer who this sports fan will never forget. Congratulations on an excellent career, Mr. Smith.
Wednesday May 17, 2006 - 06:56pm (MDT)
posted by BoiseJag at 4:52 PM
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