Jimmy Smith (wide receiver)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other people with the same name, see Jimmy Smith.

Jimmy Smith
No. 82
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1969-02-09) February 9, 1969 (age 55)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:202 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:Callaway (Jackson, Mississippi)
College:Jackson State (1987–1991)
NFL draft:1992 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receiving yards:
12,287
Receiving touchdowns:67
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Jimmy Lee Smith Jr. (born February 9, 1969) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars. He played college football for the Jackson State Tigers. With the Cowboys, he won two consecutive Super Bowls over the Buffalo Bills.

Early life

Smith is the son of Jimmy and Etta Smith. He attended

Callaway High School in Jackson, Mississippi. He played wide receiver and earned All-conference honors as a senior.[1]
He was given the nickname Silk by his teammates, for making the big plays look easy.

College career

Smith didn't have any Division I offers coming out of high school, so he accepted a football scholarship from Jackson State University. He was a backup wide receiver in his first two seasons.

He became a starter as a junior, teaming with

Division I-AA, while registering 40 receptions (led the team) for 877 yards (21.3-yard average) and 9 touchdowns. Against Southern University, he made 4 receptions for 184 yards and tied a school record with 3 receiving touchdowns
(70, 64 and 37 yards).

In his final year, he led the team with 43 catches for 801 yards (18.4-yard average) and 3 touchdowns. He finished his college career with 110 receptions, 2,073 yards and 16 touchdowns. Against Delaware State University, he set a school record with 10 receptions for 239 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration.[1]

In 2011, he was named to the Jackson State University All-Century team.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split
20-yard shuttle
 Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 0+3⁄4 in
(1.85 m) 		200 lb
(91 kg) 		32+5⁄8 in
(0.83 m) 		10+1⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		 4.58 s 1.59 s 2.59 s 4.14 s 35.0 in
(0.89 m)		 10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)
All values from NFL Combine[2][3]

Dallas Cowboys

Smith was selected by the

special teams. Smith earned the first ring of his career as a rookie, after the Cowboys went on to Super Bowl XXVII and defeated the Buffalo Bills
52–17.

In

Tagamet. He played in the next preseason game and caught a touchdown reception, and was waved back in by a coach after taking himself out from taking a hit to the abdominal area that worsened the pain. Over the next few days, he repeatedly brought the pain to the attention of the trainers and wasn't given adequate care or the correct diagnosis. He asked to be directed to a doctor and was told to see the team doctor who gave him a checkup and took him to see the team surgeon, who finally diagnosed him with appendicitis. On August 24, 1993, he underwent an emergency appendectomy. The following day, the surgeon released him from the hospital, notwithstanding a 102.5 °F (39.2 °C) fever. On August 27, Smith was readmitted to the hospital after waking up in severe pain, vomiting and with a bloated stomach, because of a severe post-surgical infection that was nearly fatal. He went into emergency surgery for an ileostomy, in which a portion of his intestine was dissected and removed, with an external bag then fitted to collect his fecal matter, forcing Smith to miss the entire season, including Super Bowl XXVIII.[5] On October 2, the Cowboys placed him on the non-football illness list and opted not to pay his entire $350,000 salary for the 1993 season, as well as his insurance, pension, and free agent credits, instead making Smith an offer of $100,000 and no credits, which he declined.[6] The NFL Players Association filed a grievance with the Cowboys on Smith's behalf, alleging that he was due his full salary, which he won after going through arbitration.[7]

On July 11, 1994, he was waived after refusing to take a pay cut.

Philadelphia Eagles

On July 19, 1994, he was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles but was eventually released on August 30.[8]

Jacksonville Jaguars

On February 28, 1995, Smith was signed by the expansion

Curtis Marsh throughout training camp for a job as a starting wide receiver. Head coach Tom Coughlin
named him the fifth wide receiver on the depth chart behind Howard, Givens, Jackson, and Tillman. He finished the season leading the Jaguars in kickoff returns.

The next year, he became a starter after Andre Rison was released following the 11th game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He would emerge as a dominant receiver, finishing with 1,244 receiving yards (leading the AFC) and 7 touchdowns, while helping the team win its last five games and reach the AFC Championship Game.[11]

Smith would remain one of the cornerstones of the franchise for a decade. His teammates gave him the nickname J-Smooth and would later be known with

NFL Film's 2014 A Football Life
: "Keenan McCardell & Jimmy Smith".

Smith continued to be a key member of the Jaguars offense and helped lead the team to playoff appearances for four straight years (

NFL during the regular season, registering 1,636 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns
.

In 2000, his best career game came against arguably one of the best defenses in NFL history, when he posted 15 receptions, 291 receiving yards (fifth in NFL history) and 3 touchdowns, against the eventual Super Bowl champion the Baltimore Ravens.

In 2001, he overcame three difficult intestine operations during the offseason, to remove scar tissue related to the appendectomy procedure he underwent in Dallas.[12] On November 26, he was found to have benzoylecgonine (a by-product of cocaine) in his system after being pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving. He denied using cocaine and was not charged with any crime since he was not found to be impaired while driving.[13] The incident placed him into the NFL's substance-abuse program.

In 2003, he was handed a four-game suspension for an undisclosed substance abuse violation.[14] He would have a down year with 805 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.

On May 11,

receptions (also led the league) and 1,636 yards in 1999, both career-highs. His career high in touchdowns was eight, achieved in 1998, 2000 and 2001
.

In 2016, he was inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars (the franchise's ring of honor).

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP Receiving Fumbles
Rec Yds Avg Lng TD FD Fum Lost
1992 DAL 7 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
1993 DAL 0 did not play due to injury
1995 JAX 16 22 288 13.1 33 3 12 2 0
1996 JAX 16 83 1,244 15.0 62 7 60 1 1
1997 JAX 16 82 1,324 16.1 75 4 64 1 0
1998 JAX 16 78 1,182 15.2 72 8 50 2 1
1999 JAX 16 116 1,636 14.1 62 6 86 1 1
2000 JAX 15 91 1,213 13.3 65 8 60 1 0
2001 JAX 16 112 1,373 12.3 35 8 68 1 0
2002 JAX 16 80 1,027 12.8 47 7 53 0 0
2003 JAX 12 54 805 14.9 67 4 38 1 0
2004 JAX 16 74 1,172 15.8 65 6 52 2 1
2005 JAX 16 70 1,023 14.6 45 6 56 0 0
Career[16] 178 862 12,287 14.3 75 67 599 12 4

NFL records

Jaguars franchise records

As of the 2017 NFL off-season, Jimmy Smith held at least 31 Jaguars franchise records, including:

  • Receptions: career (862), season (116 in 1999)
  • Receiving Yds: career (12,287), season (1,636 in 1999), game (291 on 2000-09-10 @BAL), playoffs (647), playoff season (228 in 1999), playoff game (136 on 2000-01-15 MIA)
  • Yds/Rec: career (14.25), playoffs (16.18), playoff season (22.8 in 1999), playoff game (27.2 on 2000-01-15 MIA)
  • Receiving TDs: career (67), game (3 on 2000-09-10 @BAL), playoffs (7), playoff season (3 in 1998), playoff game (2 on 2000-01-15 MIA)
  • Rec Yds/Game: career (71.9), playoffs (71.9), playoff season (114 in 1999)
  • Total TDs: playoffs (7), playoff season (3 in 1998), playoff game (2 on 2000-01-15 MIA)
  • Yds from Scrimmage: game (291 on 2000-09-10 @BAL)
  • 100+ yard receiving games: career (48), season (10 in 1999), playoffs (2)
  • Games with 1+ TD scored: career (64), playoffs (5)
  • Games with 2+ TD scored: playoffs (2)
  • 1,000+ receiving yard seasons: career (9)

Personal life

Smith and his wife Sandra currently reside in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, with their five children, Jimmy III ("Trey"), Jaden, Dalys, Dyson and Jayse.

Wyoming Cowboys where he was a key contributor. Trey was given a try-out by his father's former team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, but was not offered a contract.[18]

His father, Jimmy Smith Sr., played linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968.

His popularity led some sushi restaurants in Jacksonville, Florida, to honor him with a specialty sushi roll known as "The Jimmy Smith Roll".[19] The roll consists of "smoked salmon, cream cheese, scallions and crabstick deep fried with spicy mayo sauce".[19] Rolls bearing Jimmy Smith's name can still be found at many sushi restaurants in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas.[20]

Legal issues

In April 2009, Smith was arrested for multiple drug charges.[10] Since then, he has been through rehab and made an effort to make a difference in other people's lives through the Jimmy Smith Foundation.[21]

In 2013, Smith was sentenced to serve six years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections after being convicted of drug and weapons charges; two years for "possession of a firearm by a convicted felon" and four years for possession of cocaine.[22] Although his tentative release date was November 8, 2018, he was released on July 2, 2013, on the condition of house arrest.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Our Team". Jimmy Smith Athletics. Archived from the original on November 19, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  2. ^ "Jimmy Smith, Combine Results, WR - Jackson State (MS)". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  3. ^ "Jimmy Smith RAS". ras.football. January 3, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  4. ^ "1992 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  5. ^ "Detours don't stop Jacksonville's Smith". Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  6. ^ Bill Brubaker. "ANATOMY OF AN NFL GRIEVANCE: JIMMY SMITH VS. DALLAS COWBOYS". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  7. ^ "Cowboy Owner Loses". The New York Times. December 24, 1993. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  8. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. August 31, 1994. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  9. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. March 1995. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Ex-Jag J. Smith found with drugs in car". April 23, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "Jaguars set to honor Jimmy Smith, who continues a battle that never ends". Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  12. ^ "When Football Doesn't Matter". Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  13. ^ Jags' Smith tests positive for cocaine in traffic stop
  14. ^ "Smith Suspended 4 Games". Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  15. ^ "Jimmy Smith calling it quits". Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  16. ^ "Jimmy Smith Stats". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  17. NFL.com
    . Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  18. ^ Oehser, John. "Rookie minicamp: Opportunity a "blessing" for Smith". Jaguars.com. Jacksonville Jaguars. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Daily Record Editor (August 25, 2009). "City Notes". Financial News and Daily Record. Retrieved March 7, 2018. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  20. ^ Sushi Cafe Winter park. "Sushi Cafe Winter Park Menu". Sushi Cafe Winter Park. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  21. ^ "Jimmy Smith Foundation | Jimmy Smith Athletics Blog". Archived from the original on December 7, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  22. ^ "Ex-Jag Jimmy Smith imprisoned on gun, drug charges". NFL.com. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  23. NFL
    . Retrieved March 7, 2018.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jimmy_Smith_(wide_receiver)&oldid=1196096740"