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Once the 2016 Jacksonville Jaguars season appeared to be hopeless, at least as far as a non-losing season and/or the playoffs, there was still one game most Jaguars fans had circled to look forward to, this Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to the season it was announced the team would honor former Jaguars great, wide receiver Jimmy Smith, by adding him to the team’s Pride of the Jaguars. Smith, who is long overdue to join the Pride, would join Tony Boselli, Fred Taylor and Mark Brunell as former players honored in the stadium.
“There is no question that Jimmy Smith was one of the best players to ever wear a Jaguars uniform,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a press release on Thursday. “His contributions in the early years were critical to the success the Jaguars enjoyed during that time. The fact that most of his records have stood for 10 years without being surpassed underscores what a great player he was. I am very happy that we will appropriately honor him on Sunday.”
Not only has Smith’s numbers stood the test of time and appear untouchable any time soon, the team has struggled to find a reliable receiving option since he retired. There have been many a Mike Thomas, Mike Sims-Walker, Cecil Shorts III etc. since he left that flashed but eventually amounted to just be a flash in the pan. Fans thought they might have finally found it in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns last season, but as we’ve learned countless times, you’ve got to see it multiple seasons with consistency, which was a hallmark of Jimmy Smith’s career with the Jaguars.
“I am honored and humbled by this recognition, joining Tony and Fred and Mark and the Weavers in the Pride of the Jaguars,” Smith said, “and I look forward to being back at EverBank Field. We had such great fun and I have wonderful memories of my time there, and I want to experience it once again with my teammates and the great Jaguars fans. This is a great honor.”
Hopefully for Smith’s sake, the Jaguars won’t look like a dumpster fire on Sunday and the fans who still go to the game will stick around at least through halftime.