(05-27-2023, 12:34 PM)jaglou53 Wrote: I still believe that Jimmy Smith in his prime was the best Jaguar ever- slightly ahead of Boselli and Freddy T. He truly was uncoverable and also opened things up for Keenan and Freddy. His career ended sadly, but that should not take away from his overall performance. While I can't claim to really "know" him, he was always extremely gracious to fans at training camp. Seemed like a genuinely good guy whose career and life was shattered by addiction. Glad to see him doing interviews with the media and really hope he has found a way to get past the addiction.

Jimmy Smith - took him 5 years to become a full time starter, 80 games  

Fred Taylor - missed 55 regular season games

Tony Boselli - missed 80 possible games

Tony Boselli - started 90 games and was out of the league by the time he was 29 years of age. 29 year old Boselli…. To shine some light on that, Jimmy Smith was going into his 2nd year as a full time starter at 29. Boselli made 5 straight Pro Bowls just like Smith but what separates them is Tony had 3 straight All Pro seasons, and he should have 4 AP’s but he didn’t get selected in 2000. On the flip side of that, Jimmy should have made the Pro Bowl in 1996. Jimmy had more yards (1244) and TDs (7), than Keenan, even though Keenan made the Pro Bowl that year instead of Jimmy. Oh I forgot to mention…Keenan started 15 games that year but how many games did Jimmy start? No way in the world he started just 9? Yep, started just 9 games. With that said Jimmy doesn’t have any All Pro selections, even though he led the NFL in receptions in 1999, he was also 2nd in receiving yards that year which was 27 yards behind Marvin Harrison. Guess who was the 2 All Pro receivers in 1999? Marvin Harrison and Cris Carter. 

1999—Cris Carter 90 rec, 1241 yards, 13 TD
1999-Jimmy Smith 116 rec, 1636 yards, 6 TD

I say all that to say this, I think Jimmy should atleast have 1 All Pro selection and I might could argue Jimmy could have been an All Pro in 2001 instead of Terrell Owens. In 2001 Jimmy was 1 reception away from leading the NFL in catches for his 2nd time. But Tony Boselli is still the best player in team history. He just was. He was considered the best player in the NFL at his position. Jimmy had to compare to guys like Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Jerry Rice, Tory Holt. Boselli was considered the best amongst his position. And he was considered the best 3 seasons in a row. Boselli was also the first ever draft pick in our team’s history so there is a little more added value because of that. Boselli manhandled the defensive player of the year in those 1996 playoffs. I’m a huuuge Smith, Taylor, and Brunell fan, but Boselli is still our best player in franchise history. He’s also representing our team in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I hope Jimmy and Fred make it too.

Just imagine is Jimmy Smith, Fred Taylor, and Tony Boselli could have all those games back. Boselli could have played 5 more years which is 80 games. Jimmy missed 80 games as a starter, and Fred missed 55 games. That’s a combined 215 games.

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