NFL Receiver In Jail For Drugs And Weapons Charges

Jimmy Smith, a former NFL receiver, is in jail for a six-year sentence on drug and weapons charges in Mississippi. Smith played for the Jacksonville Jaguars for 11 years before retiring from the game in 2005.

He now calls the Mississippi Department of Corrections his home due to multiple charges, according to Chad Cushnir of firstcoastnews.com. The 44-year-old is serving two-years for “possession of a firearm by a convicted felon” and four more years for a possession of cocaine charge, according to Mississippi DOC records.

Since hanging up his Jaguars’ uniform in 2005, Jimmy Smith has struggled to stay out of trouble. The five-time Pro Bowl selection was arrested in 2008 for a DUI and again in 2009 for drug charges during a routine stop for a traffic violation.

He received probation for both incidents and eventually checked himself into rehab, voluntarily at that, later in 2009. The NFL was well aware of Smith’s struggles as he was suspended in 2003 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Smith’s been out of the league for over seven years and he won’t be seeing any games live for quite some time. The former NFL receiver is in jail until a tentative release date of November 8, 2018. He began his sentence on March 29th.

Jimmy Smith was born in Detroit, Michigan but grew up in Mississippi and he returned to the state a few years ago. The news of his conviction has hit home with Jaguars’ fans who watched their favorite wide out put together the greatest seasons, statistically speaking, in the franchise’s history.

Over an 11-year career, Smith totaled 12,287 receiving yards on 862 receptions with 67 touchdowns. He leads the Jaguars’ all-time list in every major receiving category to this day.

Smith also spent two injury-filled years with the Dallas Cowboys to start his career and didn’t play in 1994 before joining the Jaguars in their expansion season.

Outside of his struggles off the field, he set up the Jimmy Smith Foundation that is committed to mentoring at-risk youth and providing programs that have a positive impact on their growth.

With a former NFL receiver in jail, do you think the league should put new policies in place to educate players on life after football?

[Image via Robert Pollack]