In a rather shocking twist, Telvin Smith announced he will sit out the 2019 season. The Jaguars linebacker plans to step away from the game for the time being, he announced on Instagram (via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, on Twitter).
After the draft, GM Dave Caldwell did not commit to Smith’s place on the ’19 Jags. Smith had not reported to Jaguars voluntary workouts this offseason. But the five-year veteran said recently he did not want to play anywhere else. While that still appears to be the case, Smith’s NFL future is much cloudier.
“At this time I must take time away from the game & get my world in order,” Smith wrote. “I must give this time back to myself, my family & my health. … I know the rumors of trade talk came about, but I started my career in Jacksonville & the day I do decide to call it quits will be right here in Duval.”
This appears to have caught the Jaguars by surprise as well.
“We will not have a comment about Telvin Smith’s statement at this time,” the team said in a statement. “We need to have a conversation with Telvin to understand the situation and the circumstances.”
Smith, 28, has been a Jaguars starter for all five years of his career. He earned Pro Bowl acclaim during a 2017 season that ended with the Jags on the Super Bowl precipice. Last season, he led the team in tackles by a significant margin with 134. The Florida State alum has been one of the NFL’s best off-ball linebackers, having been the only player to record 100-plus tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in each of the past three seasons, per Warren Sharp of SharpFootballAnalysis.com (Twitter link). Smith has nine career picks, returning three for touchdowns, and six fumble recoveries.
Although Smith appeared on the Jags’ injury report with a shoulder injury at points last year, he did not miss a game. The former second-round pick has missed just four games in five seasons. The Jags extended Smith (four years, $44MM) in October 2017. Three years remain on his contract; the Jags stand to control his rights if he returns. Smith was scheduled to count $12.56MM toward Jacksonville’s 2019 cap. Now, the team will have to call an audible at outside ‘backer.
This makes Jacksonville’s third-round selection of Quincy Williams, a player most analysts did not consider a Day 2-caliber talent, more interesting. The Murray State alum could now play a bigger part for the Jags as a rookie. Myles Jack is entering a contract year. The Jags also signed former Packers starting inside linebacker Jake Ryan.
Wow!
Wtf. Whyyyyyyyyyyy. We just had a decent LB core with him Jack Ryan, and Myles Jack. Whyyyyyyy
Jack Ryan can’t play. Small, slow and not real physical.
He’s also fictional.
Jake Ryan is pretty slow though…
The Almighty dollar is speaking to him. Maybe he just nixed a trade as well?
Makes no sense???
So his not getting paid this year takes his salary off the cap total?
Yes, but portion of bonus will count.
Did he get caught using? Said he wants to get his affairs in order, but the Not For Long football league will move on without him and that $10 mil may never show up again.
Why do these guys do that? Its probably a money thing and for the other guys who have done this, they haven’t made more money or even the money they were looking for. Just ask Bell
Actually with him it doesn’t look like a holdout/money thing, just the opposite. He appears to be walking away from a decent payday to get his off the field stuff in order.
Announces on IG to the world before his coach and teammates.
Lame.
Don’t care what he’s dealing with…..that ain’t right.
Plus he just got a big signing bonus a year ago……pretty easy”now” to just take a year off.
This is all his way of getting away from the voluntary & mandatory minicamps. But, really this is all a bluff to the Jaguars b/c they aren’t going to put him on the NFL non-report/retire list and lose him for a whole season. This is all for a new contract plain & simple.
He also doesn’t want to be fined for missing mand. camp so he is using the family excuse.
Tom Coughlin should just put him on the reserve list for the season & see if gets everything straight and comes back next yr. (still a yr. away from being a FA). W/2 yrs. of being franchised as a possibility. Let him be the next LeVeon. It’s not as if the Jags will win the SB anyway.