JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Former Jaguars linebacker Daryl Smith was inherited by general manager Dave Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley when the duo was hired by owner Shad Khan in 2013.
However, the veteran never played a snap for the pair of Jaguars decision-makers. Smith became a free agent shortly after Caldwell and Bradley took control and the team passed on re-signing him after nine years of service.
Smith signed with the Baltimore Ravens and was finally recognized on the national level, playing for the defending Super Bowl champions at the time. After three seasons in Baltimore, Smith was cut by the Ravens and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Looking back on the decision to let Smith walk in free agency, the Jaguars clearly made the wrong move. After observing several failed experiments at Otto linebacker, it seems that Smith would have been solid, if not spectacular by comparison.
Smith has played at a high level in the time since he's left Jacksonville. He is now the veteran presence at linebacker for the Bucs and Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David have embraced him as a role model.
Entering his 13th season in the league, Smith is still enjoying the NFL life.
“It’s fun and I’m still loving the game,” Smith said. “Coming to Tampa and getting with a group of guys that are so eager to learn and so eager to win, it’s fun going to work every day. Sitting in meetings, hitting the field, we’re just taking it in, trying to get better every day.”
Smith and the Bucs are participating in joint practices with the Jaguars this week. It has given him the opportunity to study his former team and he has been impressed by the progress the squad has made.
“It’s definitely a young team that has a lot of potential and a lot of guys that can play ball,” Smith said. “They’ve just been steadily building up, building up, building up.”
In particular, Smith has been blown away by the all of the talented offensive weapons on the Jaguars roster.
“They’ve got playmakers,” Smith said. “You look around in the backfield, tight end position, wide receivers, they got guys that can make plays.”
Despite his admiration for the Jaguars and his time in Jacksonville, Smith wants to compete over the next few days. In the build up to Saturday's preseason game, Smith will do everything he can to set the tone for his team, bringing his physical nature to the fold.
“It really don’t matter, if they have a different colored uniform on, then it’s on,” Smith said.
Follow Mike Kaye on Twitter at @Mike_E_Kaye.
