Former Jacksonville Jaguars standout Jimmy Smith currently is serving a six-year sentence in Mississippi prison on two charges, the Mississippi Department of Corrections confirmed Monday.
Smith is serving four years for cocaine possession and two more years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Smith had substance-abuse problems throughout his NFL career. He was suspended four games in 2003.
It's a sad story, although not a shocking one for one of the top two or three greatest players in Jaguars history. Smith, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, already had at least one arrest related to substance abuse since his NFL career ended in 2006. His retirement came as a surprise because he gained 1,023 yards in his final season.
At the time of Smith's retirement, there were rumors that he had failed another drug test and would be suspended for an entire season because of it. Smith would not directly answer questions about a possible failed drug test at the time.
Smith's tentative release date from prison is Nov. 8, 2018.
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