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Devin Smith wasn’t a bust. That is such a disrespectful thing to say about another human being, especially when it’s not warranted.
But even if you believe in using that word about draft picks, Smith wouldn’t apply.
He was a very talented college player who couldn’t stay healthy during his two NFL seasons. First, he suffered broken ribs early in his first training camp, which kept him out for a significant amount of time, and then after playing 10 games, he was blew out his knee in mid-December.
And then he missed most of last season rehabbing the injury, and played mainly special teams when he came back.
Then this off-season he blew out the same knee again.
And the Jets waived him today. He could revert back to their injured reserve list if he clears waivers. Since he’s not going to play this year, it’s unlikely any team would claim him.
ESPN’s Josina Anderson isn’t happy with how this was handled.
“#Jets waived former 2nd-round WR Devin Smith (ACL),” Anderson tweeted. “He deserved to hear that direct from team, not twitter. Very courteous & polite player.”
I will try to find out tomorrow why they didn’t talk to him (the Jets have an open practice), though the Jets aren’t big on background. Why the Jets didn’t talk to him, is a mystery to me. I have an opinion on this, but I’m not going to go there until I get their side.
But he’s not a bust. He’s a player who couldn’t stay healthy.
Now, I was on record at the time of the pick that I didn’t like it, and I felt it was going to lead to the release of some good players like Walter Powell, Salim Hakim and T.J. Graham. We all know the politics at work. Even if Powell, Hakim and Graham were better, they had no shot against Smith. And getting rid of all three of those players really hurt the Jets special teams in 2015. Powell was their best returner, and Hakim and Graham their best punt/kick cover guys. The Jets special teams in 2015 were an absolute disaster, and the trickle-down effect of this unnecessary pick contributed to that.
But the fact that the Jets didn’t need him, isn’t Smith’s fault.
And give Smith credit for something. When he came back late last season, he did a really nice job on special teams in kick and punt coverage. He wasn’t strong enough as a rookie, but while he was rehabbing his knee the first time, he lived in the weight room, and I almost didn’t recognize him last year in the locker room with his reconfigured body, with guns for arms.
Now I understand he wasn’t drafted to just be a special team’s whiz, but I give him credit for coming back and showing such a great motor on special teams.
The Jets should be fine at receiver without him this year. There is a lot of talent in that room, and now we know why the Jets picked two receivers in the draft, and signed one of the top undrafted free agents (Washington State’s Gabe Marks), because they knew Smith had re-injured his knee. They knew. The media didn’t.
May 22, 2017
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