Jimmy Smith says good bye

[Bucklion]

Not even close.
In about 10 years, getting 500-600 catches won't mean a damn thing. Heck, look at Andre Rison's career stats.
It's amazing how many people whine about the case of Art Monk just b/c of his aggregate stats. Monk rarely was in the top 5 in any major statistic in any year and was almost never considered the top player at his position during his career.

Though I liked Art Monk as a player, I have to hand it to tibs here...great comparison...to wit:

Jimmy Smith: 179 games, 862 catches, 12287 yards, 67 TDs (never more than 8)
League Top 10 (season): receptions-3 (leader-1), yards-5, TDs-0
NFL All-Time: catches-7, yards-11, TDs-31, yards from scrimmage-33

Art Monk: 224 games, 940 catches, 12721 yards, 68 TDs (never more than 8)
League Top 10 (season): receptions-4 (leader-1), yards-3, TDs-1
NFL All-Time: catches-5, yards-9, TDs-29, yards from scrimmage-27


and you know, there are a bunch of other guys not really HOF worthy either, though they have comparable or gaudier numbers (Irving Fryar for HOF campaign anyone?):

Andre Rison: 184 games, 743 catches, 10205 yards, 84 TDs (over 10 4x)
League Top 10 (season): catches-4, yards-3, TDs-5 (leader-1)
NFL All-Time: catches-21, yards-23, TDs-T13

Henry Ellard: 228 games, 814 catches, 13777 yards, 65 TDs (high of 10)
League Top 10 (season): catches-2, yards-4 (leader-1), TDs-1, YFS-3
NFL All-Time: catches-13, yards-5, TDs-T35, YFS-18

Irving Fryar: 255 games, 851 catches, 12785 yards, 84 TDs (high of 11)
League Top 10 (season): catches-2, yards-4, TDs-1
NFL All-Time: catches-8, yards-8, TDs-T13, YFS-28

Stanley Morgan: 196 games, 557 catches, 10716 yards, 72 TDs (high of 12)
League Top 10 (season): catches-1, yards-3, TDs-1 (leader-1)
NFL All-Time: yards-18, TDs-25, YFS-46

Gary Clark: 167 games, 699 catches, 10856 yards, 65 TDs (high of 10)
League Top 10 (season): catches-4, yards-5, TDs-5
NFL All-TIme: catches-23, yards-17, TDs-T35, YFS-45

Mark Clayton: 158 games, 582 catches, 8974 yards, 84 TDs (high of 18)
League Top 10 (season): catches-2, yards-4, TDs-6 (leader-2)
NFL All-Time: catches-48, yards T-37, TDs-T13

Harold Jackson: 208 games, 579 catches, 10372 yards, 76 TDs (high of 13)
League Top 10 (season): catches-4 (leader-1), yards-5 (leader-2), TDs-4 (leader-1), YFS-1
NFL All-Time: yards-21, TDs-T21

 

[AJHawkfan]

There is a rumor flying around that Smith failed another drug test which would have meant a 1 year suspension. Rather than go through that shitstorm (and kiss any chance at the HOF goodbye) he opted to retire.

Not sure if it has legs or not, but he's been known to fail tests before, and his retirement did seem kind of abrupt.......