Jaguars G.M. Gene Smith felt strongly enough about tight end Marcedes Lewis to make him the team’s exclusive-rights franchise player before the lockout. Smith also feels pretty strongly about the rest of the depth chart.
For example, Smith says (per the team’s official website) that third-year tight end Zach Miller (not to be confused with Raiders soon-to-be-free-agent tight end Zach Miller) could be a star in another offense.
“If Zach Miller was with another team, he’d be doing what Dallas Clark does with the Colts,” Smith said. “He just doesn’t get many opportunities to get on the field. He’s 6-4, 248 and runs a 4.5[-second] 40-yard dash. He’s a tremendous athlete in terms of ball skills, and that combination really helps our receiving group.”
It’s hard not to wonder whether Smith’s message was intended for Miller -- or for Lewis. Perhaps Smith is encouraging Lewis to be reasonable in his contractual expectations, or the Jags will simply let Miller do in Jacksonville what Dallas Clark does with the Colts.