Just days after the Raiders announced the signing of guard Justin Smiley, they’ve placed him on the reserve/retired list.
That move makes official what Raiders coach Hue Jackson had previously said, which is that after going through a couple of practices with the Raiders, Smiley approached him and said he didn’t think he could make it through training camp.
“He came in to see me today and said, ‘Coach I just, this is just not for me right now,’ and I respect that,” Jackson said. “The great thing about this place is, I told you, this is hard work. Everybody can’t do this. If your mind and body is not ready to do this on a daily basis, it’s tough. And he said, ‘Coach, thanks for the opportunity but my heart’s just not in it anymore, football, so nothing against you or the Raiders but I just can’t do this anymore.’ And I respect that.”
The 29-year-old Smiley started five games for the Jaguars last year and was expected to compete for a starting job in Oakland.
