JACKSONVILLE Ryquell Armstead Jersey , Fla. (AP) — his first workout with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday.He looked down and noticed it wrapped around his wrist following the first pseudo practice of a three-day rookie minicamp. There was no need to check it, though.Williams knew it was time for him to prove the Jaguars made the right call by selecting him in the third round of the NFL draft last month. The pick was widely panned as a reach as many questioned why Jacksonville would take a 5-foot-10 linebacker from Murray State with the 98th overall selection.Now, though, Williams might be as important to the team as first-round pick Josh Allen or second-rounder Jawaan Taylor.With veteran Telvin Smith stepping away from football to “get my world in order,” Williams has a chance to make an immediate impact. Smith made the shocking announcement Thursday, raising speculation about his health, his family and his future with the franchise.His departure creates a huge hole in Jacksonville’s vaunted defense, one Williams hopes to fill.“I’m a rookie coming in, the spot’s open and I’m battling for it,” Williams said. “I’ll keep him in my prayers, man, but like all the coaches say, ‘Next man up.’ That’s for real.”Smith had been skipping voluntary workouts and hadn’t returned calls from coaches or team officials. General manager Dave Caldwell seemed to sense something was amiss with the guy who led the team in tackles the last two seasons, saying “we’ll see” during the NFL draft when asked whether he expected Smith to be on the roster this fall.Not only did Caldwell and personnel chief Tom Coughlin draft Williams, they also signed former Green Bay starter Jake Ryan in free agency Will Harris Jersey , claimed James Onwualu off waivers from San Francisco and then signed veterans D.J. Alexander, Najee Goode and Ramik Wilson. All those moves came before Smith’s revelation on Instagram.“I really believe in my heart that Telvin knows that we’re here to support him in any which way,” coach Doug Marrone said Friday. “Not just myself, the coaches, the organization, his teammates, and I’m sure he’s aware of that. All we can do is just make sure we pray and he knows that if he needs some support, obviously we’re here for him. That’s No. 1.“No. 2, as a coach, you’re prepared for things. You really are. You got to be ready for everything: injuries and retirements or stepping away, whatever it may be. We’ve done a good job.”A fifth-round draft pick from Florida State in 2014, Smith has 586 total tackles, nine interceptions, 7½ sacks and five forced fumbles in five seasons.He signed a four-year, $45 million extension in October 2017 that included $20 million guaranteed. He restructured that deal in March 2018 http://www.lionsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-austin-bryant-jersey , turning an $8 million roster bonus into a signing bonus, which allowed the team to create extra cap space last season.He is due to make $9.75 million in 2019, but would receive nothing if he stays away.“Telvin’s a strong man and he feels like a lot of guys on this team that can handle their situations,” Marrone said. “We just want to make sure that everyone knows that we’re there to support them and if they reach out — and hopefully each player does, not just Telvin — that they don’t have to do anything alone. We’re here for them.”Williams might have the most to gain from Smith’s absence.The older brother of former Alabama star and current New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams hopes to open as many eyes over the next few months as he did on the second night of the draft.“My confidence is going up,” Quincy Williams said. “There were talks about being a late draft pick, going undrafted. But I believed in myself, went on a couple of visits and heard some things. It was just a surprise I ended up with the Jaguars. But it’s a good fit for me.” NEW YORK (AP) — The sales pitch from the Jets to prospective head coaching candidates begins with Sam Darnold.Everything else is a distant second.Sure, being in the New York/New Jersey area is an obvious attraction, and Jets chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson spun his own take on a classic line by saying earlier this week that if you succeed in the Big Apple, “you’re a freaking legend.”But it’s hard to even get close to that status without a franchise quarterback. A quick look through Jets history is all it takes to prove that. It’s Broadway Joe — and a 50-year wait for a Super Bowl return. And counting.Darnold, though, provides promise for frustrated fans that he might be The One. He’s a 21-year-old, redheaded symbol of hope in a smart, athletic and still-developing quarterback who has his sights firmly set on being great.That’s what will excite coaching candidates and free agents the most Rashan Gary Jersey , with the fact the Jets and general manager Mike Maccagnan have about $100 million in salary cap space to play with this offseason and the No. 3 overall draft pick an added bonus.“Now we’re going to be able to build with Sam,” Johnson said, “build around Sam and with some great players we have on this team already.”The Jets’ brass was in Kansas City on Wednesday to kick off the team’s interviews, sitting down with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. New York is also expected to schedule meetings with the likes of former Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy, Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Dallas passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Kris Richard, former Detroit and Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell and USC offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.Whoever is hired as Todd Bowles’ replacement will report directly to Johnson and not Maccagnan, a structure the owner believes works. Maccagnan will have a major say in the hire, though, working closely with Johnson and VP of player development Brian Heimerdinger to find the coach who will attempt to end the team’s eight-year postseason drought.And, with Darnold leading the way.“The person doesn’t have to be an offensive- or defensive-minded coach, per se,” Maccagnan said. “But we definitely want to make sure they have a plan in place to develop our young quarterback in Sam Darnold.”Darnold had an up-and-down rookie season after being drafted with the No. 3 overall pick. He was the second quarterback selected, two spots after Baker Mayfield went to Cleveland — which is looking for a coach of its own and also has a potential face of the franchise as a major selling point.The final stats for Darnold are mediocre, at best: 2 http://www.packersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-darnell-savage-jr.-jersey ,865 yards, 57.7 percent completion rate, 17 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 77.6 quarterback rating in 13 games. But, it’s the way he finished that has the organization feeling so good.In the four games after returning from a foot injury that sidelined him for three contests, Darnold was 80 of 125 (64 percent) for 931 yards and six touchdowns with one INT. He showed clear improvement in his ability to see the field, read defenses, be smart with the football and wasn’t as skittish behind an offensive line that struggled mightily early in the season.“I thought in the beginning of the year, I took a while to get comfortable and then once I got comfortable in the offense and how things were, I felt very confident when I was out there,” Darnold said. “Again, just going to keep growing and keep trying to make those strides and watch the tape. See how I can get better and move forward from there.”Darnold won’t have a direct role in the decision-making process, but hoped to chat with management to share his perspective on the situation. And, the Jets are planning to give him some preliminary face-time with the man who might be his coach.“Given the opportunity Elgton Jenkins Jersey , I’d like the potential head coaches that come through here to have a chance to spend a little time with him just so they get a feel for Sam,” Maccagnan said. “I do think that’s actually one of the attractive parts of our job is that we have some good, young players. Again, we still have things we need to do and improve upon, but we have a lot of salary cap space. We have our draft picks and the idea of potentially working with a young quarterback like Sam is an attractive thing.”Darnold isn’t concerned about the potential changes that coincide with the arrival of a new coach. He can adapt, he insisted, and simply wants to win.“I’m confident that whatever offense is here and whoever the coordinator is, whether it’s the head coach or an offensive coordinator,” Darnold said, “I’m confident in my ability to be able to run an offense and lead that way.”The Jets’ final pick will be linked with Darnold moving forward — and maybe for many years. The young quarterback would like this to be the last coaching change of his NFL career.“You always want someone to come in here and provide stability and hopefully we can win a lot of games together,” Darnold said. “That’s always the goal.”
