The Jacksonville Jaguars’ career rushing leader, Fred Taylor, and career receiving leader, Jimmy Smith, were both arrested in the span of about five hours on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Former Jaguars receiver Jimmy Smith was pulled over just before 11:00 pm on Friday night after trying to drive around a police sobriety checkpoint.

The Jacksonville police were apparently ready for such an advanced evasive technique, however, and quickly stopped Smith’s car.  Smith then exited the car in a sharing mood handing a half-empty can of beer to police officers.  The officers smelled a “strong odor of marijuana” coming from the car and after spotting marijuana butts inconspicuously placed on the dashboard, a search of the car turned up additional amounts of marijuana.  Smith was declared impaired after police administered several field sobriety tests.

Smith has been charged with an open container and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, both misdemeanors.

Smith from Jacksonville Tribune

After testing positive for cocaine following a 2001 traffic stop, Smith angrily denied drug usage and disputed the results of the test. “I’m shocked, very disappointed, that an illegal substance could be in my body,” Smith told the media.  “I’ve never done it, don’t do it and I don’t plan to do it.”

Proving life doesn’t always go as planned, Smith was given a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy in 2003.

Smith retired in May 2006 citing a desire to “leave on top.”

Taylor from Jacksonville Tribune

Running back Fred Taylor was arrested outside a Miami Beach nightclub and charged with disorderly conduct on Saturday morning, but was released without being taken to jail.

Because of the holiday weekend, details of Taylor’s arrest will be unavailable until Tuesday.

Taylor’s attorney, Adam Swickle, said Taylor was detained as part of a “catch-all” situation involving officers responding to reports of fighting outside the club. Taylor was getting into his car as police arrived and ordered him to put his hands on the hood of the car before patting him down and searching his car for drugs and weapons.  Taylor and one of the officers apparently had a verbal exchange, which Swickle claims led to the disorderly conduct charge.

For more on Smith’s arrest check out this Jacksonville Tribune article.

For more on Taylor’s arrest check out this Jacksonville Tribune article.