Long before Khalil Mack arrived, Anthony Smith set the standard for Raiders pass-rushers. The defensive end got off to a hot start after entering the NFL as a first-round pick. Yet, his success on the field rarely gets discussed. That’s what happens when you go from being a star for one of the NFL’s biggest franchises to serving three life sentences for murder.

Anthony Smith quickly emerged as a star for the Raiders

Khalil Mack’s 40.5 sacks are the most by a player in his first 4 seasons with the @Raiders since Anthony Smith (42.0) from 1991-94.

The last @ChicagoBears player with more sacks through the first 4 seasons of his career was Super Bowl XX MVP Richard Dent (49.0) from 1983-86. https://t.co/L5EfzbOJA5

— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) September 1, 2018

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Anthony Smith played his college ball at the University of Alabama and the University of Arizona. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive end entered the 1990 NFL draft as a top prospect. Of course, that class featured a number of future defensive stars, including Junior Seau, Cortez Kennedy, and LeRoy Butler.

The then-Las Vegas Raiders selected Smith 11th overall. He joined a squad that already featured a star sack artist in Greg Townsend. The versatile front-seven defender had enjoyed six double-digit sack campaigns by the time Smith broke into the lineup in 1991.

That season turned out to be a terrific one for the dynamic defensive end duo. Townsend racked up a career-high 13 sacks while Smith totaled 10.5. He followed up with 13 of his own in 1992 despite starting just one game. Smith recorded 12.5 sacks in 1993 and seemed poised to become a long-term fixture in Las Vegas.

However, he never matched that same level of production. And eventually, the world would discover that Anthony Smith the NFL star led a different life away from the football field.

From playing in the NFL to facing four murder charges

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After a torrid start to his Raiders career, Smith regressed mightily. He recorded just 18.5 sacks in the final four years of his NFL career. Still, with 57.5 sacks in 98 career games, he more than lived up to his first-round draft status.

But as his NFL career came to a close, so too would Anthony Smith’s days as a free man. In March 2011, Smith and two other people were charged with murdering Maurilio Ponce. He had been beaten and shot in October 2008 in California. According to an AP report, prosecutors said Ponce’s death occurred after a business deal went bad.

The Ponce murder charge represented just one of four brought against Smith. And while jurors failed to reach a verdict in the Ponce murder case, they did come to an agreement on the other charges.

Smith got sentenced to three consecutive life terms in 2016

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On January 22, 2016, Anthony Smith got sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. Just a few months earlier, an LA County jury convicted him on three counts of murder with special circumstances of torturing, kidnapping, and multiple murders.

Prosecutors provided details of the murders. Smith reportedly posed as a police officer before kidnapping Ricky and Kevin Nettles in November 1999. The two brothers had been kidnapped from their car wash business.

The Nettles brothers’ bodies were found about eight miles apart. Both had U-shaped branding burns on their cheeks, and Ricky Nettles had numerous burns across his abdomen and feet.

Less than two years later, Smith kidnapped Dennis Henderson before beating and stabbing him to death. Henderson’s body was found in a rental car with more than 40 stab wounds. He had been kidnapped on June 24, 2001, from the Mar Vista section of LA.

Prosecutors also said that Anthony Smith had multiple books on how to kill people in his possession. At the time of his sentencing, he was 48 years old.

Making its return, we bring you Super charged, in which we preview the main talking points ahead of the Super Rugby Aotearoa action.

Highlanders v Chiefs

The tournament’s action gets underway in Dunedin on Saturday and, if previous matches between these sides are to be used as a yardstick, then this should be a thrilling affair.

Judging from the respective teams’ form in this year’s suspended Super Rugby tournament, the Chiefs head into this encounter as favourites as they won four out of six matches and occupied third position in that competition’s New Zealand Conference standings.

With British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland also at the helm for the Chiefs, there was lots of excitement in their ranks at the start of the season and they impressed in the early rounds with successive triumphs over the Blues, Crusaders and Sunwolves.

Their campaign hit a snag when they suffered a shock defeat at home against the Brumbies but they bounced back with a big away victory over the Waratahs. Their last match, before the tournament was brought to a grinding halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, was a tight affair and they eventually suffered a narrow 27-24 loss against the Hurricanes in Hamilton.

Meanwhile, the Highlanders found the going tough in Super Rugby as they were the bottom-placed team in their country’s conference with just one victory from five matches played. They lost their first match against the Sharks at home but notched a win against the Brumbies in Canberra the following week to put their campaign back on track.

The rest of the campaign was a forgetful one as defeats to the Crusaders, Rebels and Bulls followed before their Round Seven clash with the Jaguares in Buenos Aires was cancelled due to Covid-19.

Despite that poor form, head coach Aaron Mauger and his charges will be hoping for a fresh start in Super Rugby Aotearoa. They will head into this match with a semblance of confidence as they drew 31-31 when these teams met in Dunedin last year and also claimed an impressive 30-27 victory in 2019’s corresponding fixture in Hamilton.

? The most unbelievable 3 minutes of code you will ever watch in your life.

Expect scenes like this on Saturday night for the opening game of Investec #SuperRugbyAotearoa ? pic.twitter.com/o5wgz7SDcB

— Super Rugby (@SuperRugbyNZ) June 12, 2020

Blues v Hurricanes

After the suspension of the regular Super Rugby season, everyone starts from scratch as New Zealand’s revised domestic competition gets underway. For the Blues, that is an unfortunate side effect of the postponement in March having impressed in the early rounds.

Five victories in seven games saw them reside in fourth place before the enforced suspension, but it has given them some much-needed belief heading into this tournament. Previously, they had struggled in the intra-country derbies but a victory over Sunday’s opponents, the Hurricanes, back in March displayed a team finding their identity under head coach Leon MacDonald.

They are also boosted by the signing of two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Beauden Barrett, who missed the opening rounds in Super Rugby after taking an extended break, and he lines up at full-back this weekend.

The Aucklanders will duly fancy their chances of opening Super Rugby Aotearoa with a win following their 24-15 success in Wellington earlier in the year. The Hurricanes were surprisingly flat in that encounter and they are certainly struggling to find the same amount of potency without Barrett.

Despite containing a devastating backline in the wider channels, with Ngani Laumape, Vince Aso, Ben Lam, Chase Tiatia, and Wes Goosen all top performers, fly-half Jackson Garden-Bachop has yet to truly settle into his role as the primary decision-maker.

In fairness to the pivot, he hasn’t been helped by a pack which has lacked the power to get regularly over the gain line and they will hope that Ardie Savea’s return from a knee injury will aid their chances over the next few weeks.

Super Rugby 2020 | Hurricanes v Blues – Rd 6 Highlights
In a game that had it all, the @BluesRugbyTeam end a nine-game losing streak against the @Hurricanesrugby with a 24-15 win in Wellington.#SuperRugby #SuperRugby25years #HURvBLU pic.twitter.com/5hZxlc7cPr

— Super Rugby/TRC (@SuperRugby) March 7, 2020

Player to watch – Beauden Barrett (Blues)

One of the best players of his generation Dan Carter has not made the match-day squad after recently joining the franchise, but we will at least get to see the current standard-bearer in world rugby in a Blues shirt for the first time.

Against his former team, Barrett interestingly takes his place at full-back after being shifted from the All Blacks fly-half position ahead of last year’s World Cup, meaning that Otere Black is named at pivot. There have been doubts over the 29-year-old’s control of the game at the top level, as well as his ability to place-kick, but there are no concerns over his playmaking skills.

The 83-times capped All Black is still the most complete attacking player in the sport, with Barrett’s creativity and threat from counter-attack a huge benefit for the Auckland-based side. Alongside fellow backline talents Mark Telea, Rieko Ioane, TJ Faiane and Caleb Clarke, it should be an entertaining watch on Sunday.

Y’all ready for Kick Off??#BluesAllDay #BluesTogether pic.twitter.com/yqLJo9Z6Ki

— The Blues (@BluesRugbyTeam) June 12, 2020

One-v-one battle to watch – Aaron Smith (Highlanders) v Brad Weber (Chiefs)

These two are amongst New Zealand’s leading number nines and both will be at the forefront of their respective teams’ charges in what promises to be an exciting encounter in Dunedin.

Smith has been his country’s number one scrum-half for several years now and is renowned for his bullet-like spiral pass and excellent playmaking abilities. The 31-year-old has played consistency well for his team over the years and has proven to be a superb link between his forwards and outside backs over the years. He has the ability to unlock the tightest defences with clever offloads while his box-kicking is also amongst the best in the business.

Smooth moves.

Tune into your usual Super Rugby channels to catch the @Highlanders
host the @ChiefsRugby tomorrow!#SuperRugby #superrugbyaotearoa pic.twitter.com/31Kt1zJN5I

— Super Rugby/TRC (@SuperRugby) June 11, 2020

In Weber, he goes up against a tough adversary whose game has come on in leaps and bounds, which has made him one of his country’s most improved players in recent years. The 29-year-old also provides a slick service from the base, although he poses more of a threat around the fringes of the rucks and mauls. When he spots a gap he usually takes it with devastating consequences for opponents.

Although Smith is still widely regarded as New Zealand’s first-choice scrum-half, Weber’s impressive recent form means he has closed the gap on his more experienced counterpart and whoever comes out on top in this duel should be on the winning side as well.

Brad Weber and his Chiefs are back in action this weekend.

Tune into your usual Super Rugby channels to catch the @Highlanders host the @ChiefsRugby on Saturday.#SuperRugby #superrugbyaotearoa pic.twitter.com/EepBYpeZbK

— Super Rugby/TRC (@SuperRugby) June 11, 2020

Subplot to watch – The excitement of ‘normality’

Okay, it’s not the ‘actual’ Super Rugby tournament but it is wonderful to see that things are starting to get back to normal in New Zealand. Rugby union is back and crowds are returning after their government announced that they have moved down to alert level 1.

The country has not had a new case of coronavirus for over three weeks and, as a result, supporters are allowed to attend matches this weekend. In particular, it should be a thriller at Eden Park with 40,000 people potentially set to watch the action in the stadium.

That is simply incredible and shows how the world has missed sport over the past three months. It will be the Blues’ largest following for at least a decade, while the Highlanders are also set for a large attendance. Around 18,000 tickets have currently been sold but more may pack into the Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.

Pssst. Almost 30,000 tickets gone. Pass it on. ?

– Free Kids tickets with $20 GA Adult (ONLINE PURCHASE ONLY)

Don’t miss out! https://t.co/IHOAQnHTgA#BLUvHUR #BluesAllDay #BluesTogether pic.twitter.com/4tQw5T25uL

— The Blues (@BluesRugbyTeam) June 10, 2020

Bulldogs back Reimis Smith faces a one-match suspension after being hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge during his side’s 22-2 win over the Dragons at Bankwest Stadium on Monday. 

Ash Taylor, Sam Lisone and Waqa Blake also received grade one charges, but won’t miss any football. 

Smith was charged after making dangerous contact to the head/neck of Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa.

The 23-year-old has 30 carry over points and will cop a one match suspension with an early guilty plea or if he contests the charge and loses.

MORE: Paul McGregor safe despite Dragons board meeting 

He will likely be replaced in the starting side by Kerrod Holland, who started on the interchange bench against the Dragons. 

Smith scored a 70th minute try as the Bulldogs earned their first win of the 2020 season on Monday afternoon. 

Elsewhere, Parramatta’s Waqa Blake was charged with a grade one careless high tackle for a shot on Manly’s Danny Levi on Saturday night. 

Blake has a good record at the judiciary, so won’t face a suspension. 

The 25-year-old entered an early guilty plea and will be hit with a $550 fine. 

Taylor and Lisone were both charged with grade one dangerous contact to the head or neck during Gold Coast’s thrilling 28-23 win over the Tigers on Sunday. 

Neither player faces suspension or a fine. 

 

 

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Exclusive

TMZSports.com

J.R. Smith will likely NOT be hit with criminal charges for beating the hell out of an alleged vandal in an incident caught on video, multiple sources involved with the situation tell TMZ Sports.

We broke the story … the NBA player went ballistic on a man he claimed vandalized his truck during a wild looting spree in Los Angeles on May 30.

Smith later called the incident a “random act of stupidness” and said he regretted his actions.

Law enforcement sources tell us … the victim has not gone to police — no report has been filed — and, at this point, we’re told it seems highly unlikely that will happen.

Our sources tell us without a victim coming forward, there’s no way for prosecutors to even attempt to levy charges against the 34-year-old.

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As we previously reported, Smith essentially described the incident as Street Justice shortly after the attack … saying he whooped the man’s ass for smashing a window on his truck.

Smith later went on “The Pat McAfee Show” and said he was disappointed with himself “even though people say I shouldn’t be.”

JR Smith of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts to a second half defensive play while playing the Indiana Pacers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 25, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

In 2019, Jacksonville Jaguar linebacker Telvin Smith told the Jaguars that after a five-year NFL career he was retiring so that he could “get his world” in order.

READ MORE: NFL star Bashaud Breeland stared down cop’s gun in terrifying video

It looks like that never happened. The 2017 Pro Bowl player has now been accused of having sex with a minor according to Bleacher Report.

The 29-year-old Valdosta, Fl. native was drafted by the Jags in 2014 out of Florida State University a football powerhouse. Smith was signed to a 4-year, $45M extension in 2017.

According to TMZ, the arrest is related to an ongoing case from November 2019 when Smith was arrested after police came to his Jacksonville area home. The Jacksonville sheriff’s office tweeted about a raid on a marijuana growing outfit in a residential home that netted more than 50 pounds of ‘processed marijuana’ and $5700. But Smith was never identified as the person whose house was raided so that could have been a completely different case.

Now he’s accused of having sex with a 17-year-old multiple times and the Cadillac Escalade seized in the earlier raid has revealed a DNA match with the girl, according to TMZ. They also cite court documents that say Smith met the girl at her workplace and despite co-workers telling him she was underage, he continued to pursue her.

The Escalade is one of the places they allegedly had sex. Smith reportedly offered the girl $200 which she refused but then took $100 to buy emergency contraception according to arrest documents. She ultimately told her family about the encounters ultimately leading to today’s arrest.

Smith was arrested for “unlawful sexual activity with certain minors” and booked on $50,003 bail.

 

Exclusive video of former Jaguars star Telvin Smith in custody at Duval County jail. He’s charged with “unlawful sexual activity with certain minors.” This comes after SWAT raid at his home earlier this afternoon. Live report on @wjxt4 at 6pm. pic.twitter.com/wShn0eaXj8

— Vic Micolucci WJXT (@WJXTvic) April 29, 2020

Smith played 76 games for the Jaguars and had 7.5 sacks, 586 total tackles, nine interceptions, six fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles, returning four turnovers for touchdowns.

Smith’s Instagram is set to private but after Kobe Bryant‘s death in January, he posted about not being able to imagine anything happening to his 5-year-old daughter and that he “didn’t want the next 5 years to go like the last 5.” And he added “I gotta get this right for her.”

READ MORE: NFL Star Malcolm Jenkins warns Black community not to depend on government for COVID-19 help

The Jaguars, to whom Smith is still attached as he’s on their reserve/retired list according to Bleacher Report, released a statement that said:

“The Jaguars are aware of the report involving former linebacker Telvin Smith. The club is unable to comment further on this ongoing investigation.”

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s new podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!

 

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith was arrested Wednesday and charged with one count of unlawful sexual activity with certain minors, per the Duval County Jail’s website.

Smith, 29, was booked into the jail at 5:20 p.m. ET. He is being held on a $50,003 bond, and there is no court date listed. He was arrested by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at his home in a gated community.

A law enforcement source told ESPN that Smith is accused of having sex with a 17-year-old girl multiple times, both at his home and in his vehicle, in August and September. The source said the girl told a friend and a family member what happened after the first encounter with Smith.

The source also said investigators found evidence in Smith’s car that linked him to the girl.

Per Florida Statute 794.05, the charge of unlawful sexual activity with certain minors is a second-degree felony and applies to any person age 24 or older who engages in sexual activity with a person 16 or 17 years old.

“The Jaguars are aware of the report involving former linebacker Telvin Smith,” the team said in a statement. “The club is unable to comment further on this ongoing investigation.”

This incident marked the second time in five months that there was a police presence at Smith’s home. A crime scene van spent several hours there on Nov. 28 and towed a black Cadillac Escalade registered to Smith away from the home. A source told ESPN that the police presence then was tied to the alleged incidents with the teen.

Smith was not arrested at that time.

Smith hasn’t played for the Jaguars since the 2018 season finale. He announced on social media in May 2019 that he would not play football that season, saying he needed to take time off for his family and his health. He did not attend the Jaguars’ voluntary offseason conditioning program or organized team activities and missed the mandatory three-day minicamp in June. The team put Smith on the reserve/retired list before training camp began in July.

Smith was due to make $9.75 million this season, and his contract has tolled, which means the remaining three years on the deal (he was scheduled to make $10 million in 2020 and $10.25 million in 2021) are paused but would pick up again if he were to return to the Jaguars at some point.

The Jaguars drafted Smith in the fifth round of the 2014 draft. A positive marijuana test at the NFL combine contributed to his dropping and, per league rules, placed him in the NFL’s substance abuse program.

Smith missed four games — all because of injuries — in his five seasons.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Smith has more solo tackles (441) than any other player since he entered the NFL, and his 581 total tackles rank fourth in that span. Smith has nine interceptions (three of which he returned for touchdowns) in his career.

Smith, who had a career-high 134 tackles in 2018, was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in 2017 as part of a Jaguars defense that finished second in the NFL in sacks and turnovers forced and led the league in pass defense. The Jaguars scored seven defensive touchdowns that season, and Smith had two, as well as another in the postseason.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Ex-Jaguars player Telvin Smith was arrested Wednesday. Heavily armored SWAT team officers and undercover detectives were spotted in the afternoon at his home in Queen’s Harbour.

Duval County jail records show he was booked at 5:20 p.m. and arrested on the charge of unlawful sexual activity with certain minors. Later in the evening, records show he posted $50,000 bond.

In November, investigators with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office were spotted raiding the 29-year-old’s home, towing his vehicle. Sources told News4Jax that another search warrant was issued Wednesday.

“They had enough probable cause to make an arrest based on information they received,” said News4Jax crime and safety analyst Ken Jefferson.

A statement from the Jacksonville Jaguars reads:

“The Jaguars are aware of the report involving former linebacker Telvin Smith. The club is unable to comment further on this ongoing investigation.”

Smith, a fifth-round draft pick from Florida State in 2014 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2017, announced last April that he was stepping away from football to “get my world in order.”

The Jaguars fined Smith more than $88,000 for missing the team’s mandatory, three-day minicamp in June. Smith avoided future fines by filing retirement paperwork with the NFL before training camp.

Jacksonville placed him on the league’s reserve/retired list, which paused his contract and freed up a roster spot as well as $9.75 million in salary cap space in 2019. It also protected Smith from fines and NFL testing policies.

Smith has three years remaining on his current deal, which averages $10 million annually in base salary.

Smith was scheduled to go before a judge on Thursday morning.

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