Donovin Darius remains an unknown for next year. The Jaguars continue to listen to offers to trade Darius but apparently their asking price of a second round pick is too high. Donovin spoke with the Florida Times-Union last week, telling them everything was fine and that he was perfectly happy. Those might be his words, but his actions, according to those around the stadium say something completely different. “He’s treated a lot of people poorly around here,” one witness explained. “I don’t know what’s happened to him, but right now, he’s not welcome.”

Head Coach Jack Del Rio told Darius to stay away from the mini-camp, and not come back to the stadium until he was “ready to be part of the team.” Darius hasn’t ruled out coming to some of the workouts, but now it’s a question of whether Del Rio will let him. “We’re prepared to play with Donovin,” personnel director James Harris said at the draft. It’ll be interesting to see how this thing plays out, because the Jaguars are also prepared to use Deke Cooper and Deon Grant as their safeties this season. They like Cooper a lot and they grabbed Grant as a free agent not only for his on field performance, but because they like how he can be an instant leader because of his credible play.

Jimmy Smith was downright skinny at 197 lbs during camp. “It’s been hard, not eating after six and all that stuff, it’s been hard.” Smith wants to play at 205, “that’s the weight I was at in ’99.” Ninety-nine, by the way, was Smith’s most productive year in the league. “He’s a step maybe a step and a half faster,” said Del Rio. “He looks great.” Smith knows it’ll be tough to stay around 205. “I like to eat,” he said with a smile and a laugh, something we haven’t seen enough of from Smith in the past few years. Getting behind defensive backs was routine during the mini-camp for Smith, so the Jaguars hope his performance there was a preview of things to come.

The guy who looked, acted and was just plain different was Hugh Douglas. Last year, each of his press conferences was contentious, usually with enough expletives and references to kissing parts of his body to keep him off television and out of print. Douglas was actually almost accommodating at mini-camp, and referenced his mistakes of last year. “I missed this last year,” referring to the off-season conditioning program. “Sure it puts you in shape, but it’s the bonding, the team aspect that’s important now. We’re getting to know each other as teammates, and I wasn’t part of that this year. I am now.”

Maybe Douglas realized he wasn’t just a shell of his former self last season, he was a guy wearing Hugh Douglas’ number and that was about all. If he’s rededicated himself to being more active on the edge, the Jaguars might get some of their money’s worth this season.

Even though everybody says the Jaguars are an up and coming team, an ascending team, this year’s version of the Carolina Panthers, they still have to get production out of their projections. Their first three draft picks, the off-season pick ups, the development of a second year quarterback and another injury free year from Fred Taylor are important cogs in any success they hope to have this year. That’s a lot of ifs, but it is May, and everybody should feel the same way about their team.