Former Teammates Make Milestone Catches The Tampa Tribune, published 1 December 2003 When Jimmy Smith got his 600th career reception last season, he got a phone call from Keenan McCardell. Smith's former Jacksonville teammate wanted to congratulate him, and point something out. ``When we both made it to 600 last year I wasn't really aware of it until the next day when I got a message from him,'' Smith said, ``and he was like, `Hey, congratulations on your 600th catch. I just wanted to let you know because I got there, too.' It was very important for him to let me know that he got to 600, too.'' McCardell watched from the Bucs sideline as Smith got his 700th reception Sunday night. Then McCardell duplicated the feat. Smith reached the milestone when he caught a third-and-five pass for a first down during the Jaguars' opening series. It wasn't until the second quarter that McCardell got his 700th reception. The Bucs' leading receiver converted on third-and-eight with a 9-yard reception from quarterback Brad Johnson, which helped set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Thomas Jones. During their seasons in Jacksonville (1996-2001), McCardell and Smith combined for 1,061 receptions, the most by any receiving duo in NFL history during a six-year span. Smith ended the game with 707 catches, and McCardell 706. McCardell, one of the Bucs captains, got hugs at midfield from the Jacksonville captains, including Smith, prior to the coin toss. As one of three former Jaguars returning home - wide receiver/kick returner Reggie Barlow and center John Wade were the others - McCardell wasn't sure how the Jacksonville crowd would receive him. He expected boos, but also hoped for some applause. ``If they gave me a standing ovation or just a cheer, it would mean something because I left something there,'' McCardell said earlier in the week. ``I left a good taste in their mouths when I left.'' Barlow also did some of his best work in Jacksonville. In 1998, he led the AFC in punt return yardage with a career-high 555 yards. But it was the 1996 season, his first with the Jaguars, that Barlow has been thinking a lot about lately. The Jaguars rebounded from a 4-7 start and made it to the AFC Championship Game, upsetting a heavily favored Denver en route. Barlow has been telling his Bucs teammates about that season, and how ``You can never say you're out of it.'' Wade didn't join the Jaguars until 1998, when they selected him in the fifth round of the NFL draft. He became a full-time starter the following season. The Bucs acquired him as a free agent in the offseason.