Steve Smith Sr. to Retire After 2015 Season

It is a sad day for the Baltimore Ravens and their fans as wide reciever Steve Smith Sr. announced today that this season will be his last in the NFL.

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He broke the news to his teammates this morning prior to revealing his intentions to reporters following today’s workout. Smith is entering his 15th NFL season at the age of 36 years old. Many people around the league felt that this season could be his last, but he confirmed it today. At OTAs earlier in the offseason, he told reporters that he had no intentions of playing into his 40s.

“I have a lot of things on my ‘to do’ list that don’t have to do anything with football. So, I’m going to take it day by day, but I will not be playing until I’m 40.”

Smith has not gotten a lot of the credit that he’s deserved over his career as one of the best to play the position. He ranks 14th all-time in receiving yards at 13,262 yards. He’s just 637 yards from former Vikings Hall of Famer receiver Cris Carter to enter the top-10 in yardage. The Ravens want to limit Smith’s snaps this season to keep him fresh, but barring an injury, the veteran wideout should find his way into the elite company of receivers.

While his stint in Baltimore has been a short one, he immediately was a fan favorite because of tenacity and toughness. He is the perfect wide receiver because he plays the Raven way: hard and physical. You can argue that in the Ravens 20-year history, Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin and Smith were the three receivers that fit the Ravens mood perfectly.

Head Coach John Harbaugh and his staff knew that this decision was likely coming soon. There is reason to believe that is why the used a first-round pick on Breshad Perriman. They want to have an heir ready and give the rookie a year to learn from one of the most hard-working players in the business. They also will have to replace his production next season and that’s why the Ravens have an influx of young receivers on the roster.

The early announcement could change some of the dynamics of the offense. The Ravens could look to get their young talent in the game more often to get them opportunities. That was already the plan with the limited snaps, but now the team knows they need to develop another wide receiver capable of starting. Now, the Ravens really need Perriman and Marlon Brown to step their game up.

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There is one thing that we can almost guarantee about Smith is that if this is his final season, he is going to leave it all out on the field. Smith has always been a player that plays with a chip on his shoulder, but knowing that this is his last season, he will continuously be looking for that one more touchdown or one more big block. That’s the grit that has made Smith so special for so long.

It would be great if the Ravens sent Smith off in style with a Super Bowl ring like they did with Ray Lewis. Smith is another name on a long list of guys who played their tails off in the NFL, but never got the taste of a championship. He has one last shot to get that elusive ring, and he’s on a team that is certainly capable of winning it all this season.

“I don’t allow it to put a value on me anymore. I kind of appreciate what I have, what I’ve been through. … I wouldn’t substitute winning one Super Bowl over a 15-year career,” Smith said.

He makes a valid point, but we are not buying the notion that he does not want that one championship. Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs has every plan to send Smith out on a high note.

“Remember what happened the last time we had a player like this retire,” Suggs said. “Steve Smith is one hell of a guy and maybe we can send him out with something special.”

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