Steve Smith Sr. does not deserve for his career to end on a losing football team, and he certainly does not deserve for it to end on an injury that cut his season short.
Smith Sr.’s season-ending injury not only hurts the Ravens’ chances of making some sort of comeback into the season- it hurts the fans that have watched the storied wide receiver’s career.
Ravens fans didn’t see a lot of the fiery 15-year veteran in person prior to 2014, as he had been a member of the NFC’s Carolina Panthers. However, thanks to watching highlights and other games, we knew of his toughness, playmaking ability, love of the game, and above all hard-nosed passion. He was a guy we wanted on our team.
In 2014, the Ravens were desperately looking for a veteran wide receiver to pair with Torrey Smith after the team had just missed making the playoffs. The team needed a guy to fill in Anquan Boldin’s old role. If that player could be a leader, all the better.
Enter Smith.
He was let go by Carolina and Baltimore swooped in immediately. In fact, a day didn’t even go by before the team signed him to a three-year deal. He even canceled a scheduled visit to New England (that sentence feels good to say) to stay and sign with the Ravens.
He made it clear that he wanted to be a part of Baltimore and wanted to Play Like a Raven. Smith Sr. didn’t disappoint either, bringing a fire to Baltimore’s receiving core and an intensity that hadn’t been seen since Ray Lewis.
Prior to the start of this season, the veteran announced that it would be his last. He was Joe Flacco’s favorite, most reliable target, and even though the team was subpar, Smith continued to give 110 percent.
As the team piled up loss after loss, some suggested that the team should have traded Smith Sr. in order to give him the storied ending he deserved. However, he took to Instagram to say he would rather quit than be traded because he wanted to be a Raven.
Smith Sr.’s passion, intensity, and love of Baltimore makes it hard to swallow that his career could be over because of injury. It also doesn’t help that he likely wouldn’t have been in the playoffs even if he stayed healthy.
So here is a plea to a player who, despite being here less than two seasons, was one of the most passionate football players that the Ravens have ever had:
Come back for one final ride and give yourself the chance to end your career on your terms. Give the Ravens a chance to improve their team for next season in order to make another playoff run.
If you know your time is up and your body is through, then thanks for an amazing career and blessing Baltimore with two seasons.
If not, come finish what you’ve started and make a run for that Super Bowl that you deserve. Let Baltimore stand behind you and give our passion in the stands just like you do on the field.
No matter your choice, thanks for everything No. 89. You’re an exemplary Baltimore Raven.
