RadioOnFire.com - Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. announced Wednesday that he likely will retire after Sunday’s regular season finale at the Cincinnati Bengals.
Smith told reporters after practice at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills that he was “89 percent” certain he would walk away from the game after the season.
“I’ve been playing with house money,” Smith told reporters. “People say come back and get some statistics. I’ve got the best statistic ever: I played 16 years.
“Today was emotional out on the field. It was little bit windy and parts of the field were frozen. The sun was shining, and it was confirmation today. God winked at me.”
Smith, who entered the NFL as a third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2001, originally planned to retire last season but opted to return after suffering a season-ending injury when he tore his Achilles tendon in Week 8 against the San Diego Chargers.
Smith returned in hopes of making one last deep run into the playoffs after the Ravens finished a disappointing 5-11 last season. The Ravens were eliminated from postseason contention this year after losing at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas.
A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Smith enters the Bengals game with 67 catches for 765 yards and five touchdowns this season. For his career, Smith has 1,028 receptions (12th all-time in NFL history) for 14,697 yards (seventh all-time in NFL history) and 81 touchdowns.
“He’s just so darn good,” Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco told reporters. “He’s powerful. He’s not very big, but he’s explosive, so powerful. He can change direction like that …
“He’s just got a lot of ability, and he’s just not afraid. When the lights come on and the big moments are here upon us, he reacts in a positive game and he gets it going. You can see it every Sunday.”
Ravens coach John Harbaugh admits it will be tough to replace Smith next season.
“It’s been nothing but an honor and a privilege and a joy,” Harbaugh told reporters on coaching Smith.
Source WBAL
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