Wow, so the Ravens could see it, but our own Panthers owner and GM couldnt. Disappointing, to say the least. When the Ravens were sifting through the wide receiver free market agent market last week, they had plenty of choices, including Hakeem Nicks, Julian Edelman and Eric Decker. Several guys could have filled the chain-moving role they needed. But Smith brought something the others couldn’t. “The Ravens couldve signed a bigger receiver. But Smith, who hasnt missed more than two games in a regular season since 2005, is more dependable than Nicks,” wrote ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “The Ravens couldve added a younger receiver. But Smith has a more proven track record than Edelman and Decker, who had All-Pro quarterbacks throwing the ball to them. “In the end, the Ravens chose Smith over everyone else for one reason: He doesnt just help them win; he has the mental toughness to will them to win.” Smith, 34, may not be the same young player who went to the Pro Bowl five times, but Hensley says the Ravens don’t need him to be. Baltimore has Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones’ speed to stretch the field, and Dennis Pitta to run the intermediate routes. What the Ravens needed was the attitude they lost when Anquan Boldin was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. “Boldin is bigger, but Smith is badder,” wrote Hensley. “Hes 5-foot-9, 185 pounds of heart, muscle and pure intensity. During his 13 years with the Carolina Panthers, he built a reputation for intimidating everyone on the field when hes often the smallest one on it. … Smith is just as fearless [as Boldin] when it comes to taking a hit and fighting for extra yards. Hes just as tenacious when fighting for the ball when its tight coverage. Hes just as clutch when it comes to wanting the ball in the most critical situations.” In his younger years, Smith let that intensity get away from him at times. Those incidents are well-documented. He’s quarreled with his own teammates and Panthers General Manager Dave Gettleman reportedly felt Smith was a distraction, leading to his release. ESPN Panthers reporter David Newton was asked if the Ravens should be concerned about Smith’s influence in the locker room. In short, his answer is “no.” “As Ive said repeatedly through this process, the Steve Smith of five years ago might have been an issue in the locker room,” Newton wrote. “The Steve Smith of today – not so much. Hes grown up a lot since his last incident with a teammate in 2008. I wont say hes mellowed, but football no longer is his entire life as it once was. Hes enjoying life on and off the field more than ever. “Does that mean he wont get in the face of a teammate if he feels that player isnt pulling his weight? No. But dont you want that to a certain level? Smith is a fiery player, and sometimes he gets fiery with his teammates. Hes also a player teammates and opponents have to respect.” Smith said he knows what it’s like when a new guy comes into a locker room and is outspoken and tries to take things over. He says those guys need to “get in line.” Smith will hold himself to the same standard in Baltimore. How does he respond to people who say they don’t want a “troublemaker” or a guy with “too much swagger?” “You can look up my criminal background record. Nothing. So, first of all, we can get that out the window,” Smith told WNST’s Drew Forrester. “I don’t do any of those things that people associate thugs to be. I save my money, I take care of my family, I’m not a dead-beat dad.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:13:11 +0000
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