[News] Eisenberg: Ravens Lucky To Get Steve Smith For Final Chapters

[BR News]

The team will miss their resident ‘pit bull’ and No. 1 receiver. He won’t be easy to replace.

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[RavensFanMania]

I've seen Steve Smith play through his entire career.  Always loved watching him.  He is reminiscent of some of the old time tough guys.  Hell of a player and he will be missed.  Replacing him won't happen with one person.  He is irreplaceable.

[salamander]

Even before SSS announced his retirement, his role as a mentor was extremely important to get the receivers NFL ready. Now that the clock has a timer set, SSS is downright critical to transition the offense as seasoned vets for the future. I have never seen any player join the team and in the span of 1 year, become as vital to the team and as loved by fans as SSS. Perhaps the Ring of Honor is reserved only for those players who spent the vast majority of their successful careers as Ravens. However, in my mind, SSS will always be 1 of the Ravens I hold in the highest esteem and he is definitely belongs in my Ring of Honor. SSS has the heart of a Raven.

Edited August 10, 2015 by salamander

[harfordravenfan]

Even before SSS announced his retirement, his role as a mentor was extremely important to get the receivers NFL ready. Now that the clock has a timer set, SSS is downright critical to transition the offense as seasoned vets for the future. I have never seen any player join the team and in the span of 1 year, become as vital to the team and as loved by fans as SSS. Perhaps the Ring of Honor is reserved only for those players who spent the vast majority of their successful careers as Ravens. However, in my mind, SSS will always be 1 of the Ravens I hold in the highest esteem and he is definitely belongs in my Ring of Honor. SSS has the heart of a Raven.

Always thought Steve was a "raven type " player, just took awhile to get here sadly but 2 years of Steve is better than none. Hopefully his production will be replaced but that desire, attitude, and skill set we'll be lucky to get anyone close to his, let's send him out like lewis... with a ring!

[RavenManiac#7]

SSS has every right to retire as a Panther. After all, that team drafted him, he spent the vast majority of his career there, and amassed most of his many achievements as a Panther. But, he Did leave that organization on less than fond feelings with it. And, much more importantly to me, SSS just seems to be a natural as a Raven. He is the epitome of a Raven. The saying that a player "plays like a Raven" hasn't fit Anybody any more accurately than it does SSS. So, in my humble opinion, despite him having only two seasons of his illustrious career spent as a Raven, it would be SO fitting for him to decide to retire as a Raven. It just seems to me that SSS is the Definition of the ideal Raven, in the mold of the absolute #1 Raven of all time, Ray Lewis. Of course, Ray Lewis' longevity as a Raven legitimately adds something special to his undeniable lead and recognition as the #1 Raven of all time, but even though SSS's career here may have been brief, there's just no denying how obvious it is to recognize his legitimate claim to being a Raven in stature and at heart. I sincerely hope it is SSS's choice to retire as a Raven. To me, 13 years vs 2, notwithstanding, whenever I think of SSS, it will be as a Raven, not a Panther. It's just who he is, period!

[Halshayeji]

Thank you SSS for one heck of a year. And thank you for bringing back some swag to our offense. Regardless of what happens this year we already got a bargain by signing him for just over 3 mil a year. The intensity he brings to practice is just priceless.

Let's all ice up for one last ride!

[EdTheMythicalOne]

I admire the way he plays and prepares himself, but Smith isn't without his faults. He broke the jaw of a former teammate in practice and has been known for getting into many fights in camp. His first season here he got into a fight with Webb where punches were thrown.

So what will the Ravens do? I dunno, probably more of the same. When they lost Derrick Mason, they got Boldin. When they traded Boldin they got Steve Smith Sr. So start looking at veteran wideouts on teams that are coming into their last year or two on their current contracts and have young depth behind them. Chances are one of those guys will be a Raven depending on how this crop of guys perform this season.

[bmoraven]

Hope he get's a Last Ride to the SuperBowl...he deserves it.

[stixfix69]

SSS = Steven Spartacus Smith.....Plays like a Gladiator.....

[stampit]

Yes, Steve will be missed tremendously. The great thing about professional sports.....someone is preparing to step in and fill that gap!

[smolina2o1]

The one thing that has always stood out to me about Steve Smith was his competitiveness, just someone who wanted to go out and prove every play how much better he is than anyone who lined up across from him. Really wish we could've signed him a few years back when there was speculation of him leaving the Panthers. I could only fathom how intense our team could've been with him being the "pit bull" on offense and Ray Lewis being general of our defense, talk about intimidation. Still I'm more than grateful to have had him on our team last year and watch him tear apart the competition, looking forward to seeing him do damage this year again. I am concerned however on the future of the offense, not to say we will completely crumble but when u lose a leader who works as hard as he does and is undoubtedly respected by everyone who sees the work he puts in on every play. I just don't know if that can be replaced. Steve Smith is truly one of a kind.

[20306cab]

Well, a definite HOFer. Speaking of the NFL HOF, just my opinion, but Bettis and Seau are two of the most overrated players in the history of the NFL.

[Dorota]

The one thing that has always stood out to me about Steve Smith was his competitiveness, just someone who wanted to go out and prove every play how much better he is than anyone who lined up across from him. Really wish we could've signed him a few years back when there was speculation of him leaving the Panthers. I could only fathom how intense our team could've been with him being the "pit bull" on offense and Ray Lewis being general of our defense, talk about intimidation. Still I'm more than grateful to have had him on our team last year and watch him tear apart the competition, looking forward to seeing him do damage this year again. I am concerned however on the future of the offense, not to say we will completely crumble but when u lose a leader who works as hard as he does and is undoubtedly respected by everyone who sees the work he puts in on every play. I just don't know if that can be replaced. Steve Smith is truly one of a kind.

One of a kind - yes. I am not concerned though. It helped having him here, there will be shoes to fill and just having those inspires players to want to be that.

[Krabcake]

SS89 is an absolute dog. He deserves a ring.

[MYTH420]

Another former Raven WR has numbers like that. Not as much as SSS or Brown, but close. The best WR in Ravens history, Derrick Mason. Career: 943 Rec., 12,061 Yrds., 66 TD, 5,086 Ret. Yrds. I think he is HOF material, but he is definitely Ring Of Honor material, and the fact that he hasn't been inducted yet is ridiculous and embarrassing. Ravens Numbers: 471 Rec., 5,777 Yrds., 29 TD. He played 6 years for us, had 4 1,000 yard years (the other 2 were 802 and 750). Not to mention he helped Flacco develop in his early years. Catching TDs in the playoffs with a separated shoulder, the Master of the comeback route, Derricks Mason.

[Arch Mage]

This is a Harbaugh team now. We can't fault the kinds of guys the Ravens have drafted since he came on board.  When looking at the veterans who have come not through the draft, the ones with an "edge", I wonder, are they just so rare, or are they guys the Ravens would not have drafted because they did not fit the John Harbaugh mold. Have we drafted an outspoken, edgey guy in the Harbaugh era?

Edited August 11, 2015 by Arch Mage

[smalljaws]

Guess Ed never played the game. Fighting in camp is part of the culture of the sport at all levels.

[bluehen]

Hope he retires as a RAVEN.

[boldtown]

could one image what if the ravens drafted steve smith in the third round instead of casey rabach back in 2001? how different the ravens could have been. ya, i know. hindsight is 20/20. i can't help but imagine the battles he might of had with the afc north rivals. or who could have been picked that ravens didn't have to pick receivers that had become busts.

smith is one of those players that has fit the Ravens' mold. undersized and under valued in the eyes of scouts and gms. carolina got him and could not get a franchise qb to exemplify his talents. yes, he was dominant with players around him and in their system. just image what if heap at tight end and smith sr leading the offense and ray lewis leading the defense. the cohesion of the two might have lead to unthinkable playoffs and possible super bowls. for example, it could have been smith making the catch instead of lee evans dropping the pass in the endzone. or, smith instead of houshmandzadeh. Carolina should be lucky to have this guy in their short history. steve would have be the model raven.

another funny or scary thought... if smith was a raven, bilick might still be the coach and flacco may be a backup to breez or cutler. on that note, i'm just glad the ravens got him the way they did.