[News] Late For Work 12/29: Ron Rivera Thinks Steve Smith Should Retire A Panther

[BR News]

The Ravens are in familiar, tough position of finding a replacement for their top receiver. Should Baltimore lose for a higher draft pick? An argument that Joe Flacco should be benched Sunday to avoid potential injury in a meaningless game.

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[Gorgee3]

The answer is plainly NO. Ron Rivera didn't think it was a good idea when Steve wanted to retire before he was cut by the Panthers . I hope he retires a Raven.

[ellicottraven]

Steve was born to be a Raven, became a Raven, feels one with himself as a Raven so why in the world would he retire a Panther? Nope SSS is a Raven through and through and must retire a RAVEN!

[iluvpurple]

My thoughts on Steve retiring a Panther is, if they wanted him to retire a Panther, maybe they shouldn't have unceremoniously dumped him from the team.... In my opinion, he was whole-heartedly a Raven, and I wish he had spent his entire 16 years here 🏈

[BigUgly]

Steve Smith Sr. shouldn't retire, as he is still the best WR on the team. He may be contemplating 2017 and weighing the likelihood that the Ravens offense can come around and that the team can make the playoffs.

[leziRav]

Whatever you do Steve, retire as Panther or Raven, you will be loved in Bmore and in the country. I wish our young WRs could learn from you on how to compete.I wish you the best Steve.
Regarding Steve replacement I think Ashon Jeffery will be a free agent too, not bad to have him in the team, Pierre Garçon is not bad either,

[eze17]

My gut feeling is SSS retires a Panther. They are the team that drafted him, that he spent the most time with, and put up most of his #'s with...The guy has played great as a Raven, but my guess is that in the long haul, he'll go back to where he started. I am just happy that he decided to wear the purple and black, and that he showed such outstanding dedication to not only playing as hard as he could, but brought a great sense of leadership to the locker room...He will definately be missed.

[RavenSpain]

SSS epitomizes what it means to be a Raven. He really should have been a Raven his entire career. Retire as a Raven!

[eze17]

My thoughts on Steve retiring a Panther is, if they wanted him to retire a Panther, maybe they shouldn't have unceremoniously dumped him from the team.... In my opinion, he was whole-heartedly a Raven, and I wish he had spent his entire 16 years here 🏈

Ed Reed didn't finish his career in Baltimore...So be careful of your analogies. For that matter, the great Johnny U. didn't end his career with the Colt's either...Yet when you think of those two, Baltimore pops up automatically. It's a matter of perspective.

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

Excuse me aiken is nothing like SS he should be released after this year

[ByTheBay]

We will see if the coaches are all talk when they say they will play this last game to win. Nobody expects the players to lie down and lose on purpose but it they sit Flacco and a few other starters that is the same thing. We will see. I expect them to sit as to not risk injury. If it ends up being a loss and a better draft slot then all the better. The season is over people. 

[The Mom Gene]

THE PANTHERS MADE THEIR OPINON CLEAR WHEN THEY CUT HIM.

[The Mom Gene]

  30 minutes ago, iluvpurple said:

My thoughts on Steve retiring a Panther is, if they wanted him to retire a Panther, maybe they shouldn't have unceremoniously dumped him from the team.... In my opinion, he was whole-heartedly a Raven, and I wish he had spent his entire 16 years here 🏈

Ed Reed didn't finish his career in Baltimore...So be careful of your analogies. For that matter, the great Johnny U. didn't end his career with the Colt's either...Yet when you think of those two, Baltimore pops up automatically. It's a matter of perspective.

That was basically Ed Reed's choice; not the organizations. They didn't cut him.

[The Mom Gene]

The answer is plainly NO. Ron Rivera didn't think it was a good idea when Steve wanted to retire before he was cut by the Panthers . I hope he retires a Raven.

exactly.

[VermontRaven]

"The teams that currently have the same record as the Ravens are the Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers." Ummm...The Redskins are 8-6-1. The Ravens are 8-7. Those are not the same record.

[The Mom Gene]

This is a nail... This is in the coffin... You're dead... Take your butt back to Carolina... Make sure you mow my lawn when you get there.

That should tell you just what you need to know about how he felt about that.

[Black&purple#55]

If we cut Elvis Dumervile and Kyle Arrington, our Cap space for next year will be around 28 Mil. Hopefully thats more than enough to bring some talent to Baltimore ex Ashlon Jeff, Dre Kirkpatrick or Jamie Collins.

[RowdyMan52]

Any Idea of who we can consider for OC?? I mean honestly who can we bring in with enough fire power to jump start this offense.. ?????

[eze17]

  38 minutes ago, eze17 said:

  55 minutes ago, iluvpurple said:

My thoughts on Steve retiring a Panther is, if they wanted him to retire a Panther, maybe they shouldn't have unceremoniously dumped him from the team.... In my opinion, he was whole-heartedly a Raven, and I wish he had spent his entire 16 years here 🏈

Ed Reed didn't finish his career in Baltimore...So be careful of your analogies. For that matter, the great Johnny U. didn't end his career with the Colt's either...Yet when you think of those two, Baltimore pops up automatically. It's a matter of perspective.

That was basically Ed Reed's choice; not the organizations. They didn't cut him.

No, but they also didn't exactly bend over backwards to retain him either. He wasn't guaranteed a starting position, nor offered what he considered good money. All I'm pointing out is that players don't always end their careers with the teams they started with. In fact, you could go on and on with all the hall of famers who finished out their careers somewhere other than the team you most associate them with. If SSS wants to retire a Raven, I'd be more than happy, but realisticaly he will be remembered more as a Panther, at least everywhere besides Baltimore.

[JD08]

SSS was disrespected by the GM who didn't think he could still play at a high level, Smith plays like a Raven. Ravens would be honored to have him retire here. As for his replacement, we should try to address it first in the draft, followed by a OLB and CB

[TheConquerorWorm]

This draft is weak at WR and with true shutdown corners available in the 1st Round - that's where you go. Plenty of solid FA WR out there this year. Garcon was mentioned, but I would like to see Kenny Britt - he's that big, tall, good hands WR that we need.

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

Any Idea of who we can consider for OC?? I mean honestly who can we bring in with enough fire power to jump start this offense.. ?????

McCoy if the chargers lets him go or norv turner anybody exept morningwig

[RowdyMan52]

  53 minutes ago, RowdyMan52 said:

Any Idea of who we can consider for OC?? I mean honestly who can we bring in with enough fire power to jump start this offense.. ?????

McCoy if the chargers lets him go or norv turner anybody exept morningwig

I can see Norv, McCoy is fine but I would rather a younger guy with some fire and one who isn't going to leave for at least a while.. With teams looking for HC this year I can see Norv and McCoy get some attention.. I was hoping Kiffin would have been around to at least see if he would be interested.. I like Scott Frost for some reason.. idk

[Popeye the sailor man]

Dunno why Steve would think about retirement, he may be getting up there in age but he still great as he ever once was, he should play at least another year. The Panther's cut him, that's like a divorce, why would anyone go back to the team that divorce him, he found a new home with the Ravens and that's what his retirement should be about, the last team he played with which is the Ravens...My Thoughts...

[Raven in ATL]

gonna have to disagree with Suggs, losing for a better draft pick at this time isnt about creating character or a bad habit. its about being strategic, looking at the bigger picture, the future of the franchise. the season is lost, the game meaningless in the sense of playoff implications. the only things as players to play for is pride and incentive bonuses. dont let your pride get in the way of something bigger!

[steelcityraven]

Love SSS .... I would love to see him come back but nothing but respect whatever he decides. and BTW... if he retires... why would he retire a Panther after the way they treated him. They ran him out of town. They made their choice. IDK it is his decision but if it were me... I know what I would think of the Panthers organization.

[steelcityraven]

gonna have to disagree with Suggs, losing for a better draft pick at this time isnt about creating character or a bad habit. its about being strategic, looking at the bigger picture, the future of the franchise. the season is lost, the game meaningless in the sense of playoff implications. the only things as players to play for is pride and incentive bonuses. dont let your pride get in the way of something bigger!

If we win and everyone else loses we get the 20th pick... if we lose and everyone else wins we end up with the 15th pick. In reality if we win... some others will do the same and we will end up somewhere between 16-19 regardless.

It is not like if we lose we jump into the top 10 and if we win... we fall out of the top 20. on the average we will pick around 17th... win or lose. So is a spot or two in the middle of the pack worth a non-winning season?

That's crazy. You win... especially against a team who has owned us over the past few years. You dominate a divisional foe and use that win to springboard into next season.

If we beat the Bengals... that leaves us at 5-1 in the AFC North for the year. That is a lot to build off of. But losing your final two and 3 of your last 4... that is a little harder to frame that going into next season

No the one or two spots you would gain (at best) is not worth what you would lose.... it has nothing to do with ego or pride and everything to do with setting us up with confidence knowing that we can dominate our division going into next year.

A split with the Bengals and Sqeelers would be a much harder sale then going 5-1 in the division.

We need to WIN this game!

[The Beak]

Never Ever Never try to Lose , losing only proves you suck, Play as hard as if it was the playoffs. Beat those Bungles Azzes

[steelcityraven]

If we cut Elvis Dumervile and Kyle Arrington, our Cap space for next year will be around 28 Mil. Hopefully thats more than enough to bring some talent to Baltimore ex Ashlon Jeff, Dre Kirkpatrick or Jamie Collins.

Not sure why we would cut Elvis. Yes he is aging and yes this was the worst year of his career, but the guys still has it physically and when healthy he is one of the best pass rushing threats in the NFL.

I would be shocked if we cut a proven pass rusher to go out and land one that is not proven.

If there is a veteran to be cut ... I am guessing it will be
1. Webb (big contract / little production)
2. McClellan (showed he is not much more then a ST player)
3. Wagner... (with the addition of Alex Lewis.. we may opt not to give him a big contract)
4. One of the TEs (with Maxx, Gilmore, Boyle, and Waller all jockeying for position behind Watson and Pita... I cannot see us bringing them all back next year)
5. Zuttah... with Jensen, and Urschel capable of playing C and Ducasse showing that he can start at G... Zuttah may not be back after an up and down year this year.
6. Talifero, & Buck Allen just don't have much of a place for them with West Dixon and (a possible draft pick) on board.
7. Kamar Aiken... if the Ravens had any confidence in him.. his output and usage would not have been allowed to drop anywhere near the place it did this season
8. J Powers.... was not what we had hoped and with the possible addition of a CB in the offseason... it may leave Powers expendable.
9. Elam... pretty sure his time on BMORE is over
10. I hope not but BWilliams may be gone. I really hope that we don't let him go but I think he will command a big pay day and the addition of Pierce, Timmy, Carl Davis, WHenry and more may leave us in a position where we can let him go if the payday is too big!

[JD08]

  48 minutes ago, Raven in ATL said:

gonna have to disagree with Suggs, losing for a better draft pick at this time isnt about creating character or a bad habit. its about being strategic, looking at the bigger picture, the future of the franchise. the season is lost, the game meaningless in the sense of playoff implications. the only things as players to play for is pride and incentive bonuses. dont let your pride get in the way of something bigger!

If we win and everyone else loses we get the 20th pick... if we lose and everyone else wins we end up with the 15th pick. In reality if we win... some others will do the same and we will end up somewhere between 16-19 regardless.

It is not like if we lose we jump into the top 10 and if we win... we fall out of the top 20. on the average we will pick around 17th... win or lose. So is a spot or two in the middle of the pack worth a non-winning season?

That's crazy. You win... especially against a team who has owned us over the past few years. You dominate a divisional foe and use that win to springboard into next season.

If we beat the Bengals... that leaves us at 5-1 in the AFC North for the year. That is a lot to build off of. But losing your final two and 3 of your last 4... that is a little harder to frame that going into next season

No the one or two spots you would gain (at best) is not worth what you would lose.... it has nothing to do with ego or pride and everything to do with setting us up with confidence knowing that we can dominate our division going into next year.

A split with the Bengals and Sqeelers would be a much harder sale then going 5-1 in the division.

We need to WIN this game!

Need to win for what? What gain at this point is there? We still miss the playoffs regardless, in the draft you can easily miss out on a player just from positioning. Win or loss we still out of playoff contention, we should be thinking about the next season and a few slots higher is more important than a meaningless game at the end which players will move on from once the season is over