There are those players that you can’t wait to see retire, and those that you can’t wait to see go. As a Steelers fan, I’m not sure which side of that debate Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Jr. falls on.
It was reported earlier this week that the Ravens wide receiver will not be retiring at the end of the season as he had announced earlier in the season. Smith made the decision to retire very early in the year, and he could not have accounted for the fact that he was going to suffer a torn Achilles’ tendon, costing him the bulk of the season.
If you want a good reason for why Smith is going to return for another season, you don’t have to look any further than the record books. Smith entered the season with 915 receptions, and I’m sure felt like an 85+ reception year was going to be a given. Then he could ride off into the sunset as a member of the 1000-reception club, helping cement his Hall of Fame resume.
However, when his season ended with 961 career receptions, his plans had to change. I never felt like Smith was serious about retirement, especially if he didn’t hit the 1000-reception mark. It would have been interesting to see if Smith had ended the year healthy but at 999 receptions, does he still retire.
For the Steelers, the return of Smith is a mixed blessing. In six regular season games, Smith only has 28 receptions for 261 yards. Pretty mediocre numbers on the whole. However, it was the one playoff game that makes Smith so hated by the Steelers faithful. Last season the Steelers and Ravens squared off in the first round of the playoffs and Smith went off for five receptions for 101 yards.
One part of a great rivalry is having a villain to root against. With Smith coming back the Steelers are assured to have villain on the Ravens for at least one more year.
