“Say what you want about him, he was one of the hardest practicing guys I’ve ever met. The guy was full-go every single practice, no matter the part of the season”.
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“I’ll look back and enjoy things”, Smith said. He’ll likely use the 2015 to put an exclamation point on a career that could well see him enshrined in Canton when all is said and done. He even made the Pro Bowl in 2010 before his missed field goal attempt in the 2012 AFC championship game and the emergence of Justin Tucker in Baltimore led to his dismissal during training camp. He has told his Baltimore teammates that this season would be his last. Ten of the 12 receivers on their 2015 roster are 26 years of age or younger, per The Baltimore Sunday .
And after catching seven passes for 139 yards in that September 28 game, a 38-10 Ravens rout, Smith boasted, “I’m 35 years old, and I ran around those boys like they were schoolyard kids”. He is also the Panthers’ all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, punt return yards, and punt return touchdowns.
“I think so. He’s had tremendous accolades and I know he’s very well-respected with a lot of current and former players and the fans love him here”.
But I’m going in a different direction to quantify Smith’s excellence.
Smith said he feels great physically and thinks he could play for two or more years but has other things he wants to do. And though he is going out in his own terms, his leaving the sport on the top of his game.
The Ravens have dealt with a similar story when future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis announced his retirement in the week of the AFC Wild Card game in the 2012 season.
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Smith will retire having played for just two teams, the Panthers and Ravens. The announcement in some ways propelled the Ravens to winning their second Super Bowl in franchise history. “This is the best place to end”. “I don’t know what that is, and I don’t have any intentions of finding out”. Of course, Smith and the Ravens would like nothing more than to repeat that narrative. It’s just, man, whatever happens, let the chips fall where they may. “You set aside the football, you get some free dollars and an opportunity to go in the store and shop; get what you need … that’s what summer is about”.
