TN05 4,040 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 Steve Smith had made up his mind. Last January, in the days following the Carolina Panthers' disappointing one-and-done playoff appearance against the San Francisco 49ers, Smith's heart and body started leading him in the direction of his own one-and-done experience. His decision was clear. He would play one more season with the Panthers, his 14th in Carolina, and then retire, heading home to his burgeoning family and whatever life after football held. "The only people who knew were my close friends and my wife,'' Smith said Wednesday afternoon. "This year was actually going to be my last year in Carolina. I was going to retire. I was done. I had been waking up every day about 3 a.m. and wrestling with some things in my quiet time. "I finally decided and made the commitment to my family. I told them, 'I'm done. I don't think I can do it much longer. My knee was sore and I knew all the work I had put into my career and what it would take. I came to terms with it, that this year was going to be my last year ever playing football.'' But plans can change rapidly in the NFL, and Smith is thankful they did. Days after his surprise release from the Panthers in mid-March, Carolina's all-time leading receiver signed a new lease on his football life, agreeing to a three-year, $11 million deal in Baltimore, with a Ravens organization that has a long and successful history of adding still-productive veterans to its winning mix. The unexpected jolt Smith, 35, received this offseason might have been exactly what he needed, and he's freshly motivated by the possibility of a career-capping three-year run in Baltimore. Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20140605/steve-smith-baltimore-ravens-john-harbaugh/#ixzz33neVqWwe Thoughts? IMO there needs to have been better communication between Steve and upper management. We lost money cutting him this year to save money in the long run, but if he was going to retire anyway, why cut him? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joemac 1,797 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 Damn...ain't that a bitch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SCP 31,209 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 Some of his quotes from that article should be scary for our DBs. He might go for 800 yds and 16 TDs against us. He has a serious axe to grind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sapper 1,324 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 I think he gets in 2 more productive years and retires a Panther. If he's happy to get a 2nd wind then I will root for him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fieryprophet 7,042 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 There's no way to know if he would have or not. And it's been apparent for a long time that it was not just about the money. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stirs 7,126 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 Then Smith should have made it known to upper management Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joemac 1,797 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 I don't think Luke or TD will hesitate to lay his ass out when he tries to go across the middle. That game should be highly entertaining... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lumps 1,929 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 Don't give a fk about Steve Smith or any other Raven. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beast_3000 308 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 Yeah Steve will get his self laid out by TD if he starts all that trash talk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TN05 4,040 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 Then Smith should have made it known to upper management Maybe upper management should have told him they were considering cutting him before they told the press... which is why I said there should have been better communication on both ends. Should Steve have told them first? Sure. Should Gettleman have handled the thing better? Sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedOFLight 604 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 The writing was kind of on the wall. He had downsized his home and such. There should have been better communication between both parties in which both are to blame. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arroz con Panther 1,883 Report post Posted June 5, 2014 I loved Smith, everyone loved Smith, but it's way too easy for him to say that now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites