NFL Rumors: Steve Smith was to meet with New England Patriots before signing deal with Ravens

Nov 18, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) gets shoved out of bounds by New England Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib (31) during the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Patriots 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

In news that broke just a short time ago, free agent wide receiver Steve Smith has agreed to a deal with the Baltimore Ravens after meeting with Ozzie Newsome and company. Baltimore was one of the teams rumored to have heavy interest in Smith from the time he was released Thursday morning, but so were the New England Patriots.

And as Ian Rapoport is reporting, Smith actually cancelled his flight to New England to meet with the Pats after he got the offer from the Ravens that he couldn’t refuse.

How good a selling job did Ozzie Newsome & John Harbaugh do? Source says Steve Smith cancelled flight to New England to stay in Baltimore
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2014

The trip to Baltimore was the only trip that Smith took, and the lure of a three-year deal was too much to pass up on.

He would have fit in quite nicely in New England with Tom Brady and the rest of the offense, but he’ll also bring an added dimension to the Ravens offense that it desperately needs.

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