Fansided

Steve Smith’s New Year’s resolution: Return to the NFL and give ’em hell

By Jonathan Bass

Sep 27, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; ) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) celebrates after hits touchdown during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; ) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) celebrates after hits touchdown during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Steve Smith Sr. will be returning to the NFL in 2016

We all knew Steve Smith Sr. wasn’t going out like that. There was no way a midseason injury was going to put one of the NFL’s most bombastic receivers out to pasture for good. No way he was retiring on anything less than his own terms.

On Wednesday, Smith confirmed what we all believed, that he will, in fact, return for the 2016 NFL season. Smith’s announcement came in the form of a motivational tweet mixed with a New Year’s resolution.

"Wit the blessing of My Family, Friends & Fans!! 2016 Let's give'em Hell"

Smith tore his Achilles’ tendon against the San Diego Chargers in Week 8 shortly after he had passed Cris Carter for 11th all-time in career receiving yards. It wasn’t the official death knell for the Ravens, who at that point were still playing competitive ball, but it was one of a slew of season-enders for the snake-bitten team. Terrell Suggs was done in during a Week 1 loss, first round pick Breshad Perriman never saw the field at all in 2015, and Joe Flacco and Justin Forsett were lost for the year three weeks after Smith went down. It seems like every week for four months the Ravens would lose another playmaker.

As previously stated, given the wideout’s fiery demeanor (see: competitiveness) it was unlikely that his retirement parade would be cut short by injury only eight weeks into his 15th season. For his career, Smith has 961 receptions for 13,932 yards and 76 touchdowns. In his two years with the Ravens he has hauled in 125 receptions to the tune of 1,735 yards and nine touchdowns.

With another year under his belt, it’s likely that Smith will pass Randy Moss for 14th in career receptions, climb into the top-20 for career touchdown receptions and end in the top-10 in career receiving yards. For a player compartmentalized and seizes even the slightest bit of motivation, Smith will have a little extra incentive in the numbers-chasing department come 2016.

Home/Baltimore Ravens