Does WR Steve Smith Want to Play for Baltimore?

by Chris Pokorny on Jul 18, 2011 10:31 PM EDT in Around the AFC North

*This article is referring to Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers.

The Baltimore Ravens decided to go with a lot of veteran receivers last year. Whether it paid off or not is up to interpretation; overall, I would say that the four-man group of Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Donte Stallworth did not live up to expectations. Houshmandzadeh and Stallworth aren't coming back once the lockout ends, and the Ravens were wise to go for youth in the draft with Torrey Smith. Could they be in the market for acquiring the Panthers' Steve Smith though?

Steve Smith, who has caught 620 passes for 8,884 yards and 52 touchdowns in 10 seasons with the Panthers, wants out of Charlotte, according to Tom Sorensen of The Charlotte Observer. And Sorensen reported that a source told him that Baltimore is one of Smith’s two destinations of choice (San Diego is the other).

Smith has been stuck in a terrible situation in Carolina the past couple of years. I sometimes lose respect for receivers who fail to get motivated because they are losing, but with how bad the Panthers have been at the quarterback situation, I can't really blame him as he approaches the end of his career.

Smith's interest in Baltimore in no way means the Ravens will actually want him, and it doesn't mean Carolina has to trade him anywhere either. Nonetheless, would Smith being in Baltimore make them tougher, or will it be a negative for them considering his age and the fact that he'd probably want some playing time over Boldin or Mason?

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As a Ravens fan I don’t think we will. We would maybe consider it if he was a FA, but no way do we give up draft picks for him. With this probably being Masons last year we need to get the young guys some reps. Torrey and our 4th rounder Doss should see the field. Doss is a guy that Flacco himself requested we draft and some analysts say he may have the best hands in the entire draft after AJ Green. I love Steve Smith, but he would get in the way of the young guys progression.

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by AV23 on Jul 18, 2011 10:40 PM EDT reply actions

Sign him and cut Mason. Steve Smith is a really dangerous weapon. You got Ed Reed and Ray Ray basically on their last legs – I would sell the farm and make a serious run for the defensive leaders.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Jul 18, 2011 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Correction. Steve Smith was a dangerous weapon. He is about 33 now and he has definitely lost his speed. And whats the point of a 5’9’’ receiver with no deep speed? We don’t need a slot guy and thats all he can be at this point.

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your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on Jul 19, 2011 2:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Agree – not the best for the Browns – was urging for the Ravens to sign him.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Jul 19, 2011 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Derrick Mason>Steve Smith

I’d love to have Mason. The guy doesn’t age. Hard worker.

I guess there's only one thing left to do.....win the whole ******* thing. - Major League

by 24rubikscube on Jul 19, 2011 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Didn’t you mean “The Baltimore Ravens decided to go with a lot of veteran receivers…”?

by dvbb on Jul 18, 2011 11:10 PM EDT reply actions

Yep, thanks.

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by Chris Pokorny on Jul 18, 2011 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions

i don’t follow Baltimore news too much because i could care less, but i can tell you that if the Ravens signed Steve Smith they would definitely become more dangerous on offense. i would love having Smith on our team, but even like the Ravens fan above i wouldn’t want to trade a 2nd round pick for him cause i’m sure that’s the minimum Carolina would be willing to trade.

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by Brownsbacker488 on Jul 19, 2011 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

same here.

"WHY NOT"? -Herm Edwards

by DawgsNHawgs on Jul 19, 2011 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. If he was a FA, I’d say fine sign him – he could do alot for our young WR’s but trade a draft pick for him? Hells no.

"They kept throwing it at me. I don’t know why. They just kept trying, and I just kept knocking it down." - Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns.

by J. W. on Jul 19, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

He’d make them more dangerous, yes, but not a monumental difference. He’s the kind of player that would be better suited as a number 2 at this point in career. I think SD would be an interesting option. If AZ loses Breaston, that would be a nice pairing with Fitzie.

by Don'tByBrownsQBJerseys on Jul 21, 2011 7:08 PM EDT reply actions