Football season is coming up fast as Sunday night was the Hall of Fame game which marks the official start to the NFL preseason. The Baltimore Ravens don't start their preseason schedule until Thursday when they take on the New Orleans Saints but there was major news out of Ravens camp on Monday. Steve Smith announced that the 2015 NFL season would be his last in the league, according to the Baltimore Ravens Twitter.
Smith is a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first team All-Pro who will be entering his 15th season in the NFL. Smith played the first 13 seasons of his career with the Carolina Panthers before signing with the Ravens last offseason.
For his career Smith has caught 915 passes for more than 13,000 yards and 73 touchdowns. At only 5 foot-9 Smith has always been undersized but that has never stopped him from mixing it up with defenders and going over the middle to make catches. Smith has always been known as a fast receiver but he was also an extremely tough receiver. He would regularly jaw with the opposing defensive backs and that would sometimes get him in a little trouble.
Smith had his best season, and one of the best seasons for a wide receiver ever, in 2005 when he led the NFL in receptions (103) receiving yards (1,563) and receiving touchdowns (12.) Smith still has something left in the tank though as he was an effective receiver in Baltimore last season catching 79 passes for more than 1,000 yards and six touchdowns. The 36 year old Smith might just be the Ravens go-to-guy on offense this year after they lost Torrey Smith. Smith will have a big part in helping the younger guys in Baltimore like Breshad Perriman develop during this next season.
Smith is a potential Hall of Famer down the road as his numbers definitely make him worthy and when you consider that he never really got to play with great quarterbacks until later in his career it might become even more likely. Smith is a very fun player to watch as he has a crazy passion for the game and gives it his all every time he is on the field. You could also always count on Smith for a good quote as he is not one to ever hold back from saying what he is feeling. Steve Smith is an All-time great who has had a tremendous career and the league will not be the same without him after he plays his last game.
