When you have the talent, experience and accolades like an athlete of Steve Smith’s caliber, you’d think he’d have your pick of almost any team out there when you became a free agent.
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And it seemed like he had a handful of championship caliber teams to pick from such as the reigning Super Bowl champs Seattle Seahawks, the New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins. But it was the Baltimore Ravens that Smith chose, who are just two years removed from winning it all a year before the Seahawks, despite missing the playoffs last year. Smith signed a 3-year deal worth about $11.5 million with the Ravens just a few days ago.
Smith’s main reason for going to the Ravens was because it was just an hour flight back home to Charlotte, NC where his family and pregnant wife live and because of their winning tradition, but to me, I think I’m a bit more shocked that he turned down a chance to play with Tom Brady and Bellichick up there in Foxboro. They seem to be in the hunt every year no matter who’s on the roster.
Boston is not that much further of a flight from North Carolina and if he’s looking for a winning team, you can’t look past the Patriots. Look at what they did with the limited weapons on offense this year. Imagine if Smith is out there, with the receiving corps the keep intact and with a healthy Gronkowski. That offense looks pretty nice. Not to mention, Smith is a fierce competitor that likes to play angry. I’d like to see him paired up with Brady to see how they’d produce. No offense to Flacco, but the guy isn’t the most intense player and looks like he needs others to fire him up, rather than he being the man to get crazy and everyone fired up.
The Ravens aren’t a bad choice, many view this as the best scenario for him right now. I could state a case why he should team up with Sherman and Wilson out west too. Maybe Smith sees something the rest of of us don’t. Personally I just see a better chance of him winning now with either the Patriots or the Seahawks.
But hey, in the opposite works of Richard Sherman, I ain’t mad bro. I just want you to get your shot at the trophy.
