It was reported earlier today that Baltimore Ravens wide receiver, Steve Smith Sr. is coming back for the 2016 season. Smith Sr. made a lot of people happy with this announcement because he is so important to the purple and black. Smith Sr. had announced before the season that he would retire after the 2015 campaign.
Related: Breshad Perriman: How Should Ravens Move Forward
Nobody could believe that this was the last we would see of the seasoned veteran receiver. No competitor wants to finish on a losing season. No competitor wants two major injuries to finish his career. There isn’t a competitor more fiery and impassioned than Smith Sr. It couldn’t possibly end like this for one of the best receivers in NFL history.
Sep 28, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith, Sr. (89) looks on in the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
The Ravens need Smith Sr. badly going into 2016, which the Ravens hope to be a rebound. Without Smith Sr. on board the Ravens would have a real problem on their hands. It is hard to replace a player with that much talent, that much heart and that much guiding experience.
The Ravens roster is pretty thin at the wide receiver position. It was obvious when Joe Flacco was forcing the ball to him and it was even more painfully apparent when Smith Sr. was put on injured reserve. Kamar Aiken is a solid receiver but he isn’t a number one receiver…it isn’t even a debate. Marlon Brown has the hands of a scarecrow and Chris Givens is just another complementary piece. I could go down and name each receiver but you get the point, the Ravens need all the help they can get at this position.
With Torrey Smith in San Francisco and the mystery of when Breshad Perriman will ever play, Smith Sr. is pretty much the only receiver the Ravens have to rely on. Obviously the Ravens needed to improve at the receiver position whether or not Smith Sr. came back. Without him however Ozzie Newsome and company would be forced to start from scratch.
From a logistical standpoint the Ravens had to be banking on this return of their star receiver. It is the best news the Ravens could have gotten at this point in the year. The Ravens do have some talent at the wide receiver position but it is young and undeveloped. Smith Sr. will provide excellent tutelage for these up and coming receivers.
Next: Baltimore Ravens: Is Eugene Monroe Answer At Left Tackle?
The best part of this is that Smith Sr. feels that the Ravens are worth coming back to in 2016. He believes in the team and is determined to get this team back to championship form. He wouldn’t come back and play for a team that he thought was a lost cause. He must feel like the Ravens will have a quick turnaround and that is an idea that is truly exciting.