Jimmy Smith may be ready to hang up his cleats after an 11-year career with the Baltimore Ravens, but his impact on the team won’t be so easily forgotten.
Smith is currently a free agent in 2022 after playing possibly his final season with the Ravens last year. The veteran cornerback has made it known he doesn’t plan to play for anyone other than the Ravens and will either retire this offseason or join the team for one last ride.
A first-round pick by Baltimore back in 2011, Smith cemented his place in Ravens history as a tried-and-true cornerback for the past decade, holding his own against former and current elite wideouts.
Apparently, one particular wide receiver still holds a grudge against him.
Julian Edelman, who played for the New England Patriots, was asked which cornerback in the league he hated playing against and named Smith from the Ravens.
Who was the player that Pats WR Julian Edelman hated playing against?
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) June 27, 2022
Ravens CB Jimmy Smithpic.twitter.com/DQGhky6rg3
Edelman elaborated on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast:
"“Me and Jimmy, I remember him — like I trained over at Exos in LA and I remember him coming out and he was really quick in and out of breaks and I’m like, ‘Who’s this dude?’ And then we started playing against each other and that’s when we were playing Baltimore like twice a year.He was a long guy. He was also kind of quick. He was patient at the line of scrimmage. He kind of knew how to… he kind of knew how to f— with me. I won my battles but he won his.”"
Ravens corner Jimmy Smith gave former WR Julian Edelman a hard time in the NFL
The Pats/Ravens rivalry certainly had its heyday with the likes of Tom Brady and Edelman facing Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Smith.
Smith racked up 74 passes defended and 14 interceptions in his career, though he didn’t record any interceptions in the four regular-season games he played against the New England Patriots. Edelman’s record against the Ravens includes 28 catches for 267 yards and one touchdown.
The two teams continue to share a mutual respect for one another as Brady memorably handed the torch to Lamar Jackson in his fake retirement post this past year.
Their storied rivalry may live on, but Smith appears to be nearing retirement (an actual retirement) himself, and his days of locking down the league’s top wideouts may very well be over.
Smith’s number was called upon this past season due to the Ravens’ devastating injury plague, but barring another catastrophe, younger and more talented defenders sit ahead of him on the depth chart.
The Ravens’ starters at cornerback will include Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters, both of whom are returning from injury, with Kyle Fuller possibly playing in the slot and rookies Jalyn Armour-Davis and Damarion Williams serving as other options.
Given Baltimore’s crowded secondary in 2022, Smith’s time with the Ravens could be up, but his contributions to the defense — and his loyalty to the team — will always be remembered.