The Baltimore Ravens’ playoff hopes were officially toast on Sunday afternoon as they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. And with a number of players getting close to the end of their careers, questions have come up about a number of Ravens playing in 2017.
Two of those marquee names are Terrell Suggs and Steve Smith Sr. Following Sunday’s loss, both players addressed their future. While one was very serious about returning, the other wasn’t quite so sure.
Suggs is one player convinced he will be back in 2017. Here’s how he responded when a reporter suggested that Suggs might hang it up after the season.
“I don’t know what you heard — what the [f—] is wrong with him?– I was always planning to come back and doing this another year,” Suggs said after Baltimore’s 31-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday that eliminated the Ravens from the playoff race.
While Suggs has been in the league since 2003, it seems like playing another year wouldn’t be a bad idea. The 34-year-old leads the team in sacks with eight despite playing with a torn bicep. He is also signed through the 2018 season and is set to make $4 million next season.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Smith. The Baltimore wide receiver didn’t address his future with the media, but rather went the route of the cryptic Instagram post.
Though Smith didn’t directly say he’s retiring, it certainly sounds like it. Smith has threatened retirement before, but he is still in the league. The soon-to-be 38-year-old has five touchdown catches this season and has been a legitimate threat in Baltimore’s passing offense, ranking second on the team with 765 receiving yards and third with 67 catches.
And while his future in the NFL might be in question, this seems like it might be a natural time for the Ravens and Smith to part ways. The wideout’s contract is up at the end of the season.
It’s interesting to hear two players talk so differently about their futures after a heartbreaking loss. However, their moods can certainly change. NFL players love doing that.
[ESPN]
