John Harbaugh wants Steve Smith to return in 2017
Steve Smith may be one of the only players in NFL history capable of tearing his Achilles at age 36 and coming back to have a productive year the following season, so why should he retire now?
Despite missing two games, Smith has caught 44 passes for 516 yards and three touchdowns this season. He’s done that in just eight games, meaning he would once again be on pace for more than 1,000 yards if not for the time he sat out. And if he decides he wants to play another season in 2017, Ravens coach John Harbaugh would love to have him.
“If he wants to come back, he’s welcome. Absolutely,” Harbaugh said Monday, via Edward Lee of The Baltimore Sun. “You’d like every good football player you can get. But I don’t want to speak for Steve. He’s had an unbelievably awesome career. He got his 1,000th catch so he should be commended for that. Congratulations to Steve on that accomplishment. We look for many more this year.”
A torn Achilles is one of the most difficult injuries for a football player to come back from, but Smith is truly one of a kind. Plenty of guys stick around too long and simply collect a paycheck, but he has been one of Baltimore’s most reliable receivers over the past three seasons.
Smith has not yet said if he plans to retire after the season, but the recent verbal sparring match he had with a former NFL player proves he still has plenty of fight left in him. Don’t be surprised if 2016 isn’t his last year.
