Steve Smith fires back at Rodney Harrison over month-old criticism

After undergoing surgery last year to repair a brutal Achilles injury, Steve Smith has still been a productive player for the Baltimore Ravens at age 37. He was quick to remind a certain analyst of that following Thursday night’s win over the Cleveland Browns.

Smith, who caught five passes for 60 yards and a touchdown in the victory, called out Rodney Harrison over something the former NFL safety said more than a month ago.

“I’m feeling good,” Smith said, per Max Meyer of NFL.com. “Some people have said, certain people that work for this crowd (media) said that when this offense depends on a 37-year-old, it’s in trouble. I look at a guy like that, he’s just upset about what I’m doing at 37, he couldn’t do at 31.”

When Smith suffered an ankle injury back in October, Harrison said the Ravens are in trouble if they’re relying on a 37-year-old receiver to carry their offense.

“I look at Steve Smith and he is your best player, but the problem is he is a 37-year-old wide receiver,” the NBC analyst said. “He is coming off a major surgery. Once he left the game, then your toughness and production left. They have some good young wide receivers, but they don’t have a lot of NFL experience.”

Harrison actually won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots during his age 31 and 32 seasons, but it’s hardly a surprise that Smith used his words as motivation. Even if Harrison simply meant that it is difficult for a player Smith’s age to stay healthy, No. 89 took offense.

“He knows how hard it is to play this game,” Smith added. “He’s gonna take it away, and say ‘If they depend on him at 37.’ I respect the heck out of Rodney Harrison, but don’t take digs at me, ’cause I dig back and dig deeper.

“My shovel’s bigger than your shovel.”

Many felt that Smith should retire after he tore his Achilles, but he is once again silencing the critics. Harrison isn’t the only one he’s ripped into along the way.