Mr. Scot

We've won five without either of them, including a big one in Seattle (where no one wins).

Greg Hardy too.

When I saw your name pop up, I thought it was about to be locked and moved.

Ravens brass doesn't see their season as over after six or seven games. No professional team worth anything would. They'll keep fighting, same as we did back in 2004 (and for that matter, just last season). It was already reported that they're actually hoping Smith changes his mind about retirement and plays for them again next year. Hence, they're not interested in trading him this year. And given what the rest of their receiving corps looks like, no reason they should be. Plus, as has been discussed already in this thread, we're not trading away anything for a guy who's only gonna play a partial season. Nor should we. Bottom Line: Whatever we win or lose this year will be done without Steve Smith. Many people think that's for the best, including the guy who makes these decisions. It doesn't matter how you spin it in your head, dude. It isn't happening.

I'm afraid his Instagram says otherwise. Smith has never been one to say stuff he doesn't mean. And what he said there he said pretty strongly. He's not coming back. At this point, I wouldn't even bank on the one day contract retirement.

I predict that if we lose, the chicken littles and the naysayers will be screaming 'EXPOSED' and crowing about how they knew it all along.

All signs say this is one of those that's not.

Not every statement made by coaches and players is posturing. Sometimes they just mean what they say.

But a definitive answer. If it means no more Steve Smith threads, I'd say it's worth it.

PFT had posted an article suggesting the Ravens should trade Smith to the Arizona Cardinals.

Nothing surprises me, anymore. Regardless, if this doesn't end the "bring back Steve Smith" threads, I don't know what will.

You know what gets me? This... Followed by this... Seems like kind of a rude response to his son's post, in my opinion. Mind you, not as rude as his response to Monsta.

After, but I'm not convinced it matters, honestly.

So first "I'll quit if they trade me" and now this. Anybody still on this bandwagon?

No. There was more to it than that. That's not the point, though. It's just an example. The point is that this whole idea that other teams demonstrate some great "loyalty" to their players while the mean old Panthers just toss people aside is ridiculous. You can find examples of beloved players getting cut loose for every single team in the league. You might even find some of the harsher stories come from some of the league's more successful teams. It's a business, and if you want to be successful, you run it like one.

Pretty much. Hero worship is fun when you're a kid, but sometimes when you grow up you learn unpleasant facts about the guys you used to idolize. Part of becoming an adult, I guess.

Sounds more like Steve Smith wasn't playing as well as he had in prior years (especially late in the season).

There was a whole big brouhaha between McNair and the Ravens late in his career. As was stated before, football is a business. "Loyalty" in the NFL is an amusing concept. Teams are 'loyal' to guys who are producing. Players are 'loyal' to whatever team pays them the most. And on both sides, it's justified. That's why people hoping for storybook endings generally wind up disappointed. This isn't a fairy tale.

Maybe you should become a Ravens fan, kid. But before you do, you might wanna look back at the "loyalty" the Ravens showed Steve McNair, for example.

Yeah, about that loyalty...

Well, here's your final answer, Regis. Steve Smith: "I'd quit if the Ravens traded me." So If Smith says he'd rather quit than play for anyone but the Ravens, do people here still want him back?

They haven't given up on the season yet, and I doubt they will have by November 3rd. Throw in that we'd have to be pretty stupid to trade a pick for a guy who's only gonna play half a season.

Letting go of one of their only productive players at a position where they're already majorly thin is beneficial? I think you and I have differing understandings of what that word means. Dude, he's not notng back. You can come up with as many wishful scenarios as you want to, but here in the real world, there's no incentive for either team to make this trade. The trade deadline is November 3rd. All indications are that as of November 4th, Steve Smith will still be playing for the Baltimore Ravens. It's time to let it go.

And what's in it for them? A low round draft pick? We're sure as heck not giving up a high pick for him. They have him under contract. There is zero incentive for them to let him out of it. Said it earlier in the thread. Teams are not in the business of doing favors for other teams or helping players have a happy ending somewhere else. The whole "trade him so he can get a ring" idea is pretty much a fanboy fantasy.

Take a look at the history of players that have tried stuff like that. Good teams rarely let players force their hand on decisions.