Smith's 'Swaggiest' Correction Of False Report
The latest tweet from Steve Smith Sr. had Twitter typing "buuuuuuuuurrrrn" in response.
As we all know, the Panthers released the 14-year veteran this offseason, and while Carolina won without Smith in Week 1, he made them look "foolish" for doing so, says Justin Arbogast of sports-kings.com.
Smith made highlight reels Sunday with his career-tying 80-yard touchdown catch against the Bengals, made possible by a nasty stiff-arm that ended with defender Adam "Pacman" Jones on the ground and Smith celebrating in the end zone.
After the big play, ProFootballTalk tweeted this:
Well ACTUALLY, Smith said that's not quite right. He would like to correct the report and wants you to know how much the Panthers *really *paid to get rid of him.
"@ProFootballTalk: Panthers paid Steve Smith $3 million to leave instead of $7 million to keep him." actually I received $5 million — Steve Smith Sr (@89SteveSmith) September 10, 2014
Somebody found that rebuttal hilarious …
@89SteveSmith @ProFootballTalk hahahahaha — Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) September 10, 2014
Don't think the rest of the Internet didn't notice either …
"This is the swaggiest #WellActually tweet of all-time," wrote SB Nation's Rodger Sherman. "Ice up, PFT."
"Way to go, Steve. Get 'em," added Arbogast.
Suggs Gets 'Classified' Information On Big Ben
During the offseason, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs worked out with several ex-Steelers, including Ryan Clark, LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison.
Why on earth would a Raven willingly* *work with a Steeler?
Just to get "classified information" on nemesis quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Suggs told Pittsburgh reporters Tuesday. What type* *of classified information? That's classified, of course.
Suggs told Baltimore reporters later in the day that he likes competing against Big Ben, as he has respect for him and his three Super Bowl trips. But Suggs would like their offensive line to return to the classic style of Ravens-Steelers play.
"I have to say their coach and their offensive line coach are doing a great job of tending to me, whether they're chipping guys, sliding guys," Suggs said. "They never really do the old Ravens-Steelers [way] where they just smash-mouth our 11 versus your 11, but that's fine."
Steelers blogger Jeff Hartman picked up on Suggs' quote on behindthesteelcurtain.com, and had this to say in response:
"Terrell Suggs is one of the more disliked players among the Steelers' fan base, but you have to appreciate what he brings to a rivalry as great as Steelers vs. Ravens."
Sam Koch, Beware Of Kick To Face
The Ravens-Steelers rivalry is known for its fierce physicality, but something tells me that the punters are generally immune from the madness.
[Today's Week of Winning Code Word: RAVENSWINYOUWIN]
Thursday night, however, Ravens punter Sam Koch may want to take extra precaution against Steelers returner Antonio Brown, who did this to Browns punter Spencer Lanning during this return Sunday:
Brown addressed the kick Tuesday with reporters, saying he thought Lanning was going low and the punter "understood there was no intent to injure anyone." Brown added, per SteelCityInsider.net's Jim Wexell, "he had a sense of humor about it."
Indeed he did:
Good for Lanning. And while our own Ravens punter also has a good sense of humor, I'm sure Koch would prefer to avoid any karate kicks to the face.
"So heads-up, Sam Koch," wrote CBSSports.com's Ryan Wilson.
Hensley: Bisciotti's Letter Moves Ravens In Right Direction
Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti wrote a letter to fans to explain what happened with the team's handling of the Ray Rice situation.
"We did not do all we should have done and no amount of explanation can remedy that," Bisciotti said in the letter. "Seeing that video changed everything. We should have seen it earlier. We should have pursued our own investigation more vigorously. We didn't and we were wrong."
You can read the full letter here.
ESPN's Jamison Hensley said Bisciotti's apology moved the Ravens a "step in the right direction."
"Bisciotti took accountability for not getting his hands on the biggest piece of the Ray Rice puzzle. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could learn something from the letter. … The question that needed to be answered is how the Ravens never obtained the video of what happened in the elevator. Bisciotti explained that the team was denied a copy of the tape by the casino, the New Jersey State Police and the prosecutor's office.
"Instead of saying the Ravens did all they could to get the video, Bisciotti explained how they stopped trying to seek a copy after the charges against Rice went from simple assault to aggravated assault. The team decided to let Rice's situation play out in court."
Hensley said he thinks Bisciotti should have said these words in front of cameras the day of Rice's release, but …
"Still, the highest-ranking official on the Ravens came out and acknowledged that the franchise had erred," Hensley wrote. "He takes responsibility for failing to get the most critical piece of evidence regarding Rice. The Ravens aren't going to move past this embarrassing incident for some time. But Bisciotti started the process of going forward by taking accountability."
Week 2 Power Rankings
After Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, most analysts didn't rank the Ravens among the top half of the team's in the league.
**SportingNews.com, Vinnie Iyer**: No. 17 (dropped four spots)
"That big off-field issue aside, there's more on-field dysfunction as they try to find backfield answers so Joe Flacco isn't left chucking and ducking. The monster defensive lapses need to be cleaned up, stat."
**ProFootballTalk.com, Mike Florio**: No. 14 (dropped seven spots)
"Wait, we have to play this Thursday night?"
**Fox Sports, Dan Schneier**: No. 16 (dropped seven spots)
"Gary Kubiak's offense looked predictable in Week 1. There is top talent and a great scheme on the defensive side of the ball, but it may fail to outshine a stagnant offense. The Ray Rice fiasco could prove to be a distraction, as well."
**SB Nation, Danny Kelly**: No. 17 (dropped five spots)
"The Ravens ran 85 plays and Gary Kubiak asked Joe Flacco to throw the ball 62 times in a loss to the Bengals. The loss was almost a win, though, as a Steve Smith touchdown bomb with six minutes to go in the game gave Baltimore its first lead. With Ray Rice released, the running back duties (assuming they ever run much) fall to Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro. This team still has a strong core of defensive players, and if the secondary can rise to the occasion, the Ravens could get back on track as an AFC heavyweight."
**ESPN**: No. 20 (dropped three spots)
"Joe Flacco threw 62 passes and averaged under 6 yards per attempt in Baltimore's loss, but the Ravens' organization is facing much bigger problems than Flacco's inefficiency."
**CBSSports.com, Pete Prisco**: No. 15 (dropped two spots)
"The offense was really bad for almost three quarters and Joe Flacco threw it way too much. That has to change Thursday against the Steelers."
**NFL.com, Elliot Harrison**: No. 17 (dropped two spots)
"Obviously not a good week for the Ravens, who cut franchise stalwart Ray Rice after shocking video emerged of the running back punching his now-wife in an Atlantic City casino elevator. Football aside, this is just an ugly situation, for the team and the NFL. But I am paid to supply football analysis, so here's where I have to do my job. The Rice release further underscores the Ravens' question marks at running back. (Suddenly, Justin Forsett's name is popping up in fantasy circles and sports talk radio shows more than it has since ... well ... since he was a backup in Seattle. Or something like that, anyway.) Still, despite Baltimore's backfield concerns, the secondary might be a more pressing issue. That unit took some lumps against the Bengals."
Quick Hits
My view on things!!! pic.twitter.com/PymCZg2puC — 20 reed (@TwentyER) September 10, 2014
- Have to admit, this is kind of funny. … Ray Lewis got a haircut like a lego guy. [TerezOwens.com]
