Steve Smith Sr. might still retire but not likely to be traded to contender

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. said Wednesday that he’s “still on schedule” to retire at season’s end, which has led some people to wonder if the 1-5 Ravens might opt to deal Smith to a contender.

Don’t count on it.

A source told Shutdown Corner that trading Smith is not at all likely and that the Ravens would be more likely to try to convince him to return for the 2016 season. Whether he’s open to changing his mind is unknown, but the source indicated that Smith was informed by Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome that the team has no designs on dealing him before the trade deadline.

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Smith, 36, announced in August that this would be his final season in the NFL, although he has maintained a high level of performance so far in 2015. Through five games, Smith has 36 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns. The 510 yards rank 12th in the NFL despite him missing a full game with four broken bones in his back, and he ranks fourth in the league in receiving yards per game (102) among receivers who have played more than two games.

That level of play — despite few consistent offensive weapons around him — has earned league-wide attention, including from a handful of teams with legitimate playoff hopes (the Green Bay Packers, perhaps?) that could use help at receiver. The Carolina Panthers could use wideout help, too, but Smith’s contentious relationship with GM Dave Gettleman nixes any chance of that. The other team Smith considered signing with, the New England Patriots, are not too likely to make any deals with the Ravens, having forged a bitter rivalry over the past few seasons.

But Smith is believed to have an understanding with Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh that the Ravens have no intentions of dealing him before the league’s trade deadline of Nov. 3.

“They’re not punting on the season,” the source said of the Ravens. “They’re not looking to trade [Smith] and they’re still trying to win games. I wouldn’t be shocked if they try to convince him to give it one more go [in 2016].”

Indeed, Smith signed a three-year contract with the Ravens prior to the 2014 season and remains under contract for 2016. Newsome also is believed to have told Smith that the team has no intentions of trying to recoup any of his prorated signing bonus ($3.5 million) for not fulfilling the final year of his deal.

“[Smith] trusts them,” the source said. “I don’t think he’d be happy if they did suddenly trade him out of the blue, but he believes they have no plans of that anyway.”

One of the biggest reasons Smith chose to sign with the Ravens after 13 years with the Panthers was proximity to his family. With four children and Smith’s wife back in Charlotte, signing with a team less than a two-hour flight away from home was a primary consideration. Smith also felt a connection with Newsome and Harbaugh, and there has been no change in that relationship.

We also hear that Smith still spends time weekly with new Ravens offensive coordinator Marc Trestman drawing up plays and breaking down film together, a sign that the fire still burns in Smith — one of the elite competitors of his generation at any position.

Could Smith’s strong play convince him to consider playing again in 2016? That’s not known, but he can continue to rise up the all-time receiving rankings with continued production. Having passed Andre Johnson on the receiving-yards list last week, Smith ranks 12th in NFL history and needs only six more to pass Henry Ellard for 11th, 128 to pass Hall of Famer Cris Carter for 10th and 233 to pass James Lofton, another Hall of Famer, for ninth.

Within sight: Former Indianapolis Colts teammates Reggie Wayne (573 behind) and Marvin Harrison (808), who rank eighth and seventh, respectively, all time. Smith is tied for 15th all time in receptions with 951, and though four active players are ahead of him on the list, he is only 31 catches behind Randy Moss for 11th all time.

“I think he’s a Hall of Famer already,” the source said, “but one more season playing near [this level] would leave no doubt.”

We won’t speculate on 2016 because Smith has given no outward signs of reneging on that. But what we can say is that it’s virtually certain Smith will finish the 2015 season — and possibly his career — with the Ravens.