Steve Smith could be back in 2016 if healthy

Oct 26, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. (89) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Ravens 26-18. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to the start of this season, Baltimore Ravens receiver Steve Smith Sr. announced it would be his last. And by the way he was playing, Smith was having himself a 16-week retirement party. But a torn Achilles tendon cut his retirement party in half in Week 8 against the San Diego Chargers.

The retirement party of a future Hall of Fame player should be one that lasts the whole 16 weeks. And it definitely shouldn’t end with him leaving the field in horrible pain with a towel over his face. So now, NFL.com is reporting to sources close to Smith, as saying Smith will start his retirement party all over again in 2016.

The word is if Smith feels like his old, explosive self when he fully recovers from his torn Achilles, the word is he’ll play again. Many of those same people doubted that he was really going to retire from the start of all this. Head coach John Harbaugh has also believed all along that Smith would be back in 2016.

Smith is a dog of a competitor that has a passion for the sport of football that not too many have. Plus playing next year would be the final year of a 3-year, $10.5 million deal so there’s a few million more on the table for him. Smith has been out of his walking boot for a while and he’s focusing on hydrotherapy to minimize atrophy.

Sure, Smith wants to be as healthy as he can to run around with his children but that sounds like he wants to come back.