Tag: Torrey Smith

Eric DeCosta says Devontez Walker reminds him of Torrey Smith

The Baltimore Ravens wrapped up the 2024 NFL Draft with a total of nine selections. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta gave his assessment of each player, including fourth-round wide receiver Devontez Walker, who DeCosta said reminded him of former …

The Baltimore Ravens wrapped up the 2024 NFL Draft with a total of nine selections. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta gave his assessment of each player, including fourth-round wide receiver Devontez Walker, who DeCosta said reminded him of former Baltimore receiver Torrey Smith.

“With ‘Tez,’ you get really a vertical receiver, size and speed,” DeCosta said. “In some ways, [he] reminds me of a Torrey Smith-type of player – an outside, take-the-top-off, vertical threat with good size, and phenomenal kid, excellent jumping ability.”

Baltimore drafted Smith out of Maryland with the No. 58 overall pick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Despite only playing four seasons with the Ravens, Smith made his impact felt and was a critical piece to the team’s 2012 Super Bowl run, including a two-touchdown performance against the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round.

Walker will have an opportunity to earn snaps on offense after the seeming departure of veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. left a void to be filled. Baltimore has lacked a true deep threat since trading away Marquise Brown to the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Even in an MVP season, quarterback Lamar Jackson struggled to connect on deep passes throughout the year. With a true speed threat like Walker added to the mix now, Jackson will hopefully get back to hitting on more deep shots to keep defenses honest.

Which trio of Eagles’ greats would you pick to build an all-time wide receiver core?

Philadelphia has had some elite pass catchers over the years and the Eagles twitter page is asking fans to pick a core group of three franchise greats to make the ultimate trio

Since its inception in 1933, Philadelphia has had some top pass catchers in the sport’s history.

Two of the 11 Hall of Famers linked to the franchise were wide receivers.

It could be challenging to determine who was the best.

Still, the Eagles official Twitter page asked the question on Saturday, looking to make an all-time trio made of some of the top players in franchise history.

We looked at 13 all-time greats, including two that have joined the franchise within the past two years.

Former Panthers WR Torrey Smith: Steve Wilks should be HC

Torrey Smith is the latest former Panther to throw his support behind Steve Wilks.

Support from both current and former Carolina Panthers players just keeps coming in for Steve Wilks. And now, Torrey Smith has joined the party.

The retired wide receiver tweeted on Monday that Wilks deserves to be named the next head coach of the franchise—stating he’s already done something that many men in this league have failed to do.

Smith played one season for the Panthers in 2018, which turned out to be the final campaign of his eight-year NFL career. And opposed to other former Panthers that’ve already endorsed Wilks, such as Thomas Davis and Tre Boston, the pass catcher’s stop in Charlotte came after Wilks’ first tenure there.

(So, yeah, it’s seemingly obvious to guys who weren’t even in the building with Wilks.)

He was, though, on the same page with some of the players who are there now. Linebacker Shaq Thompson, defensive end Brian Burns, defensive tackle Derrick Brown, right guard Austin Corbett and center Bradley Bozeman—just to name a few—have all publicly expressed their support for Wilks.

We’ll see how much these voices matter to owner David Tepper, who officially interviewed Wilks on Tuesday.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxc4awx2fz2sn9 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[lawrence-related id=665151,663390]

[listicle id=666302]

Two more players come out in labeling Mac Jones as ‘dirty’

A five-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion have both called out Mac Jones.

It has been a rough few days for New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, who is suddenly being scrutinized for more than just his struggles on the football field.

Now, people are attacking his character and even labeling him as a “dirty player” following the low block he delivered on Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple on Saturday.

After the game, Apple called the play “dirty” and even insinuated it wasn’t the first infraction by Jones.

“Of course I did [notice it]. He tripped me,” said Apple, via NESN.com. “I thought it was a dirty play. He’s done that before, I’ve seen it.”

The veteran defensive back had some backup on social media with five-time Pro Bowler and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay calling out Jones as well.

Retired receiver and two-time Super Bowl champion Torrey Smith chimed in and compared the second-year quarterback to Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen, who also has a bit of a reputation for controversial plays in the NBA.

Jones has come out and refuted any perceived ill-will towards Apple. He claimed he was never trying to hurt the Bengals corner and was simply making a competitive play.

Apparently, there are some in the football stratosphere that think otherwise.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby79hc76t2s390 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[listicle id=133734]

Former Panthers WR Torrey Smith tweets sad reminder about Cam Newton’s career

Former Panthers WR Torrey Smith, amidst all the Josh Allen love, believes Cam Newton would still be Cam Newton if not for the hit he took from Steelers DE T.J. Watt in 2018.

Carolina Panthers great Cam Newton doesn’t even have to play a snap of football to trend worldwide. All it takes is another guy to just kinda play like him.

That happened last night, when Josh Allen led his Buffalo Bills to a 31-10 victory over the defending champion Los Angeles Rams. The fifth-year quarterback completed 26 of his 31 throws for 297 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 56 yards and a score in a do-it-all, Newton-esque performance

So, former wide receiver and an old teammate of Cam’s, Torrey Smith, caught wind of the comparisons on Twitter and had an intriguing take on Newton’s career.

The “fluke shoulder injury” Smith is referring to happened in Week 10 of that 2018 season, when Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end T.J. Watt soared into Newton’s arm as he was releasing a pass.

Newton was playing at an MVP level up to that very point—as he had thrown for 2,086 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions and rushed for 352 yards and four more scores over the first nine games of that campaign. After the hit, he’d go on to toss seven touchdowns to seven picks and miss the final two games of the year with that shoulder injury.

There’s no doubt things were never the same for Newton and the Panthers following that fateful night. And sadly, a lot of “what-ifs” have remained.

[lawrence-related id=657284,655922]

[listicle id=650128]

Former Eagles WR Torrey Smith calls A.J. Brown a more explosive Anquan Boldin

Former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith called A.J. Brown a more explosive version of retired NFL star Anquan Boldin

A.J. Brown has brought an increased physicality to the Eagles’ wide receiver group, and one former Philadelphia pass catcher believes he compares favorably to one of the best to play the position.

On Tuesday, Torrey Smith visited the Eagles training camp, and the Super Bowl champion made the media rounds when he discussed A.J. Brown with the guys at JAKIB Sports.

Smith talked about Brown’s physicality, telling Derrick Gunn that Philadelphia’s newest star is a more explosive version of former Cardinals and Ravens star Anquan Boldin.

Boldin played 14 seasons for four teams, logging 1,076 catches for 13,779 yards and 83 touchdowns.

Boldin was a three-time Pro Bowler who won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, and one Super Bowl in his career.

If Philadelphia can get that production from Brown during his tenure with the Eagles, another parade could be planned in the near future.

[pickup_prop id=”23892″]

[vertical-gallery id=669168]

[listicle id=669450]

[listicle id=669444]

[listicle id=669439]

[lawrence-related id=669430,669432,669326,669339,669334,669300]

Former Panther names DJ Moore NFL’s most underrated WR

Torrey Smith believes Panthers WR DJ Moore is the most underrated player at his position. Do you agree?

If you know, you know—and former Carolina Panthers wideout Torrey Smith should definitely know.

On Thursday, the eight-year veteran joined the NFL Network’s Peter Schrager on Good Morning Football for a little “3-on-3.” During the segment, Smith and Schrager listed their three most underrated receivers in the game today.

Smith, who is sorta familiar with the position, awarded his No. 1 spot to No. 2.

“I remember when he was drafted,” said Smith, who played alongside Carolina’s DJ Moore during his rookie campaign in 2018. “I knew who he was coming out Maryland. He’s only continued to get better. His route tree has grown. He’s just a big-time playmaker.”

Those big plays have resulted in 4,313 career receiving yards and 14 scores over four seasons for the former first-round pick. Moore is also the only wideout in the league to accumulate at least 1,200 yards from scrimmage in each of those four years.

Smith went on to note that if his former teammate was playing on a bigger stage, he probably wouldn’t even be on this list.

“DJ was able to get his money he earned this year—but if DJ Moore played in San Francisco or a big market team, you would be talking about him like you do Deebo Samuel and those type of guys. He is a big-play guy. He’s like a running back when he gets the ball in his hands. I’ve never seen a player with that type of balance. And watching him, another guy who’s had three 1,000-yard seasons, and he’s had five quarterbacks throwing him the ball as well.”

That, too, is another impressive number for the 25-year-old. Moore has been able to chalk up those stats without any stability under center—as he’s played with Cam Newton, Kyle Allen, Will Grier, Teddy Bridgewater, P.J. Walker and Sam Darnold since 2018.

He might, unsurprisingly, have to add another quarterback to that bunch in 2022 with the team’s third-round selection in Matt Corral. Regardless, we know he’ll get his.

[lawrence-related id=651356,648621]

[listicle id=651385]

Ravens WR Marquise Brown achieves first 1,000-yard season

Ravens wide receiver Marquise Brown broke 1,000 yards for the 2021 season in Week 18 against the Steelers

The Baltimore Ravens have had one of the most trying seasons in franchise history in 2021. They’ve dealt with countless injuries, a COVID outbreak and multiple close losses in a row that have them looking in from the outside in the playoff race. However, there have been some positives throughout the year.

In Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore wide receiver Marquise Brown achieved his first 1000-yard season in just his third year in the NFL.  Mike Wallace was the last Ravens receiver to have a 1000-yard season, coming in 2016. The first drafted wide receiver in Ravens history to achieve 1000-yards in a season was Torrey Smith in 2013. Smith also achieved this feat in his third season.

The future is looking bright for Baltimore’s wide receiver room after so many years of struggling to draft and develop at the position. The offense is going to keep growing with the likes of Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman, and even tight end Mark Andrews as premier pass catchers.

Cam Newton’s former Panthers teammates react to his return

Panthers fans weren’t the only ones showing their excitement for Cam Newton’s return to Carolina.

There was plenty of excitement to be had on Thursday, as the Carolina Panthers did what was thought to be the unthinkable and brought back Cam Newton. The fans, however, weren’t the only ones basking in that glory.

Let’s take a look at some of the day’s best reactions from Newton’s former Panthers teammates, who couldn’t help but spread their love for the move.

Ravens have best odds to land Julio Jones according to SportsLine

The Baltimore Ravens have been linked to Julio Jones for years. Could they be interested in Jones if the Atlanta Falcons make him available?

The Baltimore Ravens have been looking to acquire a true No. 1 wide receiver for a long time. While Baltimore has had some great receivers suit up in purple and black that include Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, and Steve Smith Sr., the team has explored plenty of avenues to find their next star pass catcher, whether through the draft, a trade, or free agency.

It was reported on Monday that teams were calling the Atlanta Falcons in regards to the availability of wide receiver Julio Jones, who has had his name come up in trade rumors for years.

Jones, 32, has been one of the best receivers in the NFL over the course of his career, accumulating 848 receptions, 12,896 receiving yards, and 60 receiving touchdowns. His health is a question mark and his touchdown production can sometimes be spotty, but there’s no doubt that Jones would make the Ravens’ offense better.

SportsLine.com released odds for Jones’ next team in the event that he’s traded, and Baltimore leads the way as the favorites.

In the article explaining the odds, Matt Severance explains that he’s shocked that Baltimore hasn’t gone out and acquired a true No. 1 receiver yet.

It’s almost shocking the Ravens haven’t addressed the position yet this offseason (Antonio Brown is still a possibility) and they could take a wideout with their first-round pick Thursday.”

If the Ravens wanted to make a move for Jones, he wouldn’t be cheap, as not only would the team have to give up draft compensation to acquire him, but his contract is somewhat expensive over the next three years.

Jones has been linked to Baltimore for a while, and with reports saying that Atlanta could possibly move Jones due to salary cap purposes, it’s fair to speculate whether the Ravens would be interested. It would certainly take a lot to acquire a player like Jones, but if he can stay healthy he’d be well worth it.