Roquan Smith expresses gratitude for his trade from the Bears ''My career isn't going down the drain."
Reflecting on the Baltimore Ravens' emphatic 37-3 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, Roquan Smith shared his thoughts with Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer regarding his move from the Chicago Bears.
A year into the change, Smith contemplates the impact, «It's wild to think about the trade,» Smith recounted. «Leaving Chicago was a mix of emotions. But staying would've meant no shot at a championship soon. Arriving in Baltimore, it dawned on me after a few weeks just how deep this roster was and the caliber of individuals here � we're not just a team, we're a collection of genuinely good people.
«The chance to aim for the championship annually with this talent? It thrills me, knowing I'm in the right place to compete, rather than seeing my efforts go to waste without a real shot at the top.»
Smith's split with the Bears in the summer of 2022 was a tense one. Anticipating a contract extension as a first-round pick from the 2018 NFL draft, he ended up at odds with the team. After direct negotiations failed, Smith openly accused the Bears of insincere bargaining and believed the proposed contract was detrimental to himself and the market for NFL linebackers.
The Bears' financial offer, as reported by Ian Rapoport, was not befitting of Smith's stature as the face of their defense, and so he was traded to the Ravens, leaving him initially stunned but later excited for the championship prospects.
Smith took time to adjust after the trade, having identified strongly with the Bears, where linebackers are revered. But he soon embraced his new team, expressing immense gratitude for being a Raven, and is inspired by the team's celebrated defensive legacy.
Leading the NFL's most formidable defense with the lowest average points conceded and ranking impressively in tackles himself, Smith has seamlessly transitioned to thrive in his new setting.
Smith now reflects with pride on his role with the Ravens, feeling honored to be part of a team with a storied tradition of defensive excellence, set by predecessors who defined what it means to play for the franchise. He is committed to upholding that standard of suffocating defense, embodying the true spirit of a Raven.
| POLL | ||
8 NOVEMBRE | 26 ANSWERS Roquan Smith expresses gratitude for his trade from the Bears ''My career isn't going down the drain." Are you sad the bears traded away Roquan Smith? | ||
| Yes | 17 | 65.4 % |
| No | 9 | 34.6 % |
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