Steve Smith Sr. can talk smack with the best of them. Not only does he cut deep, but most of the time it’s also hilarious. He’s a future Hall of Famer that will let you know what he thinks, regardless of the situation. Most recently, the Panthers great spoke ill of Falcons’ quarterback Desmond Ridder.
On his ‘Cut to It’ podcast, Smith told Packers rookie Jayden Reed that his situation in Green Bay with Jordan Love is enviable because it could’ve been worse. “Atlanta doesn’t have a quarterback.” Adding that Reed dodged a bullet not being drafted by the Falcons and playing with Ridder.
https://twitter.com/boxmethen/status/1683269650472374272?s=20
I’m not going to polish a turd. Ridder was a third-round pick for a reason, and he didn’t show anything in his four-game mini-audition to show he’s the next franchise quarterback in Atlanta. However, Jordan Love and Green Bay isn’t some far and away better situation. If anything, it’s marginally better.
Ridder’s performances were a bag of mixed results, but it was mostly bad. On the bright side, he did improve each outing and displayed poise regardless of the situation. There are attributes for Falcons fans to be excited about. He’s got enough arm talent, plus athleticism, and elite intangibles, but considerable improvement is necessary
The club returned to the field in Flowery Branch today for the first practice of training camp, and Ridder threw a pair of interceptions. Training camp isn’t the end all be all, but there will be growing pains with the Cincinnati product.
Steve Smith doesn’t care, though. In a follow-up to his comment about Atlanta not having a quarterback, Smith stitched a Falcons-posted highlight of Jaylinn Hawkins intercepting an overthrown ball from Ridder. Funny enough, the video didn’t show who threw the ball, which Smith had fun pointing out.
https://twitter.com/SteveSmithSr89/status/1684339329672306688?s=20
A lot of great players were doubted along the way, so this shouldn’t bother Falcons fans too much. Ridder has the supporting cast to be successful in this league. In the worst division in football, the Falcons have a real chance, led by Ridder, to win the NFC South and punch their ticket to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Steve Smith is just doing what he does best — talking trash. It’s up to Desmond Ridder to prove him and all the other naysayers wrong.
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Photographer: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire
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