The Patriots needed a wide receiver after the 2013 season, but they failed to land Steve Smith. Blame it on the New England weather.
Smith became a free agent after the Carolina Panthers released him in March 2014, and he immediately garnered interest from the Patriots, who reportedly reached out to the All-Pro.
Smith, of course, landed with the Ravens, and a subsequent report revealed he had cancelled his flight to New England to sign with Baltimore.
Speaking to the media before Saturday’s AFC divisional-round matchup at Gillette Stadium, Smith chalked the decision up to poor traveling conditions.
“No. 1, I think flights were kind of … they had a little bad weather,” Smith told reporters Wednesday. “And also, No. 2, this is my first time being a free agent, everything was new to me. I just went in there just not thinking about what was lined up and just taking one trip at a time and going with my gut.”
The decision appears to have worked out for Smith, who turned in the eighth 1,000-receiving-yard campaign of his career this season. Yet the 35-year-old will have his work cut out for him against All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis, who faced Smith twice last season while on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Smith has been known to trash-talk Patriots cornerbacks, but he was all business when it came to discussing Revis.
“I think he’s a great corner,” Smith said. “I don’t think you get a one-year deal for ($12 million) for being a slouch. I mean, Revis can play. … He’s a corner that you have to prepare for. You have to watch film.”
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images
