Steve Smith Throws Practice Tantrum; Ravens Still Upset Over Loss To Patriots

Steve Smith Sr. adopted a positive mindset following the Baltimore Ravens’ 30-23 loss to the New England Patriots on Monday night. It appears that mindset has changed.

The Ravens wide receiver blew a fuse at the team’s practice Thursday, throwing his helmet about 15 yards and kicking a football before walking off the practice field and sitting by himself, according to reporters at Baltimore’s practice facility. The incident occurred after quarterback Joe Flacco overthrew Smith on consecutive deep balls. The team continued practicing without Smith.

When asked for a reason for his outburst after practice, Smith simply responded, “because I felt like it.”

The 37-year-old wideout wasn’t the only worked-up Raven at Thursday’s practice, though. Head coach John Harbaugh delivered an “emotional” talk to the team after the session, and linebacker Terrell Suggs admitted the whole team still is feeling the effects of Monday’s loss, which dropped Baltimore to 7-6.

“You have to understand, we’re all a little messed up,” Suggs said, via ESPN.com. “It was an emotional loss (at New England). We really wanted that one. We’re just a little edgy. But I think it’s good to be a little edgy in December.”

The Ravens scored 17 unanswered points as part of a big second-half comeback on “Monday Night Football,” but the Patriots held on thanks in part to a 79-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Tom Brady to wide receiver Chris Hogan. The win gave New England sole possession of the AFC’s No. 1 seed, while Baltimore now sits second behind the 8-5 Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.