Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith has never been accused of biting his tongue. Now that he’s an analyst for NFL Network, Smith definitely isn’t holding anything back. So when former Ravens wide receiver coach David Culley got hired as the Houston Texans’ newest head coach, Smith once again let his thoughts be known.
In an interview on the Rich Eisen Show, Smith ripped into Culley’s ability to assess talent. Smith recalled an interaction with Culley during his rookie season at the 2001 Pro Bowl that left a bad taste in his mouth nearly two decades later.
As Smith tells it, he had made the Pro Bowl as a punt returner. But with a short-manned roster and the punter late for practice, John Harbaugh — a special-teams coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles at the time — had told Smith to go help out on offense. It was at that point Smith alleges Culley all but said he wasn’t a wide receiver and sent him back to Harbaugh.
Let’s hear the whole story directly from Smith’s mouth:
While Smith doesn’t call it a grudge, it certainly smells like one. It’s been nearly 20 years since the incident and Smith went on to have an incredible career, as has Culley. Smith also ended the interview by taking a pretty big shot at Culley’s ability to assess the position, saying his eye for athleticism and talent is “as good as Ray Charles’ and Stevie Wonder’s eyes.”
We’ll see soon enough whether Smith’s assessment is correct or not. The Texans finished 4-12 last season and have upset star quarterback Deshaun Watson so much that he’s asked for a trade this offseason. With little draft capital and talent to work with already, it’s not hyperbole to say Culley has entered one of the worst situations in the NFL and his acumen will be tested early. If he’s half as bad as Smith alleges, Culley probably won’t be in charge for very long.
