After the Steelers signed JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year deal in March, the receiver revealed he had suitors in both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens.
Not only were Kansas City and Baltimore interested in signing the receiver, but he claimed their offers were better than the $8 million contract offer from Pittsburgh.
In a press conference with the media on Wednesday, Smith-Schuster said he was looking at the “bigger picture” when he decided to stay put in Pittsburgh.
“… I already knew if I went to the Ravens, fans would destroy me from the inside and out,” Smith-Schuster said.
One would have to think that the bulk of Smith-Schuster’s current fan base consists of Steelers fans. And unlike some athletes, JuJu cares about how fans perceive him since he earns money as a social media influencer.
It’s possible that if Smith-Schuster had gone to Baltimore via free agency, he would’ve had to rebuild his fan base from scratch. Even though football is first and foremost a business, there are very few Steelers fans who would forgive such a massive betrayal.
JuJu on taking a relatively modest deal to stay in Pittsburgh: "For me, a couple million's not – I guess for some people it's different but I'm looking a the bigger picture. … I already knew if I went to the Ravens, fans would destroy me from the inside and out."
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) June 9, 2021
