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Once athletes hit their late thirties, it's easy to doubt them. They are well past their prime and less likely to perform at a high level. If there was one athlete not to doubt, though, it's Steve Smith.

The Ravens receiver reminded the world he sees the doubt and he feeds off the doubt and he will spit the doubt right back at all the "jackasses" who didn't believe in him.

"I felt like I let those guys down in the locker room," Smith said. "So for me to come back and play, it's to show them that I am dependable and they can depend on me. And to show you jackasses that at 37 years old, I can still play. And I'm sick of ya'll telling how can you depend on a 37-year-old to play this game after a ruptured Achilles'."

You know football is close when Smitty is dropping angry lines at everyone out there. You can't blame everyone for doubting him though -- he already planned to retire after last season but he didn't because he tore his Achilles (the rare double rupture even), which is an injury that's pretty sub-optimal for a wide receiver who predicates his game on explosiveness.

Smith got emotional talking about the injury and returning this year for his teammates, because the Ravens were so willing to give him an opportunity last year after the Panthers cut him loose. Also: he's motivated by the thumb-twiddlers.

"I rehabbed for nine months," Smith said. "While y'all sitting around twiddling your thumbs I was sitting there four or five days a week for nine months trying to rehab to get back on the field. I intend to lay everything out, not for myself, but for the people who believed in me, the people that invested in me 10 years ago, the people that thought that I would only be there for a minute. So this is just a chance for me to say thank you to them, (to) finish what an organization allowed me to start."

At any rate, doubt him at your own risk. Because Smith -- aka, 89; aka, Bottom Line -- is one of the all-time guys when it comes to overcoming the doubters and returning to form. He will let you know too.

"I'm not in this business to make friends. So if you're not in the same jersey as me, I plan to rip you to shreds. Bottom line. There's a number of guys in this league, everybody I go against I respect. But I'm not trying to make you feel like that I fear you, but I also respect them. This is competition. This is football. And in competition, guys are hitting you. So I'm going to hit back."

This is why Smith is the best. Dude is out there always looking for a fight. Not even a metaphorical one, either. He wants to fight everyone in real life.

He's the ultimate competitor and it's why you shouldn't count him out. Although he certainly appreciates your doubt as fuel for anger and destruction.

"The bully's back," said Smith. "That's all I've got to say. Vacation is over for the DBs."