Steve Smith Gives A.J. Green Props After Bengals WR Has Monster Game vs. Ravens

The Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green and the Baltimore Ravens' Steve Smith were involved in quite the receivers duel in Baltimore on Sunday. In the end, Green did just a little bit more and helped his team leave town with a win.

While Smith wasn't a fan of his team's getting torched over and over by Green, he couldn't help but hand out props to his opponent.

Green had 227 yards and two touchdowns on 10 catches in the game and was at his best when his team needed him. When the Ravens took a 17-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Green went 80 yards for a score on the next play from scrimmage.

Smith answered that score with a touchdown of his own a few minutes later, but the Cincinnati star responded with another go-ahead touchdown with just over two minutes to play.

A performance like that is deserving of praise, even from the opposing team.

On Monday, Smith—who had 186 yards and two touchdowns on 13 catches—gave a shoutout to Green: "even tho he's on the opposite sideline that's a bad boy... @ajgreen_18 hats off to you big homie. he's in my top 5."

Getting the respect of his peers, especially a 15-year veteran like Smith, has to mean a lot to Green. Smith has been one of the best receivers of his generation, so for a young star like Green, this compliment has to be as good as it gets.

[Steve Smith Sr.]