Steve Smith Sr. has four broken bones as a result of Steelers hits

The Baltimore Ravens' Steve Smith Sr. is one of the toughest men in football, but he's now up against one of the strongest tests possible of his pain tolerance: reports early Saturday morning indicate that Smith has suffered four broken bones.

Smith was injured late in the third quarter of Baltimore's Thursday night victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Defenders Antwon Blake and Lawrence Timmons combined on the hit, and former Smith teammate Mike Mitchell jawed at Smith afterward. That trash-talk was enough for Smith to put Mitchell on his "lifetime hit list."

The initial diagnosis of Smith's back was a contusion, but the more recent examination turned up more significant damage, according to National Football Post. The degree of Smith's availability will be determined by his tolerance for pain.

The exact diagnosis of Smith's injury has not yet been disclosed, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the broken bones are ribs:

This is slated to be Smith's last season, and he acknowledged after the Steelers game that he's starting to feel the effects of a career in football.

"It’s probably the first time in my career I feel like I’m 36," he said. "I’m trying to get through tomorrow. I’m trying to make it to the airplane.”

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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.

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