Under the Radar Smitty Moments

[Seltzer]

Even since #89 announced his retirement after the end of this season, I have seen (and enjoyed) the articles showing his greatest highlights and lines... (X-Clown, Ice Up, Son, Broken Arm TD Catch, TD against the entire Texans Team, 2005 Scorched Earth Campaign, etc.).  These are all great, but I'm interested in reliving some of the lesser heralded moments.  Here are my top 5:

5) 2006- Smitty Wrecking the Ravens Secondary...  Obviously the "Blood & Guts game against us last year gets brought up, but Smitty had one of his best regular season games in 2006 (and probably top 10 all-time) when he torched the well regarded Ravens secondary (Samari Rolle, Ed Reed, Chris McAlister) for 8 catches for 189 yards and a TD.  2006 ended up being a huge disappointment for the Panthers overall (and Smitty missed the first 2 games due to a hamstring injury), but this game was proof of what Smitty could do against one of the highest regarded secondaries in the NFL in his prime.

4) 2007- You Can't Overthrow 89... After Jake wrecked his elbow and David Carr curled up into the fetal position, the Panthers signed the 43 Vinny Testaverde who literally had 4 days to learn the Panthers playbook before heading to the desert to take on the Cardinals.  Fortunately for the Panthers, Julius Peppers sacked and knocked Kurt Warner out of the game (remember this was before Warner's rock star come back tour in 2008).  And also fortunate for the Panthers, the only play you really needed with Smitty in his prime was for him to go deep.  And 89 did, scoring a 65 yard TD in a game the Panthers would improbably win.  Smitty had told Vinny earlier that week he couldn't overthrow him, and he backed it up.

3) 2001- The Start of Something Magical... One thing I've learned over my years watching the NFL.  Sometimes players do truly take a few years to break.  For the Panthers, Thomas Davis, Charles Johnson, DeAngelo Williams, & Josh Norman are 3 guys who quickly come to mind as players who started off relatively slow and then developed into above average guys after a few years.  But for the truly special (i.e. HOF potential) players the Panthers have had over the years (Smitty, Peppers, Luke), they all showed the makings of being extraordinary from the start.  And Smitty showed he was special right from the start, returning the opening kickoff in 2001 against the Vikings for a TD.  Unfortunately, you could have erased pretty much the entire season after that first play (and most Panther fans would want to).  A lot of people forget Smitty made the Pro Bowl as a ST player and the 1st Team All-Pro as a KR his rookie season, after amassing 1994 total return yards.  It took Smitty a couple more years to become well known as a receiver (some of that the Panthers fault, most of it Smitty's due to the Anthony Bright).  Regardless, Smitty was obviously special from the start.

2) 2011- The Return to Normalcy.. The 2010 Panthers were an abomination in almost every conceivable way.  Richardson gave the green light to gutting the team pre-lockout.  John Fox wasn't fired but didn't want to be here and certainly didn't want to develop the younger players.  Matt Moore got hurt early on and we were force to endure the Jimmy show (and I doubt it was fun for him as well).  Consternation ran deep among fans and players, especially with a player like Smitty who was realizing he was starting the back side of his career.  I remember being at the final home game in 2010 and Smitty was visibly emotional during warm-ups.  We all found out later he had cleared out his suite and was prepared to move on (and really who could blame him?)  Opposing players (especially Anquan Boldin who was a Raven at the time) were lobbying for him to come join them.  Smitty had met with Richardson who said he would accommodate his request.  2011 brought hope b/c we drafted Newton, but with a shortened offseason due to lockout, who knew what we would get.  Newton had to put in a lot of lobbying just to get 89 to hang around, and in the end, I'm sure both parties were glad he did.   Even though we lost the opening game against the Cardinals, Smitty showed he was still an elite receiver, catching 8 catches for 178 yards and 2 TDs.  Smitty returned to the Pro Bowl for the 5th time in 2011 and showed he still had a lot left in the tank.

1) 2003- Smitty begins his Postseason Legacy... When you think of Smitty in the 2003 Playoffs, the thoughts of X-Clown or the TD in the Super Bowl usually come to mind.  However, Smitty came out like a man possessed in his first postseason game, torching the Cowboys for 5 catches for 135 yards and a TD, including an early 70 gain that showed the Panthers were not just happy to be in a postseason game against Bill Parcells and "America's Team."  This game was the start of Steve Smith being taken serious as one of the best receivers in the league on the national stage.  The Cowboys had not given up that many yards to 1 receiver in any game in the 2003 season up until that point.  Smitty currently stands at 59 catches, 1001 yards, and 9 TD's in 11 playoff games.

 

Just putting this list together made me realize how worthy of the HOF I really think he is.  The Greatest Panther in the team's 1st 20 years.  Your under-the-radar Smitty moments?

[X-Clown on 1]

Let us not forget the pure energy he brought every single day.  How many 15 yard flags did he force the other teams to commit, simply because he fugged their heads up?

[imminent rogaine]

LOL Deangelo Hall

[X-Clown on 1]

This is something I'd rather discuss in the off-season. We are T-minus one day away from the 2015 Panthers taking the field. 

The huddle will still be here when you come back then.

[Montsta]

Hopefully he comes back and retires as a Panther, then we can reminisce about 89 all day. But this really shouldn't be in the Panthers forum right now as the actual Panthers play for the first time this season tomorrow. 

[Seltzer]

He is the GOAT Panther so far and he announced his retirement, which I am sure will involve signing a 1 day contract and a non-Gettleman presser.  All due respect, I don't see how anything could be more Panther related than this.

Tomorrow I will be all about discussing the Buffalo game.  There is no practice today- if you don't like this topic you don't have to respond

[NotinbutaPnut]

LOL Deangelo Hall

Every time we played the Falcons we could count on atleast 30 yards of penalties from Hall caused by Smith. 

[PntherPryd]

I don't know why everyone wants to move on from 89, or why it is not ok to look back at his highlights as preseason games start.  This was not just a good thread but a great one.  Well thought out and full of details.  Reading this thread and the nfl.com article, along with attached video's is really hammering home that the season is upon us.  NFL goosebumps ftw.  Being grateful for players like 89 does not take away anything from this current team.

[Chaos]

Smitty sliding down the goalpost in Chicago after burning the Bears secondary for a deep TD to continue the playoff romp.  One of my favorite Panther games ever, even though we lost Foster to injury that day.

[PntherPryd]

Hopefully he comes back and retires as a Panther, then we can reminisce about 89 all day. But this really shouldn't be in the Panthers forum right now as the actual Panthers play for the first time this season tomorrow. 

respectfully disagree.  I can see why some want to look away and focus elsewhere but that is why it is a forum.  It is definitely about the Panthers and with Smith in the title anyone can easily avoid peeking in if they so choose.

[PntherPryd]

Guess I'm still butthurt, like watching old videos of you and an ex while she just got a new dude.

I'm in 2015 Panthers mode, the offseason is when I watch old memories and poo. 

ha!  feel you man!  

but hard to feel sorry when you are the one pulling the old video's out (or hitting the play button)!

Before the blood and guts game I acted as though 89 was dead to me but then that was that.   He will always be a Panther to me, just with a butt ugly purple uni the last two years.

 

 

[ncmonzta]

fug all the ex-panthers 

fug you jake,moose,hoover,greene,pep,walls,minter,hehateme,witherspoon, gross,Wharton Davis and everybody else that helped keep a team in the Carolinas. Fug you all

Signed ,

Huddle

[The Huddler]

Hes not even retired yet and hes a Raven! Mods need to come down on this its anoying. 

[Panther53521]

only 2 words you need to say about Smitty .... FRED SMOOT