I can't believe this came from Pat Yasinskas!

[pantherclaw]

I never cared that Peppers wasn't a vocal leader. Would have been nice for him to have more of a motor to go along with his ability, but not all great athletes need to be a vocal leader.

[Snake]

I never cared that Peppers wasn't a vocal leader. Would have been nice for him to have more of a motor to go along with his ability, but not all great athletes need to be a vocal leader.

The funny part though is most High motor guys are. Look at Smith there is no one with any higher motor then him and he is very vocal. Jarrett Allen is also the same way.

[Skew]

I agree. Mr Richardson is a pretty fair guy, and is willing to give just about anybody a chance to redeem themselves from a mistake. The worst mistake Steve Smith has made, is lost control of his temper and hurt someone. Outside of that, he's a pretty model player. He contributes in the community, and goes all out on the field.

Seems some of you are forgetting this.

[Wither]

Seems some of you are forgetting this.

I wonder what was said/what happened to cause Steve to punch the various people he's punched?

[Dragon Spooker]

My goodness, A coherent article from Yasinskas, is he taking english classes?

When someone says "Pep is just Pep." Does that mean that someone has given up on him growing as a person?

[CRA]

I wonder what was said/what happened to cause Steve to punch the various people he's punched?

most likely very little.....Smitty just has problems w/ his temper and when he first got serious playing time it become OBVIOUS the dude has problem in that area. What made Steve punch out defenders? Probably the same thing that would cause him to kick a down defender, unless an verbal assault on teammates/coaches, etc......dude is angry.

[Woodie]

most likely very little.....Smitty just has problems w/ his temper and when he first got serious playing time it become OBVIOUS the dude has problem in that area. What made Steve punch out defenders? Probably the same thing that would cause him to kick a down defender, unless an verbal assault on teammates/coaches, etc......dude is angry.

To be fair, when Smitty kicked the downed opponent it was because the guy had just tackled him and was twisting his leg not letting him get up. So Smith just kicked him to get him off. He should of handled it better, but it was definitely not unprovoked.

As for the rest, we all know that Smitty and Lucas had been been going back and forth since Lucas came to the Panthers, so that was something that had been building. And from reports, they were going after each other hard immediately prior to the punch. And with the Bright incident, during a film session, Bright reportedly made a sarcastic comment about a mistake Smitty had made. So Smitty flipped out. In each case Smitty should and could have handled things better, and there is no doubt that he has some anger and impulse control problems. There was supposedly another incident with a scrub in training camp early in Smith's career here, but I have never heard any specifics about what happened with that.

[Bobby]

There's another difference between Peppers and Smith. Smith clearly loves football. Peppers doesn't. He likes it, but he doesn't love it. His dream was basketball, he didn't play football until he was a high school senior and the football coach noticed a mountain of a man with obscene speed on the basketball team.

His quiet nature is probably more reflective of where he grew up than anything else. Bailey is hardly a sprawling metropolis, and it's highly likely everyone knows everyone. Smith grew up in South LA where you have to be loud and tough, particularly if you're a little guy like he is.

[mountainpantherfan]

The reference on Smith getting a pass that others don't made me think about the Keyshawn Johnson / Jake Delhomme incident in 2007. Rumor is that the team wanted Johnson to take the blame for an INT to save face for Delhomme. Johnson refused, then was cut in the offseason.

Flashforward to this season. Delhomme was playing horrible but at the same time Smith was contributing to the INTs as well. Actually at least 3 INTs were more on Smith than Delhomme from just my memory. Smith didn't take the blame, we never heard anything about the organization wanting Smith to take the blame and to top it all Smith actually critizes the team after a win because of his lack of production.

I love Steve Smith and in all honesty could care less about Julius Peppers. Furthermore, I could care less if he gets special treatment. But at the same time I can see how other teammates might not see it that way.

[SOJA]

wow... I am a big-time anti-Yasinskas guy and that was a fantastic article. He is absolutely right.... wow .... I don't know if I'm more amazed with someone finally hitting the nail on the head or by the fact that it came from ole Pat!

[Wither]

There's another difference between Peppers and Smith. Smith clearly loves football. Peppers doesn't. He likes it, but he doesn't love it. His dream was basketball, he didn't play football until he was a high school senior and the football coach noticed a mountain of a man with obscene speed on the basketball team.

His quiet nature is probably more reflective of where he grew up than anything else. Bailey is hardly a sprawling metropolis, and it's highly likely everyone knows everyone. Smith grew up in South LA where you have to be loud and tough, particularly if you're a little guy like he is.

That could possibly explain why Steve is so violent.

[Matt Foley]

To be fair, when Smitty kicked the downed opponent it was because the guy had just tackled him and was twisting his leg not letting him get up. So Smith just kicked him to get him off. He should of handled it better, but it was definitely not unprovoked.

As for the rest, we all know that Smitty and Lucas had been been going back and forth since Lucas came to the Panthers, so that was something that had been building. And from reports, they were going after each other hard immediately prior to the punch. And with the Bright incident, during a film session, Bright reportedly made a sarcastic comment about a mistake Smitty had made. So Smitty flipped out. In each case Smitty should and could have handled things better, and there is no doubt that he has some anger and impulse control problems. There was supposedly another incident with a scrub in training camp early in Smith's career here, but I have never heard any specifics about what happened with that.

If he stabbed somebody with a knife, you'd probably blame the other person for messing with his knives.

[Wither]

If he stabbed somebody with a knife, you'd probably blame the other person for messing with his knives.

No one is denying that Smith flies off the handle. However, none of us hold it against him. People make mistakes, and often more than once.

Why are you so diligent in your hate routine?

[Punisher]

No one is denying that Smith flies off the handle. However, none of us hold it against him. People make mistakes, and often more than once.

Why are you so diligent in your hate routine?

This is an exaggeration, but just because you like Hitler doesnt' mean that he has to too. Steve Smith's attitude would rank in bottom 5% of the league. I hate when he bitches about not getting the ball. I'd prefer Ocho Cinco because at least he doesn't turn on his teamates and protects them.