Will Smith ever get the numbers he deserves before he ends his career?

[PantherFanForLife]

I have been thinking about this all season, and metioned something about it in the Fitgerald vs Smith thread, but does anyone else feel that as far as numbers go, then Steve Smith is a rare and unfortunate case where the numbers do not do the man justice because of the way our team was built and in part because of his unchecked temper(causing him to get suspended) and injury(missing one full season).

I honestly believe had Smith been on a pass-first team, like the Colts, Pats or a team with a really strong elite QB like McNabb, Warner or Brees, his numbers would have been through the roof. Steve would have instantly improved the numbers of Gunslinger QB's like Brett Farve or Big Ben, who love to just throw it out there, with his ability to just go up and grab it, so I can only imagine what his numbers would have looked like with guys like Brady and Manning, where he KNEW that the ball would be where it needs to be with him just having to concentrate on his speed, running a route and being where he needed to be when the ball gets there.

I truly believe he could have easily been in the hall of fame if he was playing with any of those guys, but unfortunately for him, and fortunately for us, he is playing in Carolina.

And actually that may not end up being so bad for him in the end.

While he may not have the numbers to get him in the HOF at the end of his career, the HOF is getting more and more crowded by the year. But as far as Team recognition goes, he WILL indeed have the honor of being the Panther's FIRST true ELITE QB(sorry Moose) and if all goes well this year, the guy who not only helped get us to our first Superbowl through double over time in SL(who can forget that Clown-X play) but , if all goes well, helped us WIN our first Superbowl for the franchise.

PS: And that goes for our Raging Cajun too, Delhomme. Finish it this time guys!!! We all need this, the players, the fans, and history.

[Mr. Scot]

Smith would tell you the only numbers he cares about are wins.

[Brandon]

Smitty just wants to have proven all the doubters wrong by the time he retires, and we all know how much he wants to win. If it takes numbers to do it, then I'm sure he'll find a way.

[RonnieTheBear]

He finishes way up there in receiving stats each year. Hell, he was even the third to win the receiving triple crown (first time since Jerry Rice). If his career stats end up short, it'll be mostly because he entered the league as a returner and not a receiving threat.

[Fright]

What numbers does he not have? 3rd overall in rec. yards (while missing 2 games) is pretty good last I knew. He's also had a triple crown year. Also, if he was on a pass heavy team to start w/, do you think he'd get the same opportunities he did here in Carolina?

We're cursed, but also lucky at the same time that Delhomme has such tunnel vision for Smith. It allows Smitty to make plays and get his #'s, but also makes it easier for teams to focus entirely on him since they know Delhomme is bound to end up going to him regardless of coverage.

As heavy of a run team we are, I'll take Smith's numbers he posted this year any year. Also, only 1 WR on a "pass heavy" team was top 5 in rec. yards and that was Fitz.

[PantherFanForLife]

What numbers does he not have? 3rd overall in rec. yards (while missing 2 games) is pretty good last I knew. He's also had a triple crown year. Also, if he was on a pass heavy team to start w/, do you think he'd get the same opportunities he did here in Carolina?

We're cursed, but also lucky at the same time that Delhomme has such tunnel vision for Smith. It allows Smitty to make plays and get his #'s, but also makes it easier for teams to focus entirely on him since they know Delhomme is bound to end up going to him regardless of coverage.

As heavy of a run team we are, I'll take Smith's numbers he posted this year any year. Also, only 1 WR on a "pass heavy" team was top 5 in rec. yards and that was Fitz.

That's not necessarily true. Look at Randy Moss. When he was with the Vikings vs last year with Brady and the Patriots.

Let me be clear. I am not talking about a passing team already with 2 or more elite WR. Just a passing team with an elite QB. We are a running team all the way though. Like I said in another thread. We heavily swing towards the run.

The difference between Smith with the Panthers and Smith with a team like the Patriots is the total TD's for the year. We will almost always run the ball in when we're in a first and goal or anywhere in the red zone. That means Williams got a lot of freebie TD's while Smith earned a bunch but never even had an opportunity to catch them because we went straight for the run.

If Moss caught a pass and ran down the field for 40-60 yards, do you not think Tom Brady would have given him at least one chance to catch it in the end zone for a TD first before going to other options?

[Fright]

Moss had less yards and catches as a patriot compared to his best year in Minni. If you're wanting Smith to get TDs like Moss did (by a team trying to jack up score boards to try and prove they don't need to cheat to blow out teams.) then yea, Smith might need a new team.

So what's your story about Smith's 2005 year? Still not putting up stats? None of the QB's you listed (except Warner) had a WR w/ more yards than Smith.

[PantherFanForLife]

Hey my 2nd favorite team is the Patriots, and I am sorry, but I wish sometimes the Panthers WOULD jack up the scoreboard sometimes on opponents. We have lost too many games from allowing teams to stay in the game after we went up a touchdown or two.

I am not talking about HUMILIATING opponents consistently, but there is nothing wrong with winning the game in the third quarter like the Eagles did to the Cowboys two weeks ago. Making sure that your opponent can't catch you anymore. THAT's when you relax, not when you are up 10 points, like we have a tendency to do. 10 points or even two touchdowns is really NOT a huge hole for a rallying opponent with time on the clock.

We NEED to learn how to do that.

And Moss and the Patriots was just an example.

[British_Panther]

Smitty wants to get into the HoF the same way Lynn Swann did, not because he has great career stats, but because he has a fistful of rings.

[Hotsauce]

I think the important numbers he looks for are in his paycheck, which I am sure he is happy with...

[thefuzz]

He is paid as one of the top wr's in the game which he is.

Thats all that matters.

[Panthro]

And here I thought this was about the Fresh Prince

[Ncstatefan]

And here I thought this was about the Fresh Prince

me too haha

[davos]

me too haha

I kept getting flashes of Wild Wild West instead of Smitty from the thread title