Smith down plays words to Clausen.

[CatMan72]

Lots of stuff is said in the heat of battle, I saw of vid of Peyton Manning and Jeff Saturday almost getting into a fist fight on the sideline because Saturday wanted more running plays.

Clausen seemed to take it in stride, he's a passionate competitor just like Smitty so he understands where Smitty is coming from when something like that happens.

[weyco2000]

The last 2 guys to force it to Smitty? The more Clausen finds open receivers, then the defense has to adjust. Instead of Smitty running his mouth, he might try some teamwork, I don't exactly rememeber him "burning it up" as a rookie.

[Montsta]

The last 2 guys to force it to Smitty? The more Clausen finds open receivers, then the defense has to adjust. Instead of Smitty running his mouth, he might try some teamwork, I don't exactly rememeber him "burning it up" as a rookie.

The first time Steve Smith touched the football in an NFL game, he scored a touchdown. He then went on to make the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Just saying.

[weyco2000]

The first time Steve Smith touched the football in an NFL game, he scored a touchdown. Just saying.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Smith_(Carolina_Panthers)#Professional_career_.282001-present.29

Must of been a Preseason game, D. Foster ran for a TD on his first touch also... preseason of course.

Made Pro-Bowl as ST player, not WR! Had only 10 catches his rookie year.

[Speed]

Smith was right. I saw the play, Smith was not covered at all. Jimmy tosed it to another player.

[Jackofalltrades]

I have no problem with Smith chewing Clausen's arse, IF that's what actually happened.

[Raskle]

The first time Steve Smith touched the football in an NFL game, he scored a touchdown. He then went on to make the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Just saying.

Coincidentally, this is also the last time a Panther has actually scored a touchdown on a punt return as well...

[Montsta]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Smith_(Carolina_Panthers)#Professional_career_.282001-present.29

Must of been a Preseason game, D. Foster ran for a TD on his first touch also... preseason of course.

Made Pro-Bowl as ST player, not WR! Had only 10 catches his rookie year.

Uh, nope. It was the only game we won in 2001 against Minnesota, and Smitty returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He then went on to make the pro bowl as a rookie. Yes, it was as a return man, but that doesn't matter. You said Smith wasn't exactly tearing it up as a rookie, and I'm saying Steve Smith has been a playmaker since the first time an NFL football touched his hands. Pro Bowls at any position as a rookie are impressive. I just think the facts go against your statement of Smith not tearing it up as a rookie, because he was pretty much the lone bright spot during an abysmal season.

[monstercat]

Why is it even a story when Smitty barks at a Panthers QB? He constantly barked at Jake even when they were winning.

[MHS831]

When are you people going to see the big picture? Smith is out of line. It is not his damn job to say anything to the QB.

Did anybody stop to think that maybe if he had not been an idiot playing flag football that he and Clausen might be on the same page?

Smith is an ahole. He has done a lot to help the team, but he has done a lot to tear it down. He has no self control. The same passion that drives him to be the best drives him to assault teammates. He has lost a step and needs to come to terms with it. He is about to hit the wall, and then nobody is going to put up with his crap--the same people backing him now will be armed with torches and pitchforks parading him out of town.

[SpeedOFLight]

You know what I like about Steve Smith? It's his passion for competing. He is the lone bright star that seem to always shine on this franchise. He has done things out of line, yeh we all have but if we lose this guy, we will lose more than people think. Guy is not an asshole, I met him and spoke with him. He is a normal guy like anyway. Actually my friend just bumped into him the other day and Smitty gave him some good life advice.

[Montsta]

I'm not in any way defending Smittys tirade on the sidelines, I was simply presenting facts to refute the comment that he wasn't a good rookie himself when he was.

[panthers55]

Seriously. It was a stupid throw into double coverage. It was a rookie mistake. Those of you who cannonize him for an obvious mistake slay me. Jimmy is going to make mistakes which is part and parcel of what you sign on with a rookie. There is no need to defend him or attack him. He is a rookie and this won't be the last pick he throws or last boneheaded play he makes. And people are going to criticize him which is all part of the maturation process.

It isn't making mistakes but continuing to make mistakes that is the problem. So the point of watching for example is to see if he learns from this mistake and realizes that the best throw to Smith isn't always right away but after allowing the play to develop as Smith works through coverage. With Clausen's tendency to dump it off or run after the first read is covered, it will take some patience and work for him to hang in the pocket and take some hits while he waits for the play to develop. He gets another chance this Sunday.

But you can take it to the bank that if he doesn't find a way to get it to Steve, he will struggle as teams figure that out. Meanwhile quarterbacks who can't get it to Steve don't last for the Panthers. Steve is our best and one of our only playmakers.

Wouldn't hurt if Davidson would figure out how to move Smith around to get favorable matchups much like Cam Cameron does with Boldin.

[natty]

Smith wants the ball. He knows he's not open all the time, but when he does get open he wants his QB to see it. I wouldn't want it any other way.

If a QB is a big enough pussy to get butt hurt over a WR yelling at him for the ball he doesn't deserve to be an NFL QB.