Steve Smith wasn't lying...

[Proudiddy]

No, you thinking there's that big of a gap from Brayton DOWN to CJ and Hardy is ridiculous. Could Brayton bring down that WR down in the openfield like Hardy did on a pass? And he ran him down from behind. OR could he run down Bradford like Hardy did? Which would've been a sack on at least half of the QBs in the NFL but Bradford threw it away. CJ leads the DL in sacks. Yet you believe Brayton is still better than both of them?

It's your line of thinking and "loyalty" to players like Brayton playing in front of more talented players that had James Anderson sitting behind Na'il f**kING Diggs for years while he rotted on the bench. I said Anderson should've been given that spot in his 2nd year. To my knowledge, he hasn't put on much if any weight, and he was VT's best performer in the weight room before we drafted him... so go ahead and give me an excuse about his strength or whatever as to why he wasn't playing.

Same reason Jake was starting after his failures. Same reason DJ stayed on this team for as many years as he did... What was it, 4?

You have a problem with someone suggesting Smitty be traded, or should've been traded? He's had multiple injuries. He's 30+. He doesn't look like the same player he used to be. When he does make the catch, he's going down on first contact. That hardly ever happened before.

A lot of the elite WRs, like Smitty WAS, can play into their mid-late 30s and still be good-great... Like Rice did or T.O. is doing right now. Difference is, those guys are bigger and have the size to compensate for diminishing skills. Smitty doesn't. He's thrived off unparalleled athleticism and now that he's losing it and has injured himself repeatedly, he's not going to out jump many guys for balls, or out-strengthen or outrun guys after the catch.

Tell me how the Patriots have done over the last 9 years or so??? Now tell me how loyal are to players? Exactly. But, I understand, as a fan base all we have known is consistent inconsistency and mediocrity, so I know you don't know or expect any better.

Sure, Smith may not be the player he once was but, even with the drops and fumbles, he's far and away our best receiver. One good game by Gettis doesn't make him an All-Pro. If you take Smith out of the equation the defense can focus all their attention on Gettis and Lafell and they just aren't good enough yet to consistently make plays under those conditions.

And I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about Brayton. Yes, Hardy is looking good but that's still in spot-duty. Brown looked good today too and I don't see you calling for him to start. Johnson was invisible today.

See quoted post above, again. I'm tired of typing.

Additionally, at this point, with this team, I'm not sure how much Smith's presence helps. Maybe we'd be better off and more balanced if he wasn't drawing double coverage and still demanding our dumbass QBs throw him the ball.

Other than that, like I said, for the same points I mentioned above is why I don't think it'd hurt us to let him go for compensation. The Patriots have always done it, and by some accounts, too early with players (Branch, Seymour, etc.), yet they still win. Yes, they have a HOF QB, but in regards to all other positions, they get rid of guys no matter how good they are and get value for them. We don't and hang onto guys too long.

[beastson]

He needs to be demoted to 3rd string since thats what he wanted. Right now he no longer needs to be the first option

[cookinbrak]

Sure, Smith may not be the player he once was but, even with the drops and fumbles, he's far and away our best receiver.

Being the tallest midget still means you're a midget. Being the best crappy player still means you're a crappy player. And the drops and fumbles cost us today.

[Baschski]

Other than that, like I said, for the same points I mentioned above is why I don't think it'd hurt us to let him go for compensation. The Patriots have always done it, and by some accounts, too early with players (Branch, Seymour, etc.), yet they still win. Yes, they have a HOF QB, but in regards to all other positions, they get rid of guys no matter how good they are and get value for them. We don't and hang onto guys too long.

The Patriots don't trade their top players when they have no viable replacement. Gettis and Lafell have not, by any means, shown that they are capable of contributing as full-time starters. They each had ONE good game out of seven.

[Baschski]

Being the tallest midget still means you're a midget. Being the best crappy player still means you're a crappy player. And the drops and fumbles cost us today.

Sure, and Gettis not contributing cost us, too. Sure, you can blame that on Moore or Davidson, but maybe he just wasn't getting open? Oh wait, I forgot that David Gettis is the messiah because he had one good game.

[Proudiddy]

The Patriots don't trade their top players when they have no viable replacement. Gettis and Lafell have not, by any means, shown that they are capable of contributing as full-time starters. They each had ONE good game out of seven.

Actually they do. They traded Seymour and have had problems on the DL since b/c although they have Wilfork, Seymour was versatile and played all across that line. That wasn't replaced. They also traded Branch to the Seahawks a year before they got Moss. What they do is ensure they have draft picks to replace them later. We give away draft picks for sh*t players or projects that we refuse to play.

[cptx]

Please stop saying that Smith is losing his speed. He may not threaten to go the distance after the catch every time anymore, but he's still beating DB's with ease.

but he has lost speed. i started noticing this against dallas last year. it also seems like his yards after the catch are nowhere near what they used to be.

[Delhommey]

He's still head and shoulders the best WR we have.

Smith would have had about 130 yards and 2 TD's if Moore knew how to throw to where the pressure's coming from.

As it is he had 85 yards.

I remember a time when we all laughed at the Atlanta board. Now it looks like we've become it.

[cptx]

he's still our best wide receiver, there's no doubt about that. does that mean he's as good as he once was? no.

[Millions]

Smitty is getting older if he's lost a step or two IDK but his age is the main reason I want AJ Green over all other prospects in this upcoming draft. Go out and get a guy to groom as the number 1 I'm not sure if Gettis or LaFell are number 1 guys AJ Green just has all of the tools to be a number 1.

Smitty is still the best Panther ever and our best wideout just feel sorry for him being wasted in Carolina all these years with sh!tty QB play and no help

[CarolinaBlue34]

So i guess we should trade Johnathan Stewart?

[cookinbrak]

"Steve Smith is the best player we have."

Fine, when we stack the pile of crap that our team is, we'll put him at the top. King Turd.

[God]

hes borderline WR2

[PantherFanForLife]

Speed, age, ability slowing down is one thing. I expected all of that to take place.

What I didn't expect is hanging on to the ball to ever become a problem with him, dropping caught balls when hitting the ground.....and on top of that...letting his temper 2 games in a row turn the tide in favor of our opponent.

This is the second game in a row, momentum changed because of Smith trying to prove something and causing a fumble. There is such a thing as trying too hard.

I have been on of Steve Smith's biggest supporter but he has not matured one bit. He's still allowing his temper to get the best of him. That's both dissapointing and inexcusable to me from a probowl, veteran receiver.

He will not last long at this age if he doesn't learn to keep his ego in check.