I don't blame Steve Smith...

[SevenSixes]

Steve Smith is phenomenally talented and most likely he will find himself in Canton. Unlike the vast majority of us who can slave at some meaningless job for decades on end, his career is far shorter. It gets even shorter when you have to suffer through the past two seasons with no consistency at the QB position and incompetency at the OC position.

The only question Smitty has to ask himself is "is this team going to get better any time soon?". If you could only do your job for another 5 years before being unemployed and you had a legitimate shot of being honored as the best at what you do of all time, would you leave your company that's struggling to survive for one that is widely recognized as a serious contender to be the best?

YES YOU WOULD!

As for getting mad at the cast of losers that he was surrounded with last year, I was pretty mad at the whole lot of them as well. Sure, I didn't punch one of them, but given the opportunity I just might have. At least last season only cost me a few thousand dollars in season tix I couldn't even give away, not endless days of training and cajoling my worthless team mates to do the job they were hired for.

I hope he stays because I love watching him on Sundays. Not to mention that he just looks great in Carolina blue. I think he might stay on for one more year to see if the RiveraRevolution is for real, but if the Bears or the Steelers come-a-courtin we'll probably have to watch his highlights on Total Access.

[p0sted]

In a way, you can judge his motive by where he ends up. Top dollar for a mediocre team says one thing, League minimum to play for a contender...

Scuttlebutt says Atlanta might be looking to trade down for a shot at Green or J Jones. Smith would make a nice book end to Roddy White for a year or two if they can't get their rookie...

I'm all for players like Smith finishing their careers with their REAL team, but if he has to leave, I hope its out of the division.

[rayzor]

if/when smith leaves he becomes irrelevant and if he plays for another team, he's the enemy.

personally, i can't blame the panthers for not wanting to fight to keep him around. when you are rebuilding a team, you're better off doing it with people who aren't grumpy old men on the downside of their career.

if he's got no interest in helping this young team come together then i've got no interest in keeping him around.

so long and thanks for the TDs, but we'll be better off without him if he doesn't want to be here and isn't interested in helping this young team grow.

he's taking a lazy way out but it's his prerogative. i just won't be a fan of his anymore. don't think he'll care anymore than i will, though.

[PantherPhann]

I'm hoping that Steve Smith doesn't leave. We need him, he's the best and most explosive receiver on the team. Anytime defenses double a receiver, he is a threat to break it. We need another receiver that draws that type of attention. Without Smith and with a rookie QB we're done, again. I think thats why he wants to leave, I understand it from his point of view, but from mine.....I want him to stay.

[bleys]

I don't blame Steve Smith for being an über-competitive football player.

I don't blame Steve Smith for being frustrated with the recent state of affairs.

I don't even blame him for being downright angry.

I do, however, blame Steve Smith for punching is freakin' teammates.

I also blame Steve Smith for undermining teammates in the press.

I blame Steve Smith for throwing temper tantrums during professional football games.

Fire or competitive spirit is one thing. Being a fantastic douche-nozzle is another.

Look. The guy has the kind of athletic talent any football team wants. But his attitude, to turn a phrase, creates an oral vacuum, if you catch my drift.

The truth is, I don't know if the Panthers will be a more talented team with or without Steve Smith after the draft and other acquisitions are made. What I do know, however, is that this team doesn't need Prima donna buzzkills around breaking down a machine that's being re-engineered for a new era.

nah, weak sauce comes in when you & others tried to act like blaming Steve Smith for having faults really holds up under a microscope of what his true value has been to THIS football team (or ANY football team) by comparing a few moments of memory lapse.

Steve Smith might huff and puff on the field, but I would too..

Steve Smith might have punched a teammate(s), but it wasn't unprovoked.

Steve Smith might be a douche-nozzle, but you conveniently are ignoring most ***WINNING people are, especially the WR position where most are prima donnas..

Yes, you're terribly right.. how dare I question your logic when you think Steve Smith is a cancer when he pushes rookies to study instead of fug around with reporters, motivates his rookie QB (Clausen) when the kid has a historically bad year, and works harder than 98% of the league in an attempt to perfect his craft since the day he decided to put all his eggs in one basket despite EVERYTHING holding him back..

So yeah, I can see why throwing temper tantrums over-rides all the positives he brings to the table..

never mind how great he is off the field to charities and kids..

being a douche-nozzle really is at the bottom of my list of concerns when it comes to everything else Smitty brings to the table.

***and yes, most great minds/people are a little fuged up in the head.. you have to be to ignore fools who think they have a clue who you are and what value you provide.

[Ohio]

Was he selfish when he said "smash and dash is better then me, I'm going to ride your coattails"?

[chef17]

Was he selfish when he said "smash and dash is better then me, I'm going to ride your coattails"?

Oh yeah. He wants his numbers, he was lying. He really wants to catch the ball every play. He hates all our RBs.

[Stumpy]

Oh yeah. He wants his numbers, he was lying. He really wants to catch the ball every play. He hates all our RBs.

If Smitty had his way, we wouldn't even bother with a QB. He would just throw the ball to himself on every play. That way he would be the only one to get any TDs.

He wantz all teh glorey 4 hizself!!!eleventy111!

[Ares d9]

Trade him while he still has some value. He won't be effective by the time we're contenders again, & has already shown no desire to help this organization rebuild. I do not blame him, nor do I think any less of him, it's just time to cut ties with #89.

[Panthers128]

I hate when people excuse a player's selfishness by saying he's competitive.

Everyone in the NFL is competitive. Not everyone in the NFL is overtly selfish though. Smith clearly does not have much appreciation for being a player in the NFL and feels he is bigger than the game and his team.

There are plenty of people who would love to wear the Panthers jersey on Sunday. If the ownership feels they will be letting fans down by losing Smith for nothing, don't worry about this fan. I realize veteran NFL players don't garner much in trades and getting rid of someone who is as selfish and unappreciative as Smith will only improve the work environment for the Carolina Panthers.

[Tarheels23]

I hate when people excuse a player's selfishness by saying he's competitive.

Everyone in the NFL is competitive. Not everyone in the NFL is overtly selfish though. Smith clearly does not have much appreciation for being a player in the NFL and feels he is bigger than the game and his team.

There are plenty of people who would love to wear the Panthers jersey on Sunday. If the ownership feels they will be letting fans down by losing Smith for nothing, don't worry about this fan. I realize veteran NFL players don't garner much in trades and getting rid of someone who is as selfish and unappreciative as Smith will only improve the work environment for the Carolina Panthers.

Well said! And if the pick is Cam, we don't need Smitty hurting the development of a rookie QB with his "throw me the damn ball" antics.

[YourManInAmsterdam]

nah, weak sauce comes in when you & others tried to act like blaming Steve Smith for having faults really holds up under a microscope of what his true value has been to THIS football team (or ANY football team) by comparing a few moments of memory lapse.

Steve Smith might huff and puff on the field, but I would too..

Steve Smith might have punched a teammate(s), but it wasn't unprovoked.

Steve Smith might be a douche-nozzle, but you conveniently are ignoring most ***WINNING people are, especially the WR position where most are prima donnas..

Yes, you're terribly right.. how dare I question your logic when you think Steve Smith is a cancer when he pushes rookies to study instead of fug around with reporters, motivates his rookie QB (Clausen) when the kid has a historically bad year, and works harder than 98% of the league in an attempt to perfect his craft since the day he decided to put all his eggs in one basket despite EVERYTHING holding him back..

So yeah, I can see why throwing temper tantrums over-rides all the positives he brings to the table..

never mind how great he is off the field to charities and kids..

being a douche-nozzle really is at the bottom of my list of concerns when it comes to everything else Smitty brings to the table.

***and yes, most great minds/people are a little fuged up in the head.. you have to be to ignore fools who think they have a clue who you are and what value you provide.

Now that is a well thought out response, and I'm not being sarcastic.

Certainly, I disagree with quite a few things you've said here, especially the idea that provocation justifies teammates resorting to fisticuffs. I also call into to question your point of Smitty's motivational tactics. Finally, on the issue of his giving back to the community through charities and working with young folks, this *could* be pointed to as a PR move...

...But admittedly, I don't know Steve Smith, so I'm in no position to make that call.

I'd like to point out, though, that I never called Steve Smith a "cancer" in the locker room and never would. I've heard other people say that and it drives me nuts. It's an overstatement at best and said out of thoughtless anger or prejudice at worst.

I strongly disagree with the notion that being great at what you do automatically makes you misunderstood or that being a Prima donna is somehow excusable when one is talented. There are plenty of players playing presently and historically that are having/have had a much greater effect on the game than Smitty and have avoided such pitfalls.

Finally, I just want this new era (consisting of a new coaching staff and personnel) to start off on a foot that fosters positivity and cohesion in even the toughest of times. I speculate that our Panthers will be lucky to so much as get a whiff of 8-8 this season as they rebuild towards the future. And while a focus on the here and now is important, I also want to see guys working together in a manner that's conducive to learning. Unfortunately (and I mean that, because I wish it were different), I'm not sure Mr. Smith wants to be a part of that kind of system.

Either way, know that I don't discount anything you've said. I just see it in a different way. I hope you can respect my thoughts as well.

[Wither]

I got Smitty's side...

...to no ones surprise.

Not really. I understand all perspectives and don't really feel one way or the other.

[OneBadassCat]

Whether we like it or not Smith is the way he is. It comes with the territory of most WR's his caliber. After years of Fox neglecting the talent on this team, not playing to our strengths, making Smith carry the offense with no help at WR for so long, I don't feel like the man owes us anything but a mutual and respectful departure if that's what he wants to do.

Exceptional talents like him often(if ever) do not come in the cookie cutter mold. If he feels that his only shot to a ring, greatness, or the HOF is with another team for the next few years then I think I can respect his decision. I just hope he retires a Panther and never forgets that we were the guys that selected him in the 3rd of 2001.