Smith supposedly wants out...

[d-run]

He is gone. Lets get over it and move one.

[YoungPanthers89]

[Verge]

Cam can play wr...right?.....riiigggghhhhhttt?

[Panths]

I'd rather he go to the AFC, like chargers or Ravens. I can't cheer for him as a Pat.. sacrilegious

[Kevin Greene]

[Boltergeist]

I'd rather he go to the AFC, like chargers or Ravens. I can't cheer for him as a Pat.. sacrilegious

I'd rather spend $14M over the next 2 years retaining Floyd - it'll take more than that to keep VJ, so that's why I didn't say him. I'm happy with a VJ/Floyd/Crayton/Ajirotutu/Brown corps (and if we go 6, Washington)

[Marguide]

Frankly, I am ready for Smitty to be gone. We will miss the potential production if he can return to form (not a given), but his personality is going to clash with what Rivera is trying to do.

This is Ron's team now. He cannot start his tenure by giving in to Smith's petulance. Move him for the best offer, and do it as soon as possible.

[Sword]

if he's going to be dealt we need to get another player back in the trade or it's not worth giving up what smith is for our team. i think he doesn't respond positively to people talking about trade talk because he hoped it would stay in house..it was also months ago and he might be willing to give it a shot now, who knows. i don't see him as the locker room cancer some do..just a competitive guy who don't want no scrubs.

[neverlosethefeeling]

I don't know why it's important for Smith to keep side-stepping the issue and all the questions people have.

I get that he doesn't owe us an answer or an explanation, but common sense would suggest that if he did actually want to be here (and considering he is under contract) that he could at least say he was still thinking about staying.

[carpanfan96]

It's from Davis, but he is still saying that Smitty is telling him he wants to stay... ????

“I definitely hope that something happens over the next few weeks that will allow us or allow Steve or whoever's making the decision to change their mind about it,” Davis said.

“Steve Smith is a great teammate. He's a guy that you love to line up with. He's coming to work, he's going to fight hard and he's going to give you everything he's got.”

Davis said each time he has seen Smith this offseason he has told him he wants him to stay.

“And that's with me not even knowing 100 percent that I'll be back,” Davis said. “I still want Steve to come back to this team because I'm pretty confident that I will be back.”

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/05/05/2275240/clause-further-clouds-outlook.html#ixzz1LYtbr093

[JawnyBlaze]

Smitty's contract isn't above his playing ability...that $14mil number keeps getting tossed around like it's unreasonably high or something. It's not even close to top at his position and he might have lost a step, but he's still a top 10 receiver in this league if he has a QB. His only recent injuries don't even affect his speed. He still runs great routes and can catch as well as anyone (I don't hold last year's drops against him I still just think he was surprised when the ball was actually thrown in his direction). I'm not saying he's still in his prime, but he can (and will) play up to his $7mil a year contract...In his prime he'd be worth the same $10mil a year that Fitzgerald and Marshall get.

[ladypanther]

richardson said that he walked all over fox the last couple years.

That is interesting...is there a link to that?

Rivera said he would do what was best for the team. I take that to mean he is not going to give Smitty away. A good deal for the Panthers or Smitty stays.

[TruCatzFan]

I try not to get too wrapped up in the rumor mil surrounding Steve Smith. The bottom line is that we're a Better team with him than we are without him. I'm just being real here, some people like it and some dont. Realisitically, if we can't get a second rounder for him this offseason, then we keep him. He will undoubtedly have a better year next year which will increase his trade value.

Honestly, I'm a lil disappointed at the fan base here a lil bit so quick to diss Steve, or to say he's lost a step... Why because it's one year later? He did have a ROOKIE QB trying to get the ball to him while being triple covered! The addition of Shockey alone will help him be more open. I think the man has earned a lil more respect than some are giving! BTW, please don't hit me up about his character concerns like I don't already know all about him... Show some class to a guy who has been the BEST player for us in Panthers history... Because right now, none of this stuff I'm reading is very swag-worthy at all!

[klumme]

I don't know why it's important for Smith to keep side-stepping the issue and all the questions people have.

Maybe he can't answer because he have not talked to Rivera yet and thus not know if he want to stay yet?