Steve Smith Inteview

[Delhommey]

SC: You'd obviously still want a Super Bowl ring, but that aside, what else do you want to accomplish in football that you haven't?

SS: One of the things I would like to accomplish is that for the last 10 years, I really haven't talked to a lot of rookies through training camp. It's really hard, because a lot of those guys get cut. I can remember that almost all of the wide receivers we drafted or were undrafted — there was a guy named Kevin Coffey from Virginia, and after he got cut, it was very difficult, because we hung out for so long.

So, I didn't talk with a lot of the rookies and free agents until after final cuts, because I just didn't want to get emotionally attached. That's one thing I lost out on — there's probably about 10 or 12 guys over the last 10 years, but I've missed out on [developing relationships with] a lot of those rookies. I missed out on maybe 100 relationships, and you never know how that would have turned out. That's one of the things I want to accomplish in the next few years. It's not so much that I can teach those young guys something; I think maybe they can teach me something.

Life is a process — you always learn something. Ricky Proehl told me that the first year he got here in 2003. He told me that playing football's like being a computer — you always have to upgrade your software. And if you don't, they will replace you. That's how I look at the young guys now — like they could come in and show me something different. What I'm trying to do now in camp is to try and be a light in a dark tunnel. That's high on my priority list now — to not miss out on those relationships.

Part I

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-Shutdown-Corner-interview-Steve-Smith-Pt-?urn=nfl-wp3451

Part II

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-Shutdown-Corner-Interview-Steve-Smith-Pt-?urn=nfl-wp3459

[PhillyB]

how can you not love steve smith? every time he perceives a weakness in himself he hunts it down and humbly does his utmost to uproot it.

get this man a ring cam.

[bleys]

for those who fail to recognize this, for whatever reason, just goes to show he has taken leadership more seriously.

whether he is any good at it is another issue.. however, after punching Lucas, he's vowed to step it up as a leader in some fashion.

it's time people start taking note of that..

[Vampire the buffet slayer]

for those who fail to recognize this, for whatever reason, just goes to show he has taken leadership more seriously.

whether he is any good at it is another issue.. however, after punching Lucas, he's vowed to step it up as a leader in some fashion.

it's time people start taking note of that..

And if they dont take note, Steve will drive to their house and punch them in the face.

[SorthNarolina]

I hope Pilares sticks to him like glue

[teeray]

I know it is a long shot but I wish he could play his whole career in Carolina. I love him for his attributes and his faults. I would rather have 22 guys that cared and were so passionate about football that they punched each other in the face then have a bunch of guys just going through the motions.

People also should note that the things that make him the way he is (i.e. punching people) is the same thing that allows him to be a 5'8 dominate receiver in the NFL. That heart, passion, and chip is what makes him great.

[Fiz]

he's said something similar the last two seasons.

[TruCatzFan]

for those who fail to recognize this, for whatever reason, just goes to show he has taken leadership more seriously.

whether he is any good at it is another issue.. however, after punching Lucas, he's vowed to step it up as a leader in some fashion.

it's time people start taking note of that..

We have been saying this for awhile now... According to 90% of the people here it's crazy talk...

Steve can never be a leader and it's time for him to go... That's what they say anyways...

Anybody who thinks that Steve Smith should EVER put on any jersey other than a Panthers jersey is a MORON in my opinion

[rayzor]

quoting cam newton...pretty good sign

SC: And for the second straight year, the Panthers have taken a quarterback they believe to be the franchise guy, which is unusual. Jimmy Clausen gets one season as a second-round pick in 2010, and then the Panthers select Cam Newton first overall in 2011. How did you think Jimmy did under the circumstances, and what have you seen of Cam? What's your overall take on that current situation?

SS: I think Cam said it best — "You only have one shot at greatness." And everybody has their shot — they either make it or they don't. You know what they say — 'Don't tell me about the pain, just show me the baby." And that's for everybody — it's a production-based business, and if you don't produce, they'll replace you. One day I will be replaced, and I understand that, too.

[Fiz]

Anybody who thinks that Steve Smith should EVER put on any jersey other than a Panthers jersey is a MORON in my opinion

I wouldn't call Steve Smith a moron.

[jtm]

he's said something similar the last two seasons.

I am a Smith fan, but he (thus far) is all talk and no action when it comes to mentoring. I would like for Smith to show that he is cable of not being a distraction to the rookies first. His tantrums last year on and off the field directed at Clausen made me want to throw up. I don't care if he hates Clausen, how did any of those tantrums help the team or Clausen? This guy is so full of it.

Maybe this year is different, but I won't fall for the talk until he backs it up. As they say, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.....

[Urrymonster]

I am a Smith fan, but he (thus far) is all talk and no action when it comes to mentoring. I would like for Smith to show that he is cable of not being a distraction to the rookies first. His tantrums last year on and off the field directed at Clausen made me want to throw up. I don't care if he hates Clausen, how did any of those tantrums help the team or Clausen? This guy is so full of it.

Maybe this year is different, but I won't fall for the talk until he backs it up. As they say, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.....

Pretty much this.

Smith says things like this each and every year but never follows through with it (to a casual observer). Are things different? Not obviously so, but then we don't see everything that is going on. I would love this to be the case, but I think it's really a bit late in all honesty. Our receivers are not rookies and if he hasn't developed a relationship with them I can't see that changing much all of a sudden.

[Tarheels23]

Wow, Smitty is quoting Cam now? He's definitely staying!

SS: I think Cam said it best — "You only have one shot at greatness." And everybody has their shot — they either make it or they don't. You know what they say — 'Don't tell me about the pain, just show me the baby." And that's for everybody — it's a production-based business, and if you don't produce, they'll replace you. One day I will be replaced, and I understand that, too.

[CarolinaVeins]

The year he punched Lucas in the face is the same year we went 12-4. I call that motivation