jerry rice ranks steve smith at #5 receiver in the league

[weymouthst]

Best in the league, bros.

Listen, you can categorize him with stats and numbers, and theorize his ranking among the other WR's by looking at quarterbacks, injuries, etc. But when it comes down to it, Smitty plays with more fire, dedication, confidence, and will than any other WR I have ever seen. Match that with his natural ability and talent, and he soars above all other WR's in the league. Are there other WR's that are more talented (faster, taller, better hands, etc...)? Yes. Are there WR's with better stats? Yes.

But Smitty combines all facets of ability and personality into being one hell of a football player. The guy is what, 32, and he just put up a 1000+ yard season, with no real signs of slowing down. The guy is just amazing.

[Matthias]

There was a time Smitty was considered the number one receiver in the game back in 05-06. He was also considered the best home run threat in the game.

Steve is getting older, and the day will come when he will hang up his cleats. Yet my last dream for him is to see him be the first receiver to break the 2,000 yard barrier. (It's amazing a wideout haven't done this yet)

[Luke Cage]

Smitty is the man. He is proof of the "size fallacy" in the modern NFL. Modern coaches/scouts seem so damn obsessed with size. I love it when "smaller" guys excel....maybe "small" isn't an apt description of Smitty though. He may not be tall, but he definitely is not small; he's built like a tank.

[Jesse]

Steve Smith is a MONSTER. He's been the face since 2003 (IMO) and is what I wish all of our players could imitate. Its hard to imagine the panthers without 89

[weymouthst]

I think Smitty has stated that after playing football, he is done. But maybe, just maybe, he could be a WR coach or something for Carolina. That would be awesome.

[Tarheels23]

Roddy drops way too many passes

[KendrickPanther]

Steve made it very clear he does not want to be involved as a coach on the NFL level. I think it's clear there is some animosity built up over the years even dating back to George Seifert.

[Argus Plexus]

He could play till 40 if the misses would have it. Happy wife happy life, though. That's what he said anyway.

[PhillyB]

He could play till 40 if the misses would have it. Happy wife happy life, though. That's what he said anyway.

if he can post three more 1,000+ yard seasons in a row i wouldn't rule out him staying for a couple more years even in decline just to pad his stats. another 3000 puts him at #12 all time; 4000 more puts him at #7 all time; if he can break into 15,000 total yards he'll be #4 all time, at which point he is a HOF lock.

[Frizzy350]

Yeah, Roddy White is a beast.....in the regular season. He's nowhere to be found during the postseason.

with all due respect you should be looking at that guy throwing him the ball in the post season.

theres a reason roddy didnt do much when vick was over there.

also I feel kind of bad for smith, he lost so much time on his career. Didn't play much receiver his first 2 years in the league, missed a whole year due to a broken leg, missed a couple games for suspension and lost 2 more years from that last year with delhomme and 2010. imagine if he could have a couple of those seasons back...

[nickzz]

it's mighty quiet up in this place...

[Argus Plexus]

if he can post three more 1,000+ yard seasons in a row i wouldn't rule out him staying for a couple more years even in decline just to pad his stats. another 3000 puts him at #12 all time; 4000 more puts him at #7 all time; if he can break into 15,000 total yards he'll be #4 all time, at which point he is a HOF lock.

That's less than 5000 more yards. How many years are left on his contract including this coming season?

[Vampire the buffet slayer]

til 2016 if they pick up the option, 2014 if not.

[PhillyB]

That's less than 5000 more yards. How many years are left on his contract including this coming season?

like vtbs said... he's contracted for this year, next year and the year after... so getting to 13,500 by then is not unrealistic. and if he's got the momentum of four thousand-yard seasons in a row behind him he's basically a lock to pick up the extra two-year extension in an attempt to add on as much as possible... an extra 1500 over two seasons shouldn't be terribly hard (especially assuming that at that point he'll be playing almost exclusively as a slot receiver with two other guys taking over the outside.)