Steve Smith will hit 1k yards for 7th time in a season

[Jackofalltrades]

If Jon Gruden has anything to say about it.

[Firefox]

You don't see how people outside the Carolina market revere Smitty.

Huh?

[KJ89]

You don't see how people outside the Carolina market revere Smitty.

I've always kind of considered him underrated and somewhat unknown outside Carolina, but I'm realizing that just isn't so.

[jayflip]

Huh?

Huh to your huh.

[SIGCHI222]

I have family in Georgia, California, Texas and Virginia...the males think he is HOF worthy...the females think football is, "sweaty...eeeewww!"

I think Smith is borderline unless he picks it up and makes 3 more pro bowls and gets a ring. I love Smitty but the numbers have got to be there. He's close, I hope he puts up 1,200 the next 3 years and gets a ring.

[CarolinaNCSU]

You don't see how people outside the Carolina market revere Smitty.

What? And you have a handle on this from all 48 continental states more so than I do?

From the article...

"Only seven receivers who started their careers after the 1970 merger have been enshrined, and just two were first-ballot selections – Steve Largent and Jerry Rice.

Cris Carter isn't in. Isaac Bruce, TO, Moss, Harrison, Wayne, Holt, Ward, Fitzgerald, A. Johnson are all going to be going against Smitty and most will probably more deserving #'s wise.

I love Smitty and think he's on the cusp of it...but just because he's a gamer and one of the greatest competitors to ever suit up doesn't mean he's getting in.

Read more here: http://www.charlotte...l#storylink=cpy

[Firefox]

[Kevin Greene]

What? And you have a handle on this from all 48 continental states more so than I do?

From the article...

"Only seven receivers who started their careers after the 1970 merger have been enshrined, and just two were first-ballot selections – Steve Largent and Jerry Rice.

Cris Carter isn't in. Isaac Bruce, TO, Moss, Harrison, Wayne, Holt, Ward, Fitzgerald, A. Johnson are all going to be going against Smitty and most will probably more deserving #'s wise.

I love Smitty and think he's on the cusp of it...but just because he's a gamer and one of the greatest competitors to ever suit up doesn't mean he's getting in.

Read more here: http://www.charlotte...l#storylink=cpy

Hmmm, Bruce, Moss, Harrison all have about 15k yards receiving. Bruce could be inducted before Smiity is even eligable.

Ward ~12k, Fitzgerald ~10k,Cris Carter under 14k yards..

Let's also not lose site of the fact Steve Smith is North of 4000 Kickoff and Punt return yards in his career.

Smitty could eclipse 16,000 All Purpose yards in his career this season.

[CarolinaNCSU]

FWIW, the latest issue of ESPN the Mag is actually a HOF themed one and they had an actual voter break down current players and where they stand. I'll list the WRs/TEs since they're kind of grouped on the actual HOF website of inductees.

First-Ballot Locks -Tony Gonzales

Eventual Enshrinees - A. Johnson, Moss, Fitz

One Big Year Away - No WR/TE

Two More Big Years Away - Calvin Johnson

Close, But No Plaque - Witten, Wayne

These are the thoughts of an actual voter, and don't include guys like TO, Bruce, Holt, Ward, Harrison who have hung up their cleats. Not a mention of Smitty.

[h0llywood]

Steve could finish his current contract (assuming 1k next two years) at 13,500. If he can be convinced to stick around an extra 3 or so years ala Driver and Ward, I don't see how he cannot get up to th top 2-5 all time in receiving. Top 5 will make him HOF lock.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

I think Smith can play until he's 40 if he really wants to and we are playing well and on the verge of a super bowl

[Mage]

Hmmm, Bruce, Moss, Harrison all have about 15k yards receiving. Bruce could be inducted before Smiity is even eligable.

Ward ~12k, Fitzgerald ~10k,Cris Carter under 14k yards..

Let's also not lose site of the fact Steve Smith is North of 4000 Kickoff and Punt return yards in his career.

Smitty could eclipse 16,000 All Purpose yards in his career this season.

Why are people acting like total career yards means automatic induction?

There is a reason Cris Carter isn't in and probably won't be getting in anytime soon yet the media fails to acknowledge it. Carter was a bulk stat accumulator. He was never really dominant at any point in his career. Just a solid receiver who was thrown the ball a lot.

And All-Purpose yards don't mean jack when it comes to Hall of Fame induction.

Look, I love Smitty and I think had he gotten better QB play throughout his career (well, more consistent QB play) he'd be a lock. But as it sits right now he's not going to get in. I honestly don't think some of you realize just how difficult it is to be inducted into the HOF. And you people are also missing the big thing. Yes, he has a lot of yards. But he is seriously lacking in TDs. He'd need 20 more touchdowns just to crack the top 20, and that is ASSUMING everything stays as it is which it isn't. Calvin, Fitzgerald, Gronk, Graham, A. Johnson, Colston, Roddy, etc would all probably surpass him. And at the end of the day, even if it did stay the same, Smith isn't getting 20 more touchdowns in his career.

It truly is an UNFORTUNATE reality but it is a reality we need to start living in.

[h0llywood]

You're right about Carter who had the privilege of playing second fiddle to Randy Moss towards the second half of his career. That's where most his yards came from.

Despite the half a foot height disparity, Smitty is not a short yardage guy like Carter. Steve is and was the #1 receiver on his own team for mostly a decade whereas Carter was not. Carter barely broke 1k yards in his 7th season.

Carter was never at any point considered the best of the game. Steve was the best in 2005. He has an 99% chance if he gets to top 5 all time

[Varking]

Steve Smith is not a lock for the Hall of Fame. I know many of you, being fans of the Panthers since they entered the league, over-value players of the franchise. All fans of all teams do it. Smith isn't even considered the best WR

Reggie Wayne has almost 200 more catches than Smith on only about 100-150 more targets. Reggie Wayne has 1700 more yards or so. Reggie Wayne has 16 more touchdowns receiving that Smith. Wayne has fumbled less.

Andre Johnson has 2 years less experience than Smith and will surely outproduce his catches, yards, and tds.

Larry Fitz is better than Smith. The guys who just retired, Harrison and Owens have better odds of going in. When Moss retires, he will have better odds of getting in.

Steve Smith was considered, for one year, the best WR in football. Owens, Moss, Harrison, Fitz, even Johnson had YEARS where they were considered the best.

There are too many more deserving WRs than Smith, who are still not in, and very few WR get selected. So his shot for the HOF isn't as great as some of you might think.

Steve Smith has a similar stat-line to Jimmy Smith of the Jaguars who abruptly retired to not get suspended for drugs. Had he played out his last 3-4 years like Steve will, they both would have put up nice numbers, but neither belongs in the hall. Sorry.