If Smitty is "evaluated" and not on this team next yearn

[TheMaulClaw]

I think we won both games with Smith completely out with injury. Although we lost both games he got injured in. Point is we can win without Smitty if he nots figured into the game plans.

[RoaringRiot]

I'm not sure why everyone is taking this so personally.  I don't think there is a single person on this forum that doesn't love what Steve has done for the Panthers.  He's 100% my all-time favorite Panther.  I never even considered that it was a possibility to not have him next season, but thee reports have at least made me think more about the whole situation.  I'd be lying if I said I couldn't see a scenario where the Panthers would improve from letting go of Steve.  I can see many scenarios of improvement without Steve, actually.  Fugging sucks to think about but it's reality.  We are all going to have to face the day when we cut ties with Steve.  I hope the guy is able to play until he's 50.....but let's think objectively and realistically about it. 

[OneBadCat]

I'm not sure why everyone is taking this so personally.  I don't think there is a single person on this forum that doesn't love what Steve has done for the Panthers.  He's 100% my all-time favorite Panther.  I never even considered that it was a possibility to not have him next season, but thee reports have at least made me think more about the whole situation.  I'd be lying if I said I couldn't see a scenario where the Panthers would improve from letting go of Steve.  I can see many scenarios of improvement without Steve, actually.  Fugging sucks to think about but it's reality.  We are all going to have to face the day when we cut ties with Steve.  I hope the guy is able to play until he's 50.....but let's think objectively and realistically about it. 

How exactly are we better off with out him though? He's  the only WR on the roster(King and McNutt don't count). Not only that but he's the only WR who has real chemistry with Cam. Any WR we draft and expect to contribute is going to have growing pains which could easily cost us a game or two.  We also haven't resigned Ted Ginn.

 

Smitty is perfect for a #2 and slot role right now. He isn't done and I'm with JOAT that on another team he could have had another 1000 yd season. Cam spread the ball really well last season and Smitty missed 2 games with about 100 yds in drops.

 

Smith isn't what he was but he is still a baller and he still comes up big in big moments. Talib, Jenkins, Miami 4th down, the TD against SF were all clutch plays.

 

I hope it all gets worked out but thinking we'll be just fine without Smith is a big mistake. 

[RoaringRiot]

How exactly are we better off with out him though? He's the only WR on the roster(King and McNutt don't count). Not only that but he's the only WR who has real chemistry with Cam. Any WR we draft and expect to contribute is going to have growing pains which could easily cost us a game or two. We also haven't resigned Ted Ginn.

Smitty is perfect for a #2 and slot role right now. He isn't done and I'm with JOAT that on another team he could have had another 1000 yd season. Cam spread the ball really well last season and Smitty missed 2 games with about 100 yds in drops.

Smith isn't what he was but he is still a baller and he still comes up big in big moments. Talib, Jenkins, Miami 4th down, the TD against SF were all clutch plays.

I hope it all gets worked out but thinking we'll be just fine without Smith is a big mistake.

Do you really think if we let Smitty go there wouldn't be a plan in place to replace him with a vet and a drafted player? I didn't say we would be better off without him, I said I can see several scenarios where we could improve without him. He does have a big contract and his stats don't back it up. He's not the same player - he's not as explosive as he was. I also think he's perfect for the spot, but are you going to pay him $7M when you're capped strapped?

I'm just say all you people acting like there isn't a real chance of him not being here should wake up, because unfortunately this is.

[RoaringRiot]

And before this season the complaint was that Smitty was bad for Cam because he demanded the ball and that was the reason why Cam locked on to him so much. At some point we are all going to have to accept there's life after Steve. I hope it's not soon but it certainly could be.

[TheRed]

If his contract needs to be redone, I believe that Steve would be willing to work something out for the team. For the Panthers to "improve" without Steve Smith, pieces at the position already need to be in place to coincide with that improvement. Playmakers. We don't have enough.

 

It's easy to sit around during the offseason, and diminish the impact not having Steve Smith on this team would have. When the games are actually being played, I imagine there would be more than a few threads filled with regret that Steve Smith isn't around here anymore.

[RoaringRiot]

I don't know how to be more clear....no one here wants Steve gone. No one underestimates the impact he has on this team on and off the field. No one is saying that he still can't be a productive receiver in the slot position. We all get that, so let's not keep making this about that.

All this is about is the possibility of cutting a player so there's a positive impact on the team's financial situation in effort to improve, short and long term. There are absolutely scenarios where this could be the case. It's a painful truth for everyone. Let's just not act like we can't improve or move on from Smitty. It's inevitably going to happen some day. Steve isn't above that consideration. No one is

And I think it's pretty speculative to assume he's going to be willing to negotiate his contract. If he does then fugging great and this is all a moot point, because we all want him here. But if he won't then there is definitely going to have to be a decision made by G-Man.

[TheRed]

Nobody is saying it can't happen some day, or that we can't improve, or exist without Steve Smith.

 

It is about applying common sense. You put pieces in place first, we don't have those pieces yet. Work something out with Steve, and begin acquiring those pieces, preferably via the draft. It's also pretty speculative to say he won't rework his contract, so what's your point?

[RoaringRiot]

Actually there are several people on this thread saying that. You must have ignored those.

Yes that is also speculative. I didn't say either - you did. The point....don't assume either way. We all have enough common sense to know what "should" happen - you're not saying anything we don't get. I'm addressing everyone who is acting like there is no possible scenario that makes sense to get rid of Steve. And it's easy to sit here before FA starts and say those pieces aren't in place yet when there are options to improve the position available come March 11th

[TheRed]

With our current salary cap situation, and number of free agents, the level of improvement we seek is unlikely to happen through free agency. We need to address WR in the draft whether Steve Smith is here or not. I would much rather it happen with him still on the roster.

[RoaringRiot]

I would too. But I think it's FA AND draft. And if losing Steve means being able to sign a younger vet who is a longterm solution then that's a scary scenario that has to be considered.

[TheRed]

I don't see any of the vet WR's in FA being a complete improvement over what Steve Smith brings to the team.

[Pimpdaddy]

I don't see any of the vet WR's in FA being a complete improvement over what Steve Smith brings to the team.

 

....I want to agree with you but San Fran parted ways with Jerry Rice and Montana...we godda go to the next level with or without Smitty...Fk...I didn't just say that....

[mc52beast]

Remember when DG stated that "every team in the league has let go of big dogs"? Smitty is a big dog... don't see him being cut but it probably wouldn't surprise me either.