Steve Smith on Gettleman's "Evaluation" comment

[heel31ok]

bottom line is Steve Smith will decide what happens to him not G-man.

[heel31ok]

I love steve smith like the next fan. One of the only reasons to come out to the stadium in those lean years. But if he gets cut (which I doubt) and we become a consistant playoff team or make a deep run next year in the playoffs sorry steve gotta go.

  If Smith is cut and we keep any other WR on the roster then someone else has got to go.

[KendrickPanther]

I didn't have a problem with Dave's comments in the media but when Steve Smith calls asking for an explanation you pick up the phone.

[Johnny Rockets]

My point was more that the media these days tends to manipulate everything that is told to them, edited, chopped up in post production to create a stir, and it's all to make money, not report the piece of news. Newspapers used to have a section call OP-ED where a writer could write their opinion on something, and it was segregated from the rest of the paper for just that reason, it was an opinion and not the news facts.

Now every "reporter" and I use that term VERY loosely, gets a quote and injects their own narrative into the story so it goes the direction they want it to. Look at the current situation as a prime example;

"Reporters" ask Gettleman about Steve Smith's status on the team. Gettleman says everyone is being evaluated and it's a part of the process. The "reporters", being the shitbags they are, keep prodding and prodding asking so does that mean Steve Smith might not be on the Panthers roster next year? Gettleman reiterates everyone is being evaluated and is a part of the process. So what happens next? Local sports writers and sports radio guys and bloggers (like ESPN's David Newton, who I do actually like as a blogger) take those quotes to churn out a few days worth of site clicks and talking points, could steve smith be cut from the Panthers? The sports world takes the bait and turns it into a discussion for days, problem being, the base material for that discussion was somewhat manipulated in the beginning to be made into pseudo-fact based discussion.

What happens after that you ask? Well I'll tell you.

The player in question has friends, family, and acquaintances that all listen to this discussion, maybe even chiming in themselves from time to time. They then text the athlete in question (Steve Smith in this case) and say dude is it true you might get cut from the Panthers? Blindsided, Smith goes on the air with some radio jackoff to voice his displeasure with not being told about his status on the team, when in reality, it may not have ever been an issue to begin with. Now the team must scramble to call the player and make amends to a situation that was conjured up out of thin air, and it makes it, in my sole opinion, more difficult to talk about things like contract restructures or pay cuts for the good of the team when people are pissed. Then if Smitty does restructure, the media turns it into a Smitty restructured or he would have been cut scenario to start the whole process over again.

This is why you should never, ever, ever say anything in the media more than you are contractually obligated to do. They will never help you. They will flip it for page hits. I know this was a long winded rant and I apologize, but teams PR teams should be explaining this ad nauseum to anybody that is ever put in front of a microphone. Players, coaches, GM's, even owners.

It's amazing how you can play that telephone game as a child where you sit in a circle and whisper a sentence into the persons ear next to you and see how it sounds when it comes all the way back around and not learn a single lesson from it.

I understand and repsect the point you are trying to make but just as the media can spin things, so can the fans. You are actually guilty of the exact thing you are claiming the media did just you chose to leave something out and also embelish a bit to get your point across or maybe you didn't listen to the interview.

 

Where is the part where Gettleman says "Steve has had a great career" (as in the past tense) when he was asked a question (just one time) in "Is there a chance Steve Smith isn't on the roster in 2014?"  I understand you see that as "prodding and prodding" but I just see it as a reporter doing his job and asking a legit question.  

 

See, you left out a very important part out and that is what understandably got Steve upset. If what was said by Gettleman was only what you claim was said.."Eveyone is being evaluated" and not even mentioning Steve's name, there is no reason for him to feel disrespected as he obviously does. The way I see it, Gettleman's own words made this a valuable talking point and it's not pulled out of thin air as you seem to think it was and it seems Steve feels the same way.

[panthers55]

From what I have read here and elsewhere it isn't that we don't want him but that his contract going forward wasn't workable for us.  For example if we exercise the option this year it triggers his contract through 2016 when he is due to count 12 million toward the cap with a 9 million salary.  Next year it rises to a 7 million dollar salary and a 10 million dollar salary.  Sure he can contribute but is he getting better and therefore worth more each of the next 3 years or is it going the other way around.  I don't question he is worth his 4 million dollar salary this year but is he worth 7 million next year and 10 the year after not withstanding of his option bonus due or other considerations.

 

I also think Steve knows more than he is letting on honestly.  I really doubt this came out of the blue.

[Jangler]

bottom line is Steve Smith will decide what happens to him not G-man.

 

Really? And if Gettleman decided to cut SS?

[fieryprophet]

Smith's contract is a big issue, unfortunately, because it incentivizes him not being here. Either he renegotiates without the option trigger or he is almost certainly gone. Or he agrees to retire next season with ironclad terms.

[Panthers111]

I agree with you all that Steve is still good and is the best option on the team but you have to balance the money with the talent. 

 

Sure Calvin Johnson helps the team if he were on it but if he costs 30 mil a year he is going to cripple the team. Remember guys the money is the way you bring talent on the team. The teams know how to effectively use the money will field the best teams in the NFL. Just imagine if we had better managed the contracts Beason, Stew, Godfrey, etc. We could have easily resigned Hardy, gotten a top OT, and upgraded the secondary. 

 

We have to identify who is being overpaid and fix the situation if possible. 

 

[CRA]

If we lose Smith which we wont but if we did I will be off the Gettle bandwagon in a heartbeat...I will probably hate David, Steve is like  Daryl from The Walking Dead he is the only safe person.

 

Gettle will then be known as The Governor...

 

 

Sunday cant get here quick enough

 

Daryl is deemed safe b/c the story (big picture) is only halfway finished....the longer the Walking Dead series goes and closer to the end,, the less safe he becomes.

 

89 is near the end of this storyline no matter the spin......which means he is far from what Daryl currently is. 

[top dawg]

In a perfect world. 

 

If my tone seems like Smitty is going to be forced into a diminish role then you guessed right.   We need some of the money back on his contract.  His production and projected production isn't congruent with what he's making/going to make. I didn't hear Rivera or Gettleman say they were releasing Smith...just that he's part of an "evaluation" process moving forward.  Seems like a lot of people are somehow mistaking the word "evaluation" for the word "release".....including Smith.

 

It's not like DG and Ron Rivera came out with a premeditated public press conference revealing their plans about Smith.  They were asked about it and they answered the best they could.  Smith shouldn't feel slighted because management answered truthfully. He's been treated like a King his whole time in Charlotte and he always will be.  In irony after hearing Smith PUBLICLY voice his displeasure with his bosses...I think he might have dug his own grave which is unfortunate considering he could have given ol Riverboat a call on the ol tele.

 

Yeah, but like I said, Smitty has already been in a diminished role, so no need to come out and allude to that in public.  G-man should have given the standard "Steve has been a vital part of the organization, and he is a part of the puzzle going forward."  That's all either G-man or Rivera had to say. 

 

I don't blame Smitty for responding in public. He just returned the "favor" is all.  I doubt any graves are dug, and the only thing that he may be "forced" to do is to take a pay cut of some sort.  He also has the option of moving on.

 

The Big Cat sees all, so if anyone digs any graves, it will be him.

[SIGCHI222]

bottom line is Steve Smith will decide what happens to him not G-man.

 

You are living in a dream world.  The inmates do not run the prison. 

I would post an organization chart and try to explain how hierarchy in a business works but I don't think it would change anything.

 

[Montsta]

I understand and repsect the point you are trying to make but just as the media can spin things, so can the fans. You are actually guilty of the exact thing you are claiming the media did just you chose to leave something out and also embelish a bit to get your point across or maybe you didn't listen to the interview.

Where is the part where Gettleman says "Steve has had a great career" (as in the past tense) when he was asked a question (just one time) in "Is there a chance Steve Smith isn't on the roster in 2014?" I understand you see that as "prodding and prodding" but I just see it as a reporter doing his job and asking a legit question.

See, you left out a very important part out and that is what understandably got Steve upset. If what was said by Gettleman was only what you claim was said.."Eveyone is being evaluated" and not even mentioning Steve's name, there is no reason for him to feel disrespected as he obviously does. The way I see it, Gettleman's own words made this a valuable talking point and it's not pulled out of thin air as you seem to think it was and it seems Steve feels the same way.

I'm not sure I understand what tense a person is supposed to use when describing the professional accolades a person has accomplished? Why wouldn't he be referring to it in the past tense? I suppose saying he was being prodded and prodded may have been an exaggeration as I only watched it once and probably misremembered the exact number of times each question was asked, but when a reporter asks a GM a question and the GM answers it honestly and turns into a circus, it's a joke IMO.

Gettleman probably didn't go into the press conference anticipating that he'd be asked if Steve Smith would be on the roster. He was asked, and answered on the spot. He didn't exactly have time to call Steve to discuss it, and if he would have said I can't comment on that the media speculation would have gone to crazy extremes, and he didn't want to say no there is no way steve will be cut because honestly they are evaluating everybody on the roster and what is best for the team moving forward.

I'd be interested to hear your take on how you think Gettleman should have answered that question on the spot to be forthcoming ad courteous to Steve Smith at the same time without setting himself up for a firestorm?

[heel31ok]

I agree with you all that Steve is still good and is the best option on the team but you have to balance the money with the talent. 

 

Sure Calvin Johnson helps the team if he were on it but if he costs 30 mil a year he is going to cripple the team. Remember guys the money is the way you bring talent on the team. The teams know how to effectively use the money will field the best teams in the NFL. Just imagine if we had better managed the contracts Beason, Stew, Godfrey, etc. We could have easily resigned Hardy, gotten a top OT, and upgraded the secondary. 

 

We have to identify who is being overpaid and fix the situation if possible. 

yeash, ok let's see how we feel about that next season when we overpay someone else. On the record "we discourage the practice." spare me the company line  the loss of Steve Smith at this point would cost more than the cap money we save.

 contrary to what some believe Steve Smith is not only the best receiver we have and that we have ever had but he is the heart and soul of this team. So I don't believ you cut out and sell your soul for a few dollars of cap space.

[iamhubby1]

I hate being late to the party. Mostly because the beer is usually gone, as are all the decent chicks. But...

Wow. Has this thing taken flight? Sure Steve is due more money than he is basically worth. And we need to figure out a way to diminish his cap hit. But it sounds like the powers that be have done a really bad job of going about this. Whether it is from answering questions before you know what the answer is, or just wanting to give an answer so you can move on. Either way. Gman and Ron have stepped on a rattler.

Smitty has earned the right to be consulted. He has earned the right to have a face to face. Lay out the plan, and let him decide what he wants to do. Playing it out this way has caused a mess. Whether intentional or not.

Gman has done a marvelous job...until this. Let's see how he handle his first public relations nightmare. If we come out of this smelling good, yeah. If we come out of this smelling like cow dung...oops.

I want Smitty back. At a reasonable price. Which I am pretty sure is what Smitty would do. Now...I ain't so sure. This is going to be fun.