Steve Smith on Gettleman's "Evaluation" comment

[*FreeFua*]

LoL at so many of you thinking getting rid of Steve is doing this franchise better. Sure he has a big cap hit but other than Steve, Cam has Olsen and that's it.

Cam trusts Smitty and relies on Smitty in big situations. 4th and 10 in Miami. 4th and 1 in Minnesota. 3rd and 7 in SF late in the game. We have NO ONE ELSE that can be trusted. We have King and McNutt under contract and that's it. Not sure why some of you are ready to crown McNutt as the next big thing because he almost caught a perfectly thrown pass. The bar for WR's has been set so low here that a guy can almost make a catch and people love him. Denver let King go to the practice squad knowing there was a good chance he'd get picked up. I wasn't a fan of King's in college, he's a poor man's Ginn imo. Do I hope these guys fail? Of course not but I don't expect them to come in and contribute as number 1 and 2 receivers.

We better be drafting WR's in rounds 1 and 2 if they get rid of Smitty. Annnnnnd taking a chance on Colt Lyerla as well.

Weapons, weapons, weapons. Give Cam a chance please.

[BigSyke]

naw keep smith. put him in slot.

[chknwing]

the secret word is "context"

[top dawg]

I appreciate your thoughtful response.  I initially felt the need to write something in this thread because a huddler said that DG would get fired if he released Steve....and I just flat out disagreed with it.  That's what I was initially responding to in this thread. I wasn't sure if you were backing that argument or not.  Since it seems we're having an entertaining debate I thought you might have agreed with him.  My bad.

 

I'm inclined to believe that DG was misunderstood in his comments.  He said that Steve's had a great career....which is true.  If Smith retired today he would have a borderline HOF career.  That is based on the past....Steve in his current condition is not the triple crown winner he once was.  Smitty just needs to come to terms to that.  DG also stated that it's an evaluation.  Why have any sort of meeting with Smith until the evaluation is completed and a course of action is determined.  In essence he's saying we're figuring out to keep the team good next year with cap problems and Smitty is part of the process....how is that disrespectful?

 

It is very very very easy to accidentally make Smitty feel disrespected.  I was over complimentary of Steve before asking some perfectly reasonable questions on the radio and he flipped at the drop of a hat when I asked him if the team ever collectively talked about not having a repeat of 08 before the 49ers game.  Smith told me not even to go to the game like I'm some sort of horrible fan.  When in reality I bleed Panthers blue. He looks for conflict.....which is part of his competitive nature for better or worse.

 

I understand why you think generic responses might be best, however it feels refreshing to have a straight shooter and questions answered honestly. A retreat from the vagueness of Fox speak, and a reprieve from the unsure answers Marty Hurney always seemed to give to the fans.  Gettleman actually I thought had a very Gettleman like response and he told us he was straight forward when we hired him.

 

This shouldn't be the story it is.

 

To your very last point, I totally agree. But you know how the media is, especially in this age of the Internet and social media. That's why it's very important for public figures to watch what they say, but there will always be gaffs for sure (not saying that what G-man said was a gaff in the purest sense of the word).  I appreciate G-man's honesty and straight forwardness. I am a straight shooter myself, but I have also had to develop some tact and political correctness over the years just to survive in the corporate world (using "corporate' very loosely) and be relatively happy in my personal world. But I still get in trouble sometimes (LOL). I would guess that just like myself, G-man is what he is in regards to being sometimes bluntly honest, and really doesn't know how to be any other way.  The thing is though that Smitty is a straight-shooter as well. We all probably have "old school" sensibilities as well. You know: talk man to man, handle business behind closed doors, keep things in-house, come to me first, etc.  That being said, I can see how Smitty---already naturally a little chippy, and the type of person that you may have to walk on eggshells around---would become a wee bit rankled by Gettleman's response.  Not saying that it's right or wrong, or that G-man intended to slight Smitty, but sometimes perception is the reality (if you know what I mean).

 

I'd be surprised if it ends badly though.  It won't come to that.

 

 

 

I appreciate your thoughtful debate as well.

[El Chingon]

Gettleman is ruthless, he don't care about feelings.

[NanuqoftheNorth]

Gettleman is ruthless, he don't care about feelings.

GMs cannot afford the luxury of being sentimental, otherwise they will eventually be unemployed.

Example: Marty Hurney

[run1stdownrun2nddown]

^^^ Agreed. Didn't Hurney decide to go the route of paying players more than their fair-market value based off the fact they 'played their heart out' and 'were leaders'? How did that work out? 0 Superbowls and a termination notice. I find it hard to believe the Getts man would make the same mistake.

[CelibatePimp]

Reading some of the sentimental comments on here about disrespect bla bla, you'd think he played for us for free all these years. Same emotional reactions we saw when hangman was cut and we all saw what our record was.

[Panthers111]

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.

 

Ya i understand what your saying. He has been such a great player for us. The reality is he is just going to get older and his performance will drop further. You cant leave him out there at 37 getting 600 yds a season and pay him #1 money. There comes a point in time when you have to say the cost is not worth what he is putting on the field. 

 

Now I still think Steve has enough gas in the tank for 1 or 2 years but it is very hard to pay him 7 and 9 mil when that money could be used for something better. 

[Gin and Juice]

Hate to break it to you, but Gman has no history with Steve's glory days. To Gman, Smith is a JAG going forward! Harsh reality!

Another harsh reality, we need this! Hurney fugged us and while spreading the wealth on the way out the door, he left Gman no choice but to make unpopular decisions! Not so sure CJ might not get cut! One of the big three are going....CJ, JStew, or Dwill! JStew restructured and I think a few more important details will be coming out about his deal in the near time. I think Dwill will be given a shot at making good and taking one for the team, however, J Tuck may be a reason CJ walks/trade! Gman gonna have to start sacrificing fat cats to make his life easier in the "pay accordingly" role

[Mr. Scot]

Hate to break it to you, but Gman has no history with Steve's glory days.

 

I'm not sure it would matter if he did.

 

[Gin and Juice]

I'm not sure it would matter if he did.

That's even better evidence we have the right man for the job! This offseason and football year is going to truly show what we have with Gman! If this team gets back to the playoffs then JR better reach back into his wallet for this guy

[Gin and Juice]

Not sure how many other fans felt this way, but when Hurney paid what he did for CJ.....yeah, the Panthers became the bitch of the league! I think Gman is about to show who is really the Don of this team!

[panthers55]

Hate to break it to you, but Gman has no history with Steve's glory days. To Gman, Smith is a JAG going forward! Harsh reality!

Another harsh reality, we need this! Hurney fugged us and while spreading the wealth on the way out the door, he left Gman no choice but to make unpopular decisions! Not so sure CJ might not get cut! One of the big three are going....CJ, JStew, or Dwill! JStew restructured and I think a few more important details will be coming out about his deal in the near time. I think Dwill will be given a shot at making good and taking one for the team, however, J Tuck may be a reason CJ walks/trade! Gman gonna have to start sacrificing fat cats to make his life easier in the "pay accordingly" role

Go look at the dead cap money we eat if we get rid of Williams or CJ this year and get back with me.  With over 17 million in dead cap space already we don't want to add Williams 9.6 or CJ's 16 million.  That is why Gettleman is pushing for restructures.  Players like CJ who don't restructure this year will more likely be gone next year than this unless we are willing to eat all 16 million.