David Newton's take on the 89 situation: Can't accuse him of being a tool of the FO

[unicar15]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this wasn't the first time Smitty had heard he's got a high cap number and his contract would be evaluated. Maybe it didn't happen AT the exit meeting but I'm sure it happened at some point since DG has been here.

[Montsta]

I respect Newton's job as a blogger for the team, so he has to role with the flavor of the week so to speak, but this was ridiculous when it started, and remains ridiculous today IMO.

[Panthers111]

I gotta disagree with him there. 

 

They just lost a big emotional playoff game to the 49ers. You really think the first thing your going to do is bring in Steve Smith to address the situation. Come on now... 10 out of 10 GMs out there would not have the foresight to bring in Steve to avoid a bad situation with a reporter's question. 

 

I thought DG gave a good answer to the question. It was vague and he didn't call steve out for his below average performance. He merely said we are going to evaluate it. If you read into it, it could be good or bad but sadly if your not saying anything good then they are going to assume it is bad.

 

If he was good then DG would have no problem saying that he was good and will be back with the team next year

If he was below avg then your not going to say he took a step back and we arent sure about him. You are going to say we are going to evaluate the situation. 

 

 

[Fan01]

Did anyone hear in Jordan Gross's retirement press conference when he mentioned that he didn't like Gettlemen very much last off season but he got over it.  I'm thinking that last off season when Gross's contract was restructured it wasn't exactly a favor they asked of him.  It was more of this is how it's going to be.

 

It was only a few years ago when it was Smith being no comment about his future with the Panthers.  This whole thing is about the option bonus and not putting ourselves in position to be paying Steve a ton of money 2-3 years from now.  I think Gettlemen is looking to do to Smith what was done with Gross last year.

[FootballMaestro]

Wow, so David Newton's trying to tell us that Smitty didn't know that he shouldn't be the #1 option at wide out on this team if the Panthers had their druthers!! (knowing they have an option to decide/pay on his contract to boot)??

 

Said it isn't so!!???  :sleep:

[PantherFeez]

Did anyone hear in Jordan Gross's retirement press conference when he mentioned that he didn't like Gettlemen very much last off season but he got over it. I'm thinking that last off season when Gross's contract was restructured it wasn't exactly a favor they asked of him. It was more of this is how it's going to be.

It was only a few years ago when it was Smith being no comment about his future with the Panthers. This whole thing is about the option bonus and not putting ourselves in position to be paying Steve a ton of money 2-3 years from now. I think Gettlemen is looking to do to Smith what was done with Gross last year.

Yeah I caught that too. Yet he took one for the team, gave it his all in one last glorious year and retired. Smith should do the exact same thing.

Sadly on this Smith thing people are butt hurt about Gross and trying to show loyalty to Smitty without hearing for themselves what DG said and how he said it. He didn't say anything to insult Smitty, the media just reached with this story. What it did was bring to light his contract issue that might take Smitty away from the team.

[panthers55]

I think Smith knew this was coming since he signed his last extension.  As mentioned in another thread his extension in 2012 was designed to reduce his cap in 2012 and was essentially a 2 year contract with the expectation he would renegotiate in 2014.  Which is exactly what they are trying to do.  Smith may have hoped that after his very good year in 2012 that if he kept it up he could earn that contract but after falling off last year he knew that they were going to ask for a renegotiation.  Anyone as savvy as him had to know that he wasn't going to justify a cap hit of 9 million in 2015 and 10 million in 2016.  People here are bitching about Hardy's potential 12 million yet think that Smitty would be worth 10 million at the age of 37 based on his production this year potentially declining either further???

 

Amazing

[CelibatePimp]

The sky is falling. Everybody let's panic!!!

[Vagrant]

I personally blame Joe Person for turning this non-issue into a "thing" that now exists. Nobody has said that Steve is getting cut. Nobody has said anything about him not being on the team next year. Every team in the league evaluates players on a continual basis. That is literally their only job. Are you going to exclude anybody from being evaluated? Even Cam needs to be evaluated. Luke. All the guys. You need to know what you have and how you can maximize that talent. Nobody ever said the word CUT .... they said EVALUATE. Just like we're evaluating potential draft picks right now to determine how they'd fit.

 

It's a non-story, and the fact that Steve doesn't see that is a tribute to his emotional side that simultaneously makes him the best WR we've ever had and one of the biggest hotheads in the entire league. Now you have Joe Person making every third tweet about Steve Smith's "situation", wind of it gets back to Steve, and the rest is history. Nobody from the front office called him because there was nothing to report. What kind of heads up did he need considering no roster action was made or even alluded to?

 

Joe can't get a legitimate story, so he takes a quote out of context and makes it into a story. It's no wonder half the team won't talk to him. He's a hack journalist.

[Toundra]

Gettleman said he is evaluating all players! "What about Smitty" Smitty is being evaluated .. For a second I thought it was a football league run by grown men. Then I remembered it was a drama fest with a bunch of gossiping girls.

 

Very cheap excuse when you are clearly targeting some of them.

[tailg8or]

Gettleman spoke in the PAST TENSE when referring to Smith's career!!! He said HAD instead of HAS HAD!!

Burn everythjng!

 

 

I think Gman is from Boston ... surprised he didn't drop a bunch of f-bombs too.  :)

[tiger7_88]

Of all our players, he should know better.

He would if it was about another player. Then he'd scoff at the media's attempt to gin up controversy where no controversy existed.

But when its about Steve Smith? The Diva kicks in.

[Way Truth Life]

Gettleman spoke in the PAST TENSE when referring to Smith's career!!! He said HAD instead of HAS HAD!!

Burn everythjng!

Let's burn it down!!

[Way Truth Life]

ESPN reported that Smith will receive $3 million whether he plays for the Panthers or someone else.  I can not see him getting cut, but renegotiating his contract.  I would like to see a 2 year deal that allows him to retire in 2016.