Smitty meets with Gettleman today

[heel31ok]

I agree if I understand the Smith situation (which is sketchy) if we do not either cut trade or restructure his contract this year versus next year it will have significant cap implications in 2015 and 2016 .Is that correct? Please help me understand this.

well the obvious point missing in all this is what happens on the field. the assumption is that SS is done.The extreme and really useless view is to say something stupid like he is not the player he was 5 years ago. There are not many players that are who they were 5 years ago. Is he the player he was 2 years ago? Yes of course he is. There is no physical reason SS cannot have a great season , a season worth what he is paid. the question of after next season cannot be answered until after next season so the false option of restructure or be cut is not really the only choices.SS catches 85+ next season goes for 1000+ . What then? he is not worth his contract? it comes down to can he perform at a level acceptable to his salary and I say yes he can. Many may say no but in the end we won't know until he actually plays it out. If he knows he can still play at a high level then he would be giving it away by taking a cut. Say he takes a cut and then "breaks out" again he has lost that money and will never get it back.

[Razeyfingers]

Its hilarious that people think being a wideout is dependent on elite foot speed. The speed of your hands and mind are equally important and Smitty hasnt lost any bit of that. In fact he's probably stronger now than when he was 26-28. Shrug, only Panthers fan noobs would suggest that he cant play at the 1 anymore. Its obvious that he can, he does, and its been done before by receivers older than him before. It'd be nice if we could bring someone in that could eventually ascend to the 1. Smitty would benefit from it too right?

 

The funniest part about all this is that Smith has had doubters his whole life and even people that call themselves his fans still doubt him. Fuggin lols isnt 13 years of proving you wrong enough?

[NFLFangirl19]

Look, I agree that life without Steve is a scary thought with not knowing how the team will compensate for him. I say compensate because you just can't simply replace what Steve has been for this team. I use the word has because going forward we really can't assume that at his age he will continue to perform at the level his contract will require. Steve was an unknown when we drafted him just like all rookies. Every player in the league was a rookie at one point in their career. Every team has to rely on rookies to step up as vets decline. We haven't had a GM until now that knew how to draft or evaluate talent to allow for that transition. I have faith that Gettleman will find enough talent to compensate for Smith if it comes to that.Again, the money saved is not what it's about. The money will be spent on another player or players that are younger and paid according to their position value. Right now Steve is a slot receiver, even he will admit that, and a slot receiver, especially at his age, does not command the kind of money his contract will pay him.Sent from my Nexus 7 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

look...I'm willing to admit that i think he should restructure. But if he doesn't do I still think it would be of benefit to cut em? NO. his age is irrelevant to me b/c he doesn't play like he's 35 & his leadership is still needed. How many big changes does a 12&4 team really need to make? We already lost 1 vet y lose another when we're so close. Ecsp if it means further weakening arguably the weakest part of our game.

[B.BERSIN]

Its hilarious that people think being a wideout is dependent on elite foot speed. The speed of your hands and mind are equally important and Smitty hasnt lost any bit of that. In fact he's probably stronger now than when he was 26-28. Shrug, only Panthers fan noobs would suggest that he cant play at the 1 anymore. Its obvious that he can, he does, and its been done before by receivers older than him before. It'd be nice if we could bring someone in that could eventually ascend to the 1. Smitty would benefit from it too right?

 

The funniest part about all this is that Smith has had doubters his whole life and even people that call themselves his fans still doubt him. Fuggin lols isnt 13 years of proving you wrong enough?

 

 

So you are saying the 2013 Smith is better than 2005 Smith cause he's stronger  than when he was 26-28? 

 

I'm afraid the stats will go against you...

[heel31ok]

 I think its more about age V production. You don't want to be paying a 35 year old 9 mill a season. Unfortunately the prudent thing to do is cut ties and prepare for the future. It sucks as a fan because he has meant so much. But it happens to them all eventually. Hopefully they can work it out for at least one more year.

if he is worth 9 it doesn't matter how old he is. The obvious anser is similar to the Hardy deal. You get one more season to see what he will do. I don't see that this past season is a trend for SS. Judging him on the number 35 instead of performance is just the opposite of good business sense. It is just a number and when he raises his stats and performance next season that number will be meaningless.I just think it is an error in judgement to make this decision by looking into a crystal ball  and only seeing the number 35.

[heel31ok]

So you are saying the 2013 Smith is better than 2005 Smith cause he's stronger  than when he was 26-28? 

 

I'm afraid the stats will go against you...

stats say 2 out of last 3 years SS was a 1000 yd performer so one down year doesn't make it a trend. The point is SS knows he is not done and it would be foolish to bet against him. The Panthers may elect to cut him pay him and get nothing from him while gaining no salary cap room but that would be foolish.

[Razeyfingers]

So you are saying the 2013 Smith is better than 2005 Smith cause he's stronger  than when he was 26-28? 

 

I'm afraid the stats will go against you...

 

No.

[CelticCat]

Its not about 89's footspeed. Its about building the team for the future and fixing the cap. Smitty being so old now and close to retirement makes his contract an issue. We can no longer extend him and push back the cap hit. Its a different issue than Godfreys, Gross' and Beasons but its still an issue. Just like those   RB contracts will be/are.

 

If he gets cut we don't save much this year, it saves us next year and the 2 after that when he'll be 37 or so. By then we'll be moaning about the mess Hurney made with CJ's deal.

[Jon Snow]

look...I'm willing to admit that i think he should restructure. But if he doesn't do I still think it would be of benefit to cut em? NO. his age is irrelevant to me b/c he doesn't play like he's 35 & his leadership is still needed. How many big changes does a 12&4 team really need to make? We already lost 1 vet y lose another when we're so close. Ecsp if it means further weakening arguably the weakest part of our game.

I don't think we can assume that it would weaken the team at all. There are always options. Just because it wasn't addressed under Hurney doesn't mean that the new boss will ignore it as well. Players will be drafted and signed to contribute to the position. Will there be growing pains? Sure! But that shouldn't prevent the team from doing it.

Honestly, we were fortunate to go 12&4 this season with the offense we had. They defense saved our asses on more than a few occasions. Something has to be done about it and it looks as if it finally will. Unfortunately for Steve it looks as if his services verses cost is going to put him on the street. It's not dependent on whether there is someone on the team to replace him now.

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[heel31ok]

Its not about 89's footspeed. Its about building the team for the future and fixing the cap. Smitty being so old now and close to retirement makes his contract an issue. We can no longer extend him and push back the cap hit. Its a different issue than Godfreys, Gross' and Beasons but its still an issue. Just like those   RB contracts will be/are.

 

If he gets cut we don't save much this year, it saves us next year and the 2 after that when he'll be 37 or so. By then we'll be moaning about the mess Hurney made with CJ's deal.

no we don't save much for 2 years. That is why i don't see the wisdom in focusing on 2 years down the rd. He is going to be paid, use him now. The same space will be freed up and the same option to cut him will be there 2 years from now.He is paid for now use him now.handwringing over a minimal amount is ridiculous and a waste of time. The argument keeps changing, too much money, not about the money but he overshadows Cam and Luke, he has lost a step and is not the same player he was 5 years ago.What a load of crap.this can be a win/win by keeping him. Getting rid of SS is a losing proposition for the Panthers unless we can squeeze some players or picks out of it.It is a win for SS either way.

[heel31ok]

I don't think we can assume that it would weaken the team at all. There are always options. Just because it wasn't addressed under Hurney doesn't mean that the new boss will ignore it as well. Players will be drafted and signed to contribute to the position. Will there be growing pains? Sure! But that shouldn't prevent the team from doing it.

Honestly, we were fortunate to go 12&4 this season with the offense we had. They defense saved our asses on more than a few occasions. Something has to be done about it and it looks as if it finally will. Unfortunately for Steve it looks as if his services verses cost is going to put him on the street. It's not dependent on whether there is someone on the team to replace him now.

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if it is "services vs cost" with the Smith issue, then keeping him is the obvious and most sensible  choice.

[Jon Snow]

if it is "services vs cost" with the Smith issue, then keeping him is the obvious and most sensible choice.

That's what the personnel guy gets to decide. And obviously he doesn't see it our way or he wouldn't be shopping him if the rumor is true.

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[heel31ok]

That's what the personnel guy gets to decide. And obviously he doesn't see it our way or he wouldn't be shopping him if the rumor is true.

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Here's hoping that the personnel guy has a little more sense than that.I hope that value is more important that dollar to dollar. This is really what it all comes down to.

[Jon Snow]

I wouldn't necessarily say he is being nonsensical about it. I think it's a gamble he is willing to take. It's a gutsy move if he does it because it's obvious he sincerely believes he can move on without Steve. I have no personal feelings either way because all I want is for the team to succeed. With whom they succeed with is irrelevant to me. Just win baby!

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