Steve Smith Will Not Be In a Panthers Uniform Next Season

[t96]

This is why pride is one of the deadliest sins. Look what it does to you. Smitty could have said I've made a lot of money and have interned for Charles fuging Schwab so I know I won't piss it away, so sure I'll take a paycut down to $3.5MM to help the team. Instead it's gonna end up with him signing on another team for $2MM 1 year and us paying him $7MM and forever souring the legacy.

Jesus what a dumpster fire this has become.

 

Do you know that his pride kept him from taking a pay cut to help the team? I wouldn't assume that. It's possible they wouldn't even accept a pay cut down to $3.5M, maybe they wanted him down to like $1-2M which would be ridiculous and just a complete slap in the face to Smitty.

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

From Steve himself:

 

 

Steve Smith ‏@89SteveSmith  31s

God has a plan... sometimes it just hurts find out what it is

[Mage]

The only way it is a big benefit for the player is if he gets to receive those $7 and $9 million per season payouts....SS knew that he wouldn't be playing for that type of money in 2015 and 2016...everyone knew it. 

 

So then what is the problem with us cutting him?

[ickmule]

We're now in rebuild mode for those of you who don't see it. No CBs, no WRs, no safeties, no OL, no effort to resign those who got us where we did last season. Instead, Gettleman's just sitting there with his thumb up his ass trying to trade the Panther GOAT.

It sure appears that way at this point. I had high expectations for 2014, but now I feel like another losing season is staring right at us. 

[Way Truth Life]

What I am gathering from all this is that many of you agreed with the Marty Hurney model of placing loyalty over production?

2013 Carolina Panthers 15 64 745 11.6 49.7 44 4 4 2 44 0

2012 Carolina Panthers 16 73 1,174 16.1 73.4 66 4 17 3 51 0

2011 Carolina Panthers 16 79 1,394 17.6 87.1 77T 7 29 5 53 3

I'd take that production every year if I could get it....especially since this year we played ball control offense.....ignorance...pure ignorance.

[Happy Panther]

Some of the things that bother me.

 

From a personnel standpoint we could have shopped him around quietly. Teams test the market all the time without leaking it. Gettleman's camp seems to have no problem leaking lots of rumors perhaps as a means of intimidation. Comes across as unprofessional.

 

Smith is not that overpaid. If we wanted to design an offense where he gets 1100 yards next year we could do that. Don't expect our top WR draft pick or FA to get much more that smitty did last year

[MadHatter]

Do you know that his pride kept him from taking a pay cut to help the team? I wouldn't assume that. It's possible they wouldn't even accept a pay cut down to $3.5M, maybe they wanted him down to like $1-2M which would be ridiculous and just a complete slap in the face to Smitty.

 

I think there is a whole lot more that went on behind the scenes than anyone here knows.

 

This was not some kneejerk decision by the team.

[frash.exe]

Just think steve if you and the other some odd panthers players that got fat contracts by the old front office actually won some fuging games from 2009 and 2012 you wouldn't be in this predicament

[Ruff]

Some of the things that bother me.

From a personnel standpoint we could have shopped him around quietly. Teams test the market all the time without leaking it. Gettleman's camp seems to have no problem leaking lots of rumors perhaps as a means of intimidation. Comes across as unprofessional.

Smith is not that overpaid. If we wanted to design an offense where he gets 1100 yards next year we could do that. Don't expect our top WR draft pick or FA to get much more that smitty did last year

Nailed it.

[cbully]

To me it was classless the way it was communicated to Smitty.

understood but in the management's defense, does not our players all say, "no job is guaranteed" every off season? it just so happens  after all of our losing over the years, we finally had a good season and those same players thought they were promised a chance to pick up where we left off. the reality is these feeling everyone have now should have been the request of getting Smitty that help during all those seasons. I no Hurney is no longer here but at the end of the day, HURNEY led this ship here. Therefore respect is not the issue, no matter how great a player is. this is saddening but business. If he does play elsewhere I hope he destroys our secondary so then we can seriously upgrade that as well! sad stuff panther family.smh

[Panthro]

From Steve himself:

 

 

Steve Smith ‏@89SteveSmith  31s

God has a plan... sometimes it just hurts find out what it is

 

I don't know who is more dramatic. Smith or the huddle whine patrol.

[MadHatter]

2013 Carolina Panthers 15 64 745 11.6 49.7 44 4 4 2 44 0

2012 Carolina Panthers 16 73 1,174 16.1 73.4 66 4 17 3 51 0

2011 Carolina Panthers 16 79 1,394 17.6 87.1 77T 7 29 5 53 3

I'd take that production every year if I could get it....especially since this year we played ball control offense.....ignorance...pure ignorance.

 

So you would pay $7M for a 745 yard season?  Ignorance....beyond ignorance.

[Way Truth Life]

So then what is the problem with us cutting him?

It makes ZERO sense to cut him in 2014 from what I've read....2015 is the year to cut/renegotiate

Smith has $3 million that is fully protected this year in the event he is released, but the Panthers have time to decide on his fate which works to their advantage. Smith has an option bonus due of $3 million but the team has until June 30 to make a decision on this option. Normally the option would need to be exercised in the first few days of the League Year to facilitate a quick release for the player. By the time they would decide in this case, though, the bigger money in free agency will have dried up.

If the team fails to pick up the option and release Smith by July 1 they will owe him a $3 million non-exercise fee. If they release him they will need to pay him $3 million in fully guaranteed base salary. So $3 million of this money is indeed protected for Smith. In addition I believe that Smith’s guarantee is of the no-offset variety meaning he can double dip if released. So at a minimum Smith will earn $4 million in the NFL this season and most likely a few dollars more.

The Panthers would gain little by releasing Smith. His cap charge for the year would be $6 million, assuming his is a post June 1, and he is currently only counting for $7 million. The team would then be responsible for $3 million in cap charges in 2015 ($4 million in acceleration and a $1 million credit for not picking up the option). His roster spot would also need to be replaced by someone making at least the minimum of $420,000. What it boils down to is that releasing Smith in 2014 is going to cost the Panthers $9.84 million in cap space and $3.84 million in cash plus a somewhat negative PR situation over the next two seasons.

The best case for both sides is to find a way to make Smith’s contract more reasonable for his age and expected performance level. According to a source with knowledge of Smith’s contract his true cash salary in 2014 would be $5.5 million due to half of his option being deferred until 2015. That should be the first starting point. Eliminate the option and pay him $5.5 million in 2015, with $2 million coming as a roster bonus in June (thus getting him more immediate cash than he would get in the option) and reducing his P5 to fully guaranteed $3.5 million. $5.5 million is likely more than he would make if the situation dragged out and he was released on July 1.

http://overthecap.com/steve-smiths-contract-situation-carolina-panthers/

[Cary Kollins]

Long term people. 

 

 

We will lock up the core: Newton, Kuechly, Star etc.

 

 

Bring in fresh talent at WR and Oline.  Dynasty.

 

 

Out with the old, in with the new.