Smith was viewed as a distraction by Getts

[CRA]

89 has been a headache for everyone.....not just DG. Now, he no longer is a great player. That makes the headache a bigger deal.

Fans see him run his mouth and play hard. It is natural to like watching that. Issue is behind doors his teammates have to deal with his "uniqueness". Historically, 89 isn't the ideal locker room guy ( and you can trace that over his entire career).

[El Chingon]

Good.

 

I want that in a GM.

Me too. We are gona get killed in the media for this move but Gettleman is like;  fug it, Ima do what I think is right!

[*FreeFua*]

I've heard Smith would try to get Cam to ignore some things Shula was telling him.

Not sure I'm seeing what the problem is here

[Keep Steve]

I am not being sarcastic at all.  I believe this should be discussed in it's own thread.  None of us really know what it is like inside of the locker room.  That is all I have to say.  Smith could be a cancer, who knows.  We all love Steve, but other teams probabbly look at him just like we looked at Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens when they were 34 or 35. 

[Mr. Scot]

Me too. We are gona get killed in the media for this move but Gettleman is like;  fug it, Ima do what I think is right!

 

Front offices like Pittsburgh and New England haven't exactly been warm and fuzzy places.

 

[Upper Deck West End Zone]

From The Charlotte Observer's Joseph Person: "Sources say (general manager Dave) Gettleman views Smith as a distraction and is ready to turn the locker room over to emerging stars such as quarterback Cam Newton and middle linebacker Luke Kuechly. Smith's fiery personality has made him a fan favorite, but can grate on teammates and coaches."

 

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000333570/article/report-steve-smith-seen-as-distraction-by-panthers

 

"Sources say" is code for "I'm making this up as I go along."

[pantherclaw]

I love Steve Smith.

But I don't get why fans are making a big deal out of this.

Steve Smith was not everyone's friend.

He is no longer a true number one.

It is time to move on.

No fan favorite player leaving is ever pretty.

Accept he's gone.

Get over the feeling that you have that he deserves better.

Sooner you do that, the sooner you'll be thinking clearly again.

If ya ever did.

[CarolinaNCSU]

I think 2 factors are big here: (1) Gross may have kept Smitty in check and (2) Maybe it's Rivera who wanted more control back over his locker room knowing Gross wouldn't be there next season.  

 

I think I remember either Gross or Smitty making a comment about that during the retirement ceremony. Without Gross around to help calm/channel Smitty's anger, maybe DG figured he'd revert back to a younger version. 

[TheNewStandard]

Mitchell and Smitty running amok on the playing field and in the locker room, yeesh

[stirs]

So nobody remembers all the "why is Cam not a captain" threads?

 

All the comments about this not being HIS team?

 

Think Gman just did him a huge favor.  He will say when asked that nobody will ever be able to replace Smith, as he should. But he might also be the happiest guy in town, you never know.  Will be interesting to see if he now takes the lead this coming season.

[Gucci Mane]

wtf

I hope they all play like they are on the chopping block

 

 

"And before one of you idiots think I'm criticizing the way gettleman isn't paying loyalty over performance"

 

 

lol

[PantherPhann89]

This is such poo....

[BigBoss]

You guys don't have to work with him. What makes him fun to watch and a fiery competitor would get pretty annoying after a while

 

Please tell us more about how you spent time next to this douche in a locker..... oh wait....

 

 

Poor G-man :(. Oh wait. Neither of you spent time with him in a locker.

[Panthro]

Please tell us more about how you spent time next to this douche in a locker..... oh wait....

 

 

Poor G-man :(. Oh wait. Neither of you spent time with him in a locker.

 

sorry you lack the ability to comprehend my post