Should #89 be Replaced?

[SetfreexX]

I mean is this even a real question....#89 aka Steve Smith aka Smitty aka IceUpSon is the best player pound for pound we've ever had. Dude left it all on the field EVERY game for over a DECADE, that's all that matters. 

 

/thread

[Vagrant]

Nope. Retire it. He's a once in a decade or two player. If he played in a bigger market, he'd be regarded a lot higher.

[Cyclonus]

I'm on the fence about it.  The only number I can say for 100% right now should be retired is #58 whenever TD hangs it up.

[panthers55]

As for the number doesn't Jackie Miles assign numbers?  I wonder where he sits on this issue.  As for me I think his number should be retired.  Not only is he the best receiver we have every had bar none but he did it with arguably much less talent than is on the current team.  Look at his quarterbacks.  Delhomme, Carr, Pickles, Moore, and a list of no names.  Teams double teamed him all the time and still look what he did.  Smitty is brash and is surely a diva but is a Panther through and through.  The only thing that would change my mind is if he starts trashing the team or Richardson.  Then he has sealed his fate.  Otherwise, he definitely deserves to have him number retired.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

55 minutes ago, MechaZain said:

We've had murderers and wifebeaters on the team and we still debate over our greatest players "attitude".

good point.  please come up with a list of other topics that shouldn't be discussed because we've had murders and wifebeaters on the team.

[AceBoogie]

Do people forget that Steve once had a chance to leave when this organization could barely win a game, but he was loyal and stayed? He could have went ring chasing but he stayed right here. Then here comes Dave and lets him go based on "performance." I think Steve showed us quickly how much bullshit that decision was. He showed loyalty to a team that turned around and showed him none, he has every right to be mad. Yet I still here him praise the team and the players on it, he just doesn't like Dave. 

[Bronn]

lol all you dumb shits saying Smitty had off-field problems... WTF are you even talking about?

Any problem that critics constantly cite regarding Smitty happened proverbially ON THE fuging FIELD you morons.

Film room  - related to football - on the field

Practice field - related to football - on the field

Locker room - related to football - ON THE fuging FIELD

The things I didn't really care for about Smitty happened the places above, as well as his megachurch attendance and religiousness after those incidents... But I try not to fault the man for the latter because we all seek atonement in our own ways...  I knew after seeing Smitty on the field that his personality could lead to the former points, and, I'm sorry, that is what I want on my team. You people will defend Cam when he gets pissed about losing and acts out in childish ways, but when someone like Smitty, who doesn't have the physical stature that Cam does, lowers himself into acting out physically instead of visually, "oh he's a horrible person and teammate."

But GOD DAMN, some of you act like the guy murdered elderly people and ate babies while he was here.

The BOTTOM LINE is this dude was the face of the Panthers franchise for nearly half the time it has been in existence. He MADE Jake Delhomme, whom I am sure a lot of you critics still have posters on your wall of. He carried the team on his back for years.

Yes his number deserves the be retied for the Panthers. Yes he deserves a statue outside the stadium. Yes he will be a Hall of Famer one day. No, there isn't anything any of you can take away from him that people haven't taken away before.

So just STFU with this nonsense about how bad he is, or how he has dissed the Panthers, or how you're afraid he's hiding in your closet and going to get you at night.

Smitty is still the GOAT when it comes to the Panthers. Cam is getting there, and will one day be his replacement. But when you mention Steve Smith around here you better do it with respect and honor, and not talk out the side of your mouth about some nonsense talking point.

[csx]

15 minutes ago, panthers55 said:

As for the number doesn't Jackie Miles assign numbers?  I wonder where he sits on this issue.  As for me I think his number should be retired.  Not only is he the best receiver we have every had bar none but he did it with arguably much less talent than is on the current team.  Look at his quarterbacks.  Delhomme, Carr, Pickles, Moore, and a list of no names.  Teams double teamed him all the time and still look what he did.  Smitty is brash and is surely a diva but is a Panther through and through.  The only thing that would change my mind is if he starts trashing the team or Richardson.  Then he has sealed his fate.  Otherwise, he definitely deserves to have him number retired.

I am not saying this to argue against your point but just a general response. Smith had his best season during Moose's Bears years but he also played with Moose for some good seasons as well. In retrospect that is about as good of a receiver combo as you will find. Proehl with in that mix  early too. The run game was no slouch then either.  I will give you that 2005 was all Smith.

[Bronn]

also, I will fight any of you IRL

[TheRed]

Just now, Bronn said:

also, I will fight any of you IRL

 

 

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

28 minutes ago, AceBoogie said:

Do people forget that Steve once had a chance to leave when this organization could barely win a game, but he was loyal and stayed? He could have went ring chasing but he stayed right here. Then here comes Dave and lets him go based on "performance." I think Steve showed us quickly how much bullshit that decision was. He showed loyalty to a team that turned around and showed him none, he has every right to be mad. Yet I still here him praise the team and the players on it, he just doesn't like Dave. 

he was seeking a trade/wanted to be released and had to be convinced to stay after 2010.  don't go rewriting history.

and dave releasing steve was still the right decision.  at this point it's just your gut feeling if you disagree and one game in 2014 doesn't make the difference you think it does.

e: and any hypotheticals where steve smith singlehandedly defeats the broncos (a year after he said he would retire if the panthers had retained after all him in case anyone forgot) in the super bowl don't sway me either

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

and if steve smith ripping us up in one game is some kind of final, definitive referendum on the decision to release him, then what does winning 22 games in two years without him say

(that's a rhetorical question to illustrate the fallacy of such a simplistic analysis of the situation in case anyone is wondering)

[Bronn]

You do realize, that we have this guy named Cam Newton playing QB right now, right?

Nobody is saying that the Panthers suck without Steve Smith, so your rhetorical questions are basically you just talking to yourself.

[coralreefer_1]

Alot of bickering going on. I wont read 8 pages to say...

89 should NOT be retired if that player doesn't retire as a Panther. Good feeling and great memories and history aside....makes no sense to retire a number of a "former" player that didn't play their last days here.