Who should get the next statue - TD or 89 ?

[top dawg]

30 minutes ago, Dunn said:

TD exemplifies what it is to be a leader, to make not only yourself great but the others around you better.  He did that on and off the field with his charity, has kept himself out of any negative spotlight throughout his career and Im sure will continue to set the perfect example of what an NFL player should act like on and off the field.  

He is what the NFL wants every player to act like, let alone the Panthers.  That man needs a statue.  

I see what you did there. You may not have seen it yourself, but I do...

Yours is the probably the best answer because you said so much about TD, and so little about Smitty...Wait! What? You didn't say anything about Smitty...but you really did. As such---and I absolutely love Smitty as a player, and think he's just conmplicated, misunderstood, and/or simply highly flawed as a man---I have to agree with you. 

I will leave you and everyone with a couple thoughts though.

The statues outside of BoA stadium are more than about stats, because if that were the only justification then Jerry Richardson wouldn't have one.

But, statues in general aren't only reserved for people of perfection, or even people of high moral character or pristine ethics, otherwise you wouldn't have what happened in Charlottesville. I'm not only speaking of the riots of today, but also the flawed mindset of the day when the statue was first erected. 

[XClown1986]

TD is EASILY the next in line to get a statue. Steve was a great player but TD is a great player, great person, and embodies the Keep Pounding Mantra. Steve has had questionable character at times and never unified a team the way Sam Mills did or TD has.

TD. End of Story.

[pantherclaw]

1 hour ago, nctarheel0619 said:

Steve.  He's going to be in the Hall of Fame.  TD will get one too, but he's not a HOFer at all.  

Which has nothing to do with getting a statue at the stadium.

[TN05]

TD should get one the moment he retires. Steve should get one the moment he signs the one-day contract to retire. 

[Cary Kollins]

Smith because it'll take far less bronze.

[KillerKat]

John Kasay deserves a statue before Smith.

[Snake]

It's TD. Smith was a great player but also a a hole. TD is a good dude plus a great player. Only problem I have with him is he puts 20s on old cars. 

[pantherclaw]

Smitty deserves no statue. He possesses no traits that would qualify him. 

 

[KittyLover]

TD. He's dealt with such adversity and done nothing but respond positively. Great locker room guy and vocal leader.  Hell broke his arm and said tape it up coach and played in the SB.  Players like that don't come around but once in a generation in my opinion.

I love me some smitty but he was only a positive "influence" on the field and wasn't a great teammate considering he punched at least two teammates. Is that someone we want our franchise to honor?  I think that should play into it. 

[TheRumGone]

lol @ this question 

[rayzor]

Sam Mills introduced the team to the "keep pounding" mantra which essentially became a key part of our identity.

Thomas Davis personifies that which is why he will get a statue beside Mills. 

He embodies not just the idea of "keep pounding" but what it means to be a teammate and, to an extent, courageous. In many ways, he is the ideal many should grow up to live life like regardless of what arena they live in. Regardless of what challenges lie before you, you just push forward and make yourself persevere and be a part of the greater good.

Smith persevered as well...but I think he let anger be the thing that pushed him. It was more about self than team. Smith was great, but he was far from the ideal team player. You can't sucker punch multiple teammates and be heralded as someone to be looked up to. 

Who would you want your kids to look up to more and want to emulate? When you are a coach, which would you hold up as an example of what being a true member of a team looks like?

The world needs more people like Thomas Davis who keeps pounding vs. adversity and contributes more to the greater good and less people like Smith who puts self at the center of everything.

I know Smith did some great charity work off the field, but I don't believe that to be the core part of his identity. What you see in the heat of "battle" is who you are and Smith was always focused on fighting the individual standing in front of him who dared to get in his way. TD has shown again and again that his goal is to do whatever it is to make the people around him better by putting forth your best effort and encouraging the same mindset from those you stand with.

[L-TownCat]

Smitty should already have one so this question should be moot.

Steve Smith, while a few don't like him, was the heart and soul of this team for a solid decade.  In those years you knew, we may suck, but I bet Smitty does something incredible today.

 

This takes nothing from TD, the pure embodiment of our motto, a personification of the values JR wants in his players.  A leader, a baller, and a lifer.  Both need statues.  

 

If if I had to say right now, if the statues went up tomorrow it would have to be Smitty.  TD still has a jersey and cleats.  Gotta be done before you get the bust.

[csx]

I don't believe the statues are for best football player. 

[NJPanthers12]

Lol in what world is Thomas Davis a Moreno important figure to this franchise than a player who is the best player in franchise history? The same player who won a triple crown and was the best offensive player in the league for a season.

I think Steve Smith is a child who could not have handled his release worse. The way he is acting towards both a franchise and fan base who supported him even after he punched two teammates in the face, demanded a trade, and refused to not throw younger WR under the bus is nothing short of inexcusable.

With all that said, he is 100 percent more important to this franchise than Thomas Davis. It honesty isn't even close.