You go practice with the special teamers

[DaveThePanther2008]

I cannot think of one player to ever play the game that was MORE intense than SS.  I was at the 2005 game against Minnesota where Fred Smoots said he was going to shut Smitty down.

It was not as he thought.  I believe Smitty had 2 TD and 199 yds and Smoots was ruined as a DB after that. I can watch his highlight reels over and over.  Love watching him going up as a 5'9" receiver and out jumping multiple defenders.  I miss watching him play.

And sadly I watch him tear us a new A-hole when we played Baltimore.  

I can see why Culley never brought it up. 

[Mr. Scot]

3 hours ago, Moo Daeng said:

He had 10 receptions for 154 yards that season. Why would he practice as a receiver in the Pro Bowl when he was named as a returner? I get that it motivated him and that's great but what would you expect?

It's the Pro Bowl.

What the hell would it have hurt?

[OldhamA]

1 hour ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

I cannot think of one player to ever play the game that was MORE intense than SS.  I was at the 2005 game against Minnesota where Fred Smoots said he was going to shut Smitty down.

It was not as he thought.  I believe Smitty had 2 TD and 199 yds and Smoots was ruined as a DB after that. I can watch his highlight reels over and over.  Love watching him going up as a 5'9" receiver and out jumping multiple defenders.  I miss watching him play.

And sadly I watch him tear us a new A-hole when we played Baltimore.  

I can see why Culley never brought it up. 

Top 3 player to pull on a jersey for us. He's a first ballot Hall of Famer for mine. 

[shaqattaq]

4 hours ago, Moo Daeng said:

He had 10 receptions for 154 yards that season. Why would he practice as a receiver in the Pro Bowl when he was named as a returner? I get that it motivated him and that's great but what would you expect?

 

If you watch the video Ricky posted, the way Smitty tells it is that Cully was short a WR and the punter hadn't arrived yet, so Harbaugh sent him over to run with the receivers. Culley basically told him t get his sorry ass back over to the JV team and leave the real WR's alone. I'm definitely paraphrasing that last part, but I guarantee that's how Smitty heard it.

[Moo Daeng]

1 hour ago, Mr. Scot said:

It's the Pro Bowl.

What the hell would it have hurt?

If Smith was the Pro Bowl receiver and some rookie was sliding in to his receiver practice you know quite well how that would have gone over given his treatment of other young receivers.

[Moo Daeng]

It wouldn't have "hurt" anything but given that the Pro Bowl used to be taken a bit more seriously I'm not going to judge the position coach for handling his group as he saw fit at the time. Smith was going to be pissed at something or someone no matter what. 

[pantherj]

Even when Smith was at the end of his rookie contract and wanting a new big payday he caught wind of someone involved in the contract negotiations calling him an "unproven" WR. He was furious about this comment and went on a rant. Many sports media talking heads acknowledged that Smith was a good WR, but doubted if he was worth top dollar at the time.

I am sure Cully had no idea what danger he was in by dismissing Smith as belonging with the special teams unit. Smith gave Ken Lucas a terrible beating for unclear reasons during a lull practice, so anyone could become a target and it didn't much to set Smith off.

[PantherPhann89]

The best WR to put on a Carilina Panthers uniform; Steve Smith...

[Waldo]

3 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

It's the Pro Bowl.

What the hell would it have hurt?

He was a rookie right? I'm sure the vets would be happy to give up reps at the probowl...in Hawaii lol. Seems like a great chance for the Vets to enjoy the nasty weather and a rookie to learn something, anything. The game did decide homefield advantage for the next scrimmage game. 

Wasn't Cam pushed into a pool his rookie year at a party? Very serious stuff, that's why we had one this year, or maybe ever again.