Smith's leadership makes up for the lost step

[mj4life]

Smith may have lost a step or two in speed but he makes up for it in leadership. With rookie receivers and castoff free agents, we need an experienced guy like Smith who is accountable. I really like what he is saying. This is why I hope he isn't traded. I will be wearing his jersey to the game this week.

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-1/Smith-still-holding-himself-accountable/fc53c01e-76ba-4349-9d53-c0b93db1cd11

trading smith would be beyond stupid IMO, if gettis & lafell become threats on a regular basis along with someone like thomas ,smith could have a field day against most defenses.

[panthers55]

trading smith would be beyond stupid IMO, if gettis & lafell become threats on a regular basis along with someone like thomas ,smith could have a field day against most defenses.

Plus Smith may actually be able to show the rookies how a receiver should act. If nothing else he can tell them about his mistakes so they can learn from them.

[Punisher]

Panthers.com did an article on Smitty being a leader and P55 linked us to it. By golly, he must be a changed man now.

By golly you are wrong like usual and you go on and on with more stupid posts. Problem is that it just hurts your credibility.............

Seriously, I am wrong?? Haha you didn't link us to panthers.com??

No you are wrong he isn't being a leader. You are right I linked it to Panthers.com.

I still don't get the I was wrong part. Obviously the changed man part is opinion and it is no more wrong than your he punched Lucas in the face, and Lucas showed him about sacrifice only the likes of Jesus Christ could. Eh

[scpanther22]

Link???? Now you are making things up to justify your own arguments.

Anyone who knows Smitty over the years wouldn't say he was mature, a leader or anything else. Like I said this is the first time I have seen him step up like this.

Will this do? I get what your saying I think Smith is a leader by the way he approaches the game but we have heard he has changed more than once.

Smith vowed to become a team leader, and he changed his offseason habits to work out with Moore, the Wake Forest product who has yet to appear in an NFL game.

"There were a few times where we were both tired and getting our butts kicked," Smith said. "I looked at him, and I was happy he was there. It was the first time in probably nine years I worked out with somebody. So that was a good thing."

It also was why Smith was so frustrated when he collided with cornerback Chris Gamble and slammed his right shoulder on the turf. Smith had been plagued with shoulder pain since late in the 2007 season.

"I was working, and it felt great and then, bang," Smith said.

http://www.nfl.com/trainingcamp/story?id=09000d5d811e2f68&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true

[Punisher]

Plus Smith may actually be able to show the rookies how a receiver should act. If nothing else he can tell them about his mistakes so they can learn from them.

Just about any vet receiver can teach, but we got Steve who said the rooks aren't kissing his ass, so f**k em. And before you get all technical, I'm paraphrasing. And any 12 year old with common sense can say don't do some of the things Steve Smith did. Hopefully, we don't get anyone that actually needs that explained to them.

[panthers55]

I still don't get the I was wrong part. Obviously the changed man part is opinion and it is no more wrong than your he punched Lucas in the face, and Lucas showed him about sacrifice only the likes of Jesus Christ could. Eh

Simple. The article is proof positive that he is being a leader. Everything he says speaks captain and leader. What you are bringing up are examples where he wasn't being a leader in years past. No one argues that he was a leader back then, simply he has learned from his mistakes and is a leader now. People change and he has IMO. You are bringing up the distant past which is not relevant to the now. Back in 2008 Smitty would have never given this kind of interview. I suspect he learned alot from that mistake.

So you are wrong when you say he isn't a leader. Now he is. In the past he wasn't. It isn't hard to figure out.

[Jpjr]

I don't know how you can call Smith a leader at this point.

In form, yes. In substance, no.

Breaking his arm over the offseason was a dumb thing to do... not something unacceptable... but lets face it Peyton Manning will not be breaking his arm this offseason or any offseason. It's not a coincidence. Second, I have heard ZERO from the rookies that he has played an integral part in their development. Happy to be disproven wrong here but I have seen zero indication. I certainly haven't read any above and beyond stories like Manning driving three hours twice a week to throw to Anthony Gonzalez while still at college. Third, he is making mistakes on the field that don't have to do with losing a step..miscommunications with Moore, drops, fumbles, and most notably - whining.

I'm simply not buying into the Steven Smith leader argument. He's a great talent and possibly the best Panther to ever play, but up to this point he has been part of the problem and not the solution. If he does indeed step up like the news articles say he is this week... I will gladly ammend my view.

[panthers55]

Just about any vet receiver can teach, but we got Steve who said the rooks aren't kissing his ass, so f**k em. And before you get all technical, I'm paraphrasing. And any 12 year old with common sense can say don't do some of the things Steve Smith did. Hopefully, we don't get anyone that actually needs that explained to them.

Again where do you get your ideas. I have never heard him say anything close. You are making it up again.

Link or give it up.

[panthers55]

I don't know how you can call Smith a leader at this point.

In form, yes. In substance, no.

Breaking his arm over the offseason was a dumb thing to do... not something unacceptable... but lets face it Peyton Manning will not be breaking his arm this offseason or any offseason. It's not a coincidence. Second, I have heard ZERO from the rookies that he has played an integral part in their development. Happy to be disproven wrong here but I have seen zero indication. I certainly haven't read any above and beyond stories like Manning driving three hours twice a week to throw to Anthony Gonzalez while still at college. Third, he is making mistakes on the field that don't have to do with losing a step..miscommunications with Moore, drops, fumbles, and most notably - whining.

I'm simply not buying into the Steven Smith leader argument. He's a great talent and possibly the best Panther to ever play, but up to this point he has been part of the problem and not the solution. If he does indeed step up like the news articles say he is this week... I will gladly ammend my view.

Again where do you hear anything say he isn't being helpful. From what I heard he has been very helpful to the rookies in the film room and in practice. He took Kenny Moore under his wing and did his best although it didn't work out.

Breaking his arm had nothing to do with leadership, it came from his thinking it was no big deal. He has been playing flag football for years with no consequence.

I would agree that he hasn't been a leader up to this point and said so when they made him a captain. But that is why I linked this article, it was surprising to me. Now we will see if his actions match his words, but for me it is refreshing to hear him say what he did. That is showing leadership even if it years late.

[davos]

I love Smith for being the best Panther receiver in our brief history, but honestly he's not a prime leader. There is no doubt I want him on our team right now, but he's admitted he doesn't even want to be the number one receiver anymore yet won't mentor the younger receivers in camp. His attitude is just weird. Again, not bad, and I'm not trying to hate on him because he's done so freaking much for this franchise, but he's a little off

But then again who isn't nowadays. What point does it serve to talk about this right now? I'm hoping he can bring back his old self as quickly as possible. He's always been one of my favorite Panthers and I don't want to dislike him because our team is already sh*t right now. Go Panthers!

[Punisher]

Again where do you hear anything say he isn't being helpful. From what I heard he has been very helpful to the rookies in the film room and in practice. He took Kenny Moore under his wing and did his best although it didn't work out.

Breaking his arm had nothing to do with leadership, it came from his thinking it was no big deal. He has been playing flag football for years with no consequence.

I would agree that he hasn't been a leader up to this point and said so when they made him a captain. But that is why I linked this article, it was surprising to me. Now we will see if his actions match his words, but for me it is refreshing to hear him say what he did. That is showing leadership even if it years late.

Honestly, answer me this P55. Weren't you the guy who use to say Foster wore defenses down for Williams big runs? I know it is off subject, but you keep talking about credibility and such, so I can not shake that every time you say it. Especially after that Ken Lucas story.

But I'll play, under p55 rules how far back into Steve's history can I go? Honestly, to line up with your Lucas story I think it should be a month after that incident since that seems to be where you are saying Steve changed. I'll try to reply back tomorrow night assuming rl doesn't interfere.

[panthers55]

Will this do? I get what your saying I think Smith is a leader by the way he approaches the game but we have heard he has changed more than once.

http://www.nfl.com/trainingcamp/story?id=09000d5d811e2f68&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true

Good read. This article shows that he has been trying to show more leadership and likely do for the other guys what Moose and Proehl did for him. THis latest article is just one more step in that direction. He is a work in progress. I am glad to see the changes. I was a fan of his talent in the past but not him as a person. I am beginning to like the man as well as the player. People rarely change overnight, it is usually an evolution over time.

FWIW, this article doesn't mean he couldn't act juvenile and like a jerk tomorrow. Most people find that they have more than one side of their personality which often clash with each other.

[Punisher]

FWIW, this article doesn't mean he couldn't act juvenile and like a jerk tomorrow. Most people find that they have more than one side of their personality which often clash with each other.

Covering your bases I see.

[OneBadassCat]

Smith absolutely deserves the benefit of the doubt. We would have been nothing the past 5 years if it wasn't for him.