Ron Rivera: "Steve Smith part of the plan right now"

[R0CKnR0LLA]

This is what's left on Smitty's contract

2011: $7 million, 2012: $7.75 million

kinda drives his trade value down a tad

[Nicbsbll2]

Damn... Rivera said more in that one interview than Fox said his entire 9 years in Carolina.

[frash.exe]

[SPANKY]

I'd hate to see smitty go.

[CatMan72]

Smitty may decide he wants to stay depending the trade partners we come up with...

[Snake]

I think if we can get a QB that wants to win as much as Smith we will be ok. I cant say Jimmy Jam is that guy.

[PantherDude]

Smitty wants to win. I think he wants to be sure the Panthers are moving in the direction to win sooner rather than later.

And the new team better accomplish that. We have the talent to get back in the Playoffs if Rivera & others try hard.

[countryboi]

i dont know if the panthers passing game is ready for life with out smitty....unless we are on the AJ green bandwagon

[dimbee]

I don't really see anything in Chico's statements that indicate that it's "pretty clear that he wants to keep him here," when he talks about seeing how he fits with what they want to do and how that fits with what he (Smitty) wants to do. Kinda comes across to me as an "I don't know if it will work out, but he's on the team as of today" statement. He sure as hell didn't say, "I want Steve Smith on this team. Period."

That said, I would hate to see Smitty go to another team. He should retire a Panther.

[bleys]

I don't really see anything in Chico's statements that indicate that it's "pretty clear that he wants to keep him here," when he talks about seeing how he fits with what they want to do and how that fits with what he (Smitty) wants to do. Kinda comes across to me as an "I don't know if it will work out, but he's on the team as of today" statement. He sure as hell didn't say, "I want Steve Smith on this team. Period."

That said, I would hate to see Smitty go to another team. He should retire a Panther.

that's how I read it..

sounds to me like Rivera was saying "if we both are a good fit for each other, great. if not, we both agree we should move in a different direction."

[blackcatgrowl]

Nobody is giving us a first next year for Steve Smith....we'll be lucky to get a fourth for him.....

Totally agree. We all love Smitty because of his swagger in our best of times. And I definitely think he's a top notch player still, but his trade stock isn't that great.

[MHS831]

Damn... Rivera said more in that one interview than Fox said his entire 9 years in Carolina.

Good point!!!

[MHS831]

I don't really see anything in Chico's statements that indicate that it's "pretty clear that he wants to keep him here," when he talks about seeing how he fits with what they want to do and how that fits with what he (Smitty) wants to do. Kinda comes across to me as an "I don't know if it will work out, but he's on the team as of today" statement. He sure as hell didn't say, "I want Steve Smith on this team. Period."

That said, I would hate to see Smitty go to another team. He should retire a Panther.

He said that he is on the team "right now." He said that SS spoke his mind, and he will expect him to participate. Sounds like he wants out to me.

[mav1234]

I don't think SS wants to go through a rebuilding phase. He wants to win.

I also... grudgingly need to also admit he may hate Jimmy Clausen and may have had something to say about him too :P