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

[dimbee]

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.

I can't discern if you're agreeing or disagreeing with me. :lol:

[panthers55]

Actually I had a slightly different take. I wonder if Smitty wants out and Rivera is trying to convince him to stay and that the offense will be better. He wants Smith to attend mini-camp to show him how things are going to work. I am sure he wants to see how Smith will fit with Clausen and the guys here as well as the coaching staff. But I also wonder if he wants to show Smitty how things will be different and convince him that he should stay here. Then Smitty will have a decision to make as will the Panthers.

I might be making it up, but given all that has been said over the past several months, I suspect that Richardson said things would be fixed, and this is all part of the process. I wonder if Smitty is trying to see if he still belongs here and will be happy in this new system. I figure it is a feeling out period for everyone.

[Blitzkrieg Panther]

This is what's left on Smitty's contract

2011: $7 million, 2012: $7.75 million

kinda drives his trade value down a tad

Yea it does, but we can still get a 3rd for him, and its not fair to him to ask him to wait after we gutted the rest of the team. He doesn't have mental issues like moss does so he does have some value.

[dimbee]

He doesn't have mental issues like moss does so he does have some value.

I'm just playing devil's advocate here, but how can you say honestly say that? I don't recall Randay punching a teammate... or two, for that matter.

[MHS831]

I'm just playing devil's advocate here, but how can you say honestly say that? I don't recall Randay punching a teammate... or two, for that matter.

I agree. Ever met him? He is anal. Punching teammates (sucker punching, no less), cursing out teammates, playing flag football, etc.

[dimbee]

I agree. Ever met him? He is anal. Punching teammates (sucker punching, no less), cursing out teammates, playing flag football, etc.

I haven't "met" him, but I've been at restaurants/bars in South Charlotte where he's showed up and he's been the biggest "I won't recognize anyone being here" kind of person that I've ever come across.

[Blitzkrieg Panther]

He may , but Randy Moss is a lot more of a "rude person" than Smitty is. He was nice to me every year at training camp. Plus his work ethic is incredible.

[Blitzkrieg Panther]

Also Randy Moss was rude to a local restaurant owner (older lady) calling her food garbage etc....I don't see smitty doing that

[PantherDude]

I agree. Ever met him? He is anal. Punching teammates (sucker punching, no less), cursing out teammates, playing flag football, etc.

ladyvamp met him & said he is very nice and wasn't anal. Maybe some met him at the wrong time or the wrong place & it could be why he might be anal. He is just has a temper that sometime it hard to control. Even I tend to have that, but I usually keep my cool.

[OneBadassCat]

His temper and attitude is part of what makes him so good. If he was easy going like you and I then he wouldn't be Steve Smith.

[dimbee]

He was nice to me every year at training camp.

Kinda a requirement at TC.... just sayin

[dimbee]

His temper and attitude is part of what makes him so good. If he was easy going like you and I then he wouldn't be Steve Smith.

I personally think that's an overstatement and a very easy way to simply forgive someone for their greatest flaw when considering how good of a football player that he is. Sure, he plays with a chip on his shoulder due to his size, but to say that he could not be as great if he did not have an attitude/temper doesn't jibe with me.

[OneBadassCat]

I'm not excusing him for being an asshole in public if that's what he does. I'm just saying that his personality makes him good just as much as his talent. Otherwise he could have just been a #2 or #3 speedy WR. Or possibly the precurser to Dexter Jackson. Steve is the badass version of Deshaun Jackson, he hasn't reached Smith's dominance yet.

[dimbee]

I'm not excusing him for being an asshole in public if that's what he does. I'm just saying that his personality makes him good just as much as his talent. Otherwise he could have just been a #2 or #3 speedy WR. Or possibly the precurser to Dexter Jackson. Steve is the badass version of Deshaun Jackson, he hasn't reached Smith's dominance yet.

So Deshaun Jackson hasn't reached Smitty status because he isn't an asshole?

That makes absolutely no sense to me.