Smith backs Newton's comments

[footballisasport]

the team under fox had become far too complacent. the goal wasn't to dominate. it was to just not lose and hopefully be just good enough and just better than average. there was no striving for excellence and excuses were made on a regular basis for losses or just simply dismissed with an "it is what it is" apathetic atmosphere. the guys were just happy to be there..and getting paid, of course.

rivera has been given the charge of rebuilding this team and it isn't just personnel he's having to upgrade, it's the team's personality that he's trying to. he's trying to develop a 2-14 team that was given to him and that development involves mindset as much as anything.

the right fits for this team isn't going to be just talent...it's going to be talent + hunger to win. some guys already fit that mold. some guys can be molded. the rest can be replaced. cam and smitty are essential to building that. same with beason on defense. don't forget, beason called out peppers so you have to know he's going to be doing that to the rest of the guys as well.

Do u think the organization allowed this interview, with Cam already given the green light to speak his mind? I'm sure Rivera and Smithy are very much aware of how some in the media feel about Cam. They know the media is using Cam as a ligthen rod for their discussions. I would find it hard to believe that they would allow Cam to do his first interview, knowing how much he hates the media, and not be aware of how he already felt.

I smell a game-plan being form by Rivera, Smitty, and Cam to get the rest of the team to step up their game. Why grant an interview now and not at the end of the season? Why do it knowing full well Cam is an extremely driven young man and will say exactly how he feels to the media and right after the team wins their first back-to-back games? The Panthers Org know what they are doing.

[TheRealDeal]

I feel like the media molested you as a child.

[rayzor]

Do u think the organization allowed this interview, with Cam already given the green light to speak his mind? I'm sure Rivera and Smithy are very much aware of how some in the media feel about Cam. They know the media is using Cam as a ligthen rod for their discussions. I would find it hard to believe that they would allow Cam to do his first interview, knowing how much he hates the media, and not be aware of how he already felt.

I smell a game-plan being form by Rivera, Smitty, and Cam to get the rest of the team to step up their game. Why grant an interview now and not at the end of the season? Why do it knowing full well Cam is an extremely driven young man and will say exactly how he feels to the media and right after the team wins their first back-to-back games? The Panthers Org know what they are doing.

first, the interview didn't happen "now", it happened two weeks ago. cam mentioned that a couple days ago.

second, i think that rivera, et al. couldn't care less what the media thinks of cam right now...or anyone.

i don't think his message to espn was any different than what he was telling the rest of the team. looks like the team bought into it before it hit the press. it's old news to everyone outside the org.

[Snake]

I think the Players are starting to take on the personality if Rivera. Everyone is eyeballing him but Rivera is a stick them in the mouth and not let up coach. Cam will learn what to say and what not too but you can see Rivera's personality In him and the more we draft, and the more Rivera gets his type guys, the more we will see this.

[rayzor]

cam was drafted because he and rivera are simpatico.

[Razeyfingers]

I found it very interesting that Smith's comment at the end "punch you in the mouth" seem to hint that he wasnt sorry for hitting Lucas. He was justifying it and even more so, he justified in the context of this article.

Still think Lucas didnt deserve it? maybe not, old news now anyways, but Im glad we're weeding out the losers.

[Snake]

I found it very interesting that Smith's comment at the end "punch you in the mouth" seem to hint that he wasnt sorry for hitting Lucas. He was justifying it and even more so, he justified in the context of this article.

Still think Lucas didnt deserve it? maybe not, old news now anyways, but Im glad we're weeding out the losers.

I dont think it has anything to do with Lucas and more to do with guys that play with Fire and toughness. Like earlier in the year when that NO player tried to push us around and got jacked up. Rivera said he saw nothing wrong with it and it was OUR HOUSE and you dont mess with OUR Players.

[Razeyfingers]

I dont think it has anything to do with Lucas and more to do with guys that play with Fire and toughness. Like earlier in the year when that NO player tried to push us around and got jacked up. Rivera said he saw nothing wrong with it and it was OUR HOUSE and you dont mess with OUR Players.

Yeah, for sure, this was not about Lucas and nor was the comment directed it at just him, but it just sounded like it seemed to say 'thats why that dude had to be popped'. I dont think he was justifying the manner in which he went about it, but it might provide that last bit of info in an old tired story. . . well, for me anyways.

[SOJA]

the writer said "dude" in his article

guess they are hiring anyone these days