The 89 Hall of Fame Chase.

[Cat'sGrowl]

If you saw Steve Smith's post game interview yesterday, and your'e anything like myself, you began to reflect on how far Smith has come as a person and player.

You thought of all the memories of this team that he has been part of-most of which he helped create. You may have laughed as he mentioned all these players from many years passed that were an influence to him, but you respected how he refuses to forget what made him who he was. He is the kind of player we hope our young QB grows into.

A fiery, passionate player, talented player who refuses to give up-but also has a cool veteran calm off the field. An emblem of strength, and a brilliant football IQ. Steve has been a part of the Panthers organization for 10 years now, for the past 3 era's, and it probably brought a smile to your face when he said he wanted to play at least another five years. He is one of the greatest players to ever play this game, and I will enjoy watching him chase the recognition he deserves in this new era. Smitty will always be my favorite player, an inspiration to me, and I'm so glad he was a part of this team.

He doesn't have any form of social media, so we can't tell him how much he means to this team, but if any member of the Panthers organization see's this-please, do us a favor and tell Steve how much he means to this fanbase, we love you 89!

So let's begin. Remember, ties on these lists occupy positions-if two players are tied 40th, the next player in line would be 42-not 41.

With 6 catches on Sunday, Smitty now has 687 career receptions and is 38th on the NFL's all time list. With 3 games left, the highest Smitty could feasibly climb is 33rd, though two players on that list directly ahead of him are Anquan Boldin and Andre Johnson-both of which who are much older than you may think-they certainly surprised me. (Q is 30, Johnson 29) Next season should be a big year for Smitty in terms of how high he climbs up the Receptions chart. If he finishes at 700 receptions this year, a 75 catch season next year would put him at 25th, passing notable players like Michael Irvin, Andre Rison, James Lofton and Charlie Joiner. Another strong year beyond that would plunge him into the top twenty.

With 125 receiving yards on Sunday, he now has 10,101 career receiving yards, Agent 89 is now up to 34th on the NFL's all time list passing the likes of Shannon Sharpe and Eric Moulds this past week. He could possibly finish this season as high as 30th with another 400 or so yards. If he reaches 30th, he will pass Keyshawn Johnson, Harold Jackson, Lance Alworth, and Andre Rison. Another, let's say, 1300 yard season next year from that number could move him as high as 21st-a spot which currently belongs to Don Maynard who has 11, 834 yards.

With 57 receiving touchdowns, Smitty is 76th on the all time list. As mentioned before, this list is extraordinarily bunched. Let's be optimistic and say Smith finishes the year with another 3 touchdowns-that would move him up to 67th on the all time list. If Smith averages 5 touchdowns a year for the next 5 years-the time he said yesterday in his interview that he would like to continue playing for-that would, obviously give him a total of 82 career touchdowns-which would move him up to 20th on the all time list passing many many Hall of Famers.

Oh, and since it's Texans week, let us post the greatest play in Panthers history, and the play that is widely considered to be one of the greatest plays of the 2000's:

[D34Williams]

i love steve smith with all of my heart

and i mean that in the homo-est of ways

[jayflip]

That catch and run is the most epic thing I ever saw. A buddy was watching that game with me and asked, "why do you watch when your team is getting blown out!" and I replied, "you never know when Smitty is going to go God Mode and defy the laws of nature". Then this play happened. He's been a Smitty fan ever since.

[megadeth078]

I feel like he needs a superbowl ring

[Sam Mills Fan]

If there was a YAC Hall of Fame, he'd be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, maybe one of the 10 best YACers ever. But he's never going to make the HoF. His numbers nowhere near justify it and playing for the Panthers won't help.

[Sam Mills Fan]

I mean, it doesn't even look like Cris Carter or Tim Brown are getting in any time soon and both of them have careers that dwarf 89.

[SOJA]

that was a beastly play

[grateflday]

Smitty is not HOF worthy yet..... needs to play at a high level for at least 4-5 more years AND lots of playoff appearance with great performances and a SuperBowl ring would help alot.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Both Carter and Brown are going to the Hall. If Smith plays another five years in this offense with our new elite QB, it's going to be hard to keep him out-especially with a Ring.

[Cam's New Arm]

An incredible player with incredible heart. #89

[Lumps]

yea...wide receivers are able to play quite a while and stat wise Smitty has a while to go. He is a nasty receiver but if you look at the receivers going into the hall of fame they are bigger tougher receivers who last a while. I really really hope he can last another 5 years because he will need to to have a chance. He will easily be the best WR on the panthers for a while and like the only one we drafted that was worth a damn so far.

Honestly I don't care about the HOF I want smitty to have a ring more than anything else. Plenty of poeple make the HOF that shouldn't and vise versa.

[Jesse]

I'd rather see win Smitty win a Superbowl with another team than not one at all.

Of course a SB with Cam would be #1

[Cat'sGrowl]

yea...wide receivers are able to play quite a while and stat wise Smitty has a while to go. He is a nasty receiver but if you look at the receivers going into the hall of fame they are bigger tougher receivers who last a while. I really really hope he can last another 5 years because he will need to to have a chance. He will easily be the best WR on the panthers for a while and like the only one we drafted that was worth a damn so far.

Honestly I don't care about the HOF I want smitty to have a ring more than anything else. Plenty of poeple make the HOF that shouldn't and vise versa.

Ah. So Smith isn't big enough to play in the NFL a few more years. Right. I'll let him know.

[Lumps]

Ah. So Smith isn't big enough to play in the NFL a few more years. Right. I'll let him know.

Well you quoted me but I'm not seeing where I said that, oh yea cause I didn't.

I said look at the HOF receivers, that's what they look like. I didn't say anything about Smitty not being able to do it. If Smitty were to do it it would be in a different style. I don't see anyone arguing that because his whole career has been a different style than stereo-typical receivers. This has nothing to do with his ability, it's an observation. Smitty has the mentality and that is what would lead him into the HOF becasue he is going to play as long as his body allows it,