The 89 Hall of Fame Chase.

[Cat'sGrowl]

I never said anything about his ability.

[Wither]

No one will pass Steve in my eyes..The way he started out, his personality, his heart and his performance with non-super star QB's over the years sets him apart.

[CarolinaAllDay]

Smith has left his mark so far. He still at least has 3 years left barring injury. Keep him healthy and pair him up with lafell/gettis well be good. Superbowl here we come

[Herbert The Love Bug]

I have so many good memories of number 89. Including watching his first TD against Minnesota in a Radio Shack store and nearly knocking over a display from jumping for joy. He is a beautiful man. Can't wait to see his statue in front of the stadium and his jersey hanging on the stadium facade

[OneBadassCat]

If it could be based on highlight reels then Smith would get in for sure. Smith is better than a lot of guys in the HOF. I don't give a sh1t was the stats say.

The ability for a player to rack up stats is also dependent on things they can't control. Like the coaches they played for, who their QB was, what offense they ran, injuries, etc.

But based on ability you can't sit there and tell me that Smith isn't one of the best to play the game. Fug a Chris Carter or a Michael Irvin. I'll take the 5'9 WR who can burn you deep and jump over head like he's 7'4 with 1:30 sec to go in the 4th every time.

If Smith played for the Patriots he would have shattered the "greats" now the HOF. He is already a HOF in my book. If he can deliver a couple more years like this one he will get in. It might take a while, but I don't think history will forget the talent Smith is and was. The lack of total stats for his career are largely not his fault. Now I can't assume that the HOF will consider that but there has never been a WR like Steve Smith.

The first guy to win the triple crown since Sterling Sharpe.

[Ruff]

Smitty is my favorite receiver, ever. Of all time. But, I still don't think he makes the Hall of Fame.

The fact that it has taken Cris Carter, what, six years now, and he's still not in is very telling. I know Cris Carter had serious problems off the field, especially early in his career, but his numbers are absolutely staggering in comparison to Smitty's.

Would I love to see Smitty in the Hall of Fame? Yes. Without a doubt. Do I think it'll happen? Maybe one day. Definitely not his first year of eligibility, and probably not his tenth.

What I would love to see, though, is a statue of Smitty outside of the Vault, and his number retired into the Panthers' Hall of Fame.

[L-TownCat]

89 WILL have a statue outside BOA Stadium no doubt. If not, then i dont know who will. Smitty is the best Panther of all-time, I've argued with the Peppers nutt-huggers for years and i still say he is the best. I still say hes the best WR in the game. Nobody can do what he does. Look what has happend to Fitz w/o Warner, Andre Johnson w/o Schaub, Reggie Wayne w/o Peyton.... I could go on but Smith has done this with who? Dellhome, Peete, Carr, St Piere, Clausen, Testeverde, Weinke? C'mon MAN!!!

[Riverboat Ron]

I think Smith will be a Hall of Famer if we can win a Super Bowl in the next few years. Guys like Chris Carter come to mind that have tons of production and no ring or hall of fame status to match. Smith was the enabler for the Panthers of the 2000's, especially after Moose left, giving our offense a shot in hell with Jake Delhomme at QB. Kind of sad it took ten years to find a blue chip QB that will hopefully be one of many stars for the 2010's and 2020's.

[Darth Biscuit]

I'd love to see him in too, but it'll be tough. He's got to have at LEAST five more years... and win at least one Lombardi to make it.

[rippadonn]

I wouldn't bet against Smitty.

[mush]

I love watching Smith play every Sunday and the heart he brings to the team. But he's really not a guy I'd buy a jersey of or want my kids to. He's a little punk who's punched his teammates multiple times with malice and who is too moody to talk to the media sometimes for weeks at a time. Few other players act like that.

[YoungPanthers89]

I love watching Smith play every Sunday and the heart he brings to the team. But he's really not a guy I'd buy a jersey of or want my kids to. He's a little punk who's punched his teammates multiple times with malice and who is too moody to talk to the media sometimes for weeks at a time. Few other players act like that.

:cool:

[B.BERSIN]

He's a little punk who's punched his teammates multiple times with malice and who is too moody to talk to the media sometimes for weeks at a time. Few other players act like that.

So that's the standard of judging a HOF? Then what about a guy who raped women?

[Carolina Fan]

if he has 2 more years exactly like this one, both including play-offs and possibly a superbowl ring, i think he will make it (probably not first ballot).