If Smitty is "evaluated" and not on this team next yearn

[WOW!!]

There is no question who is running the team now.

No way in hell would a Big Cat runned FO be considering a future without Smitty.

Special if Smitty wasn't ready to leave.

The fact they are talking about this lets me know that G-man is in more control then Hurney was.

[t96]

There's a lot of stir over what he said, but I really just think he only said that to stay consistent with everything else he has been saying, which is all being said to just get the media off of his back. I don't think there is any slim chance Steve isn't on the team next season.

[El Chingon]

Smitty will restructure.

[WOW!!]

There's a lot of stir over what he said, but I really just think he only said that to stay consistent with everything else he has been saying, which is all being said to just get the media off of his back. I don't think there is any slim chance Steve isn't on the team next season.

Would Hurney even be allowed to talk like this about Smitty?

I don't think Smitty's going any where but the fact Gettelmen can be so free with his comments on 1 of Big Cats favorites is a little eye opening.

[carpanfan96]

There's a lot of stir over what he said, but I really just think he only said that to stay consistent with everything else he has been saying, which is all being said to just get the media off of his back. I don't think there is any slim chance Steve isn't on the team next season.

 

 

If you read the Bill Voth piece from earlier today, there's been rumblings from the front office that they were talking about cutting him. 

[philp]

Would Hurney even be allowed to talk like this about Smitty?

I don't think Smitty's going any where but the fact Gettelmen can be so free with his comments on 1 of Big Cats favorites is a little eye opening.

You're thinking too much into it. What GM isn't going to evaluate every player on his roster? Even Cam is being evaluated. Evaluating doesn't mean getting cut. If you can't look at every opportunity to make your team better; you're not the right man for the job.

[TheRed]

I think people are getting carried away pretty quickly over some vague comments. It's not even March yet.

[Jangler]

There is one Panther we all know for sure will retire a Panther...and that's Smith.

[carpanfan96]

I think people are getting carried away pretty quickly over some vague comments. It's not even March yet.

 

 

It's not the comments from DG, but those surprised a few people. It's the rumblings coming out from team officials at the Combine and from the Front office the last few weeks as Bill mentioned that have me thinking it's highly likely.

 

 

After looking at the numbers, "His salary plus his performance last season" He would have to take a pay cut, not a restructure put a straight up pay cut to stay on the team imo. I'm not sure he would want to take that big of a pay cut to match his performance from last season. 

[TheRed]

Rumblings as in twitter rumors? Yeah, I'm not putting any weight into that.

[carpanfan96]

Rumblings as in twitter rumors? Yeah, I'm not putting any weight into that.

 

No, Bill Voth's website and the whispers are from the team that he's heard this weekend and the past few weeks. It's just been heated up because of what DG said about Smith's future. 

[heel31ok]

If you read the Bill Voth piece from earlier today, there's been rumblings from the front office that they were talking about cutting him. 

rumblings? A quick visit to the restroom would take care of such "rumblings."

[LinvilleGorge]

There is one Panther we all know for sure will retire a Panther...and that's Smith.

 

Jordan Gross says, "Hi!"

 

[carpanfan96]

There's also what Rivera said earlier today about Smith's future that's added to the mess.

 

NFL.com makes it sound like he was asked to restructure and said no and the Panthers don't want to give him his option bonus. 

 

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000327563/article/panthers-uncertain-about-steve-smiths-future?campaign=Twitter_atl

 

 

"It's all about the evaluations," Rivera echoed to Around The League on Friday. "We got to look through everything, there's a lot of scenarios that we're putting together as a football team."

Asked if there was a scenario in which Smith wouldn't be a Panther, Rivera said: "Not quite sure. Again, we are in a process right now that we're getting ready to evaluate the college football players. When we get back into town, we'll sit down and start talking about what has to happen when we start getting ready for free agency."

It's apparent that Carolina's "evaluation" process has less to do with Smith's on-field play and much more about the 34-year-old pass-catcher's willingness to accept a pay cut. Stay tuned.