Steve Smith Will Not Be In a Panthers Uniform Next Season

[TN05]

As terrible as our receiving corps was, it wasn't smitty's fault. He did all he could. Plus, losing an emotional leader is a real thing. The offense just took a huge hit.

Cam is either happy now that it's his offense or horribly depressed because he's got nothing around him.

 

When Smith leaves we'll have lost three captains. Gettleman seems to have no clue about what teams consider to be leadership.

[Bronn]

I'm really disappointed that we throw a lot of money at Hardy (no disrespect to the Kraken, I love that guy) who has indeed earned a good amount and then basically thumb our nose at the greatest WR of all time who's been as loyal as one can be to an organization.

I'm over the fact that Smitty is gone. He'll always be in my heart and I will speak of his legend to my sons. But I really don't like how this is being handled. This and the Beason scenario really has me resenting our decision making process as of late.

 

Love ya Smitty. Sorry to see it go down like this.

[Ja Rhule]

The deal includes $16.8 million in guaranteed money. Smith received a $10 million signing bonus and comes out way ahead on what he’ll earn in 2012. In addition to the signing bonus, he’ll also earn $1 million in base salary. Smith had been scheduled to earn $7.75 million in the final year of his contract. The new deal gives Smith more money, but he also frees up significant salary-cap room for the Panthers, who had less than $500,000 available before this deal. 

Smith had been scheduled to count $10.7 million against the cap this year, but the new deal drops that figure to $5.96 million. 

In 2013, Smith’s base salary will rise to $3.75 million and that’s guaranteed. Smith also will earn a guaranteed $4 million in base salary in 2014. That’s also the year he can collect a $3 million bonus if the Panthers elect to pick up his option for 2016. 

In 2015, Smith is scheduled to make $7 million in base salary. If he gets to the option year, his base salary will rise to $9 million.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/33633/breaking-down-steve-smiths-deal-2

 

Now ask yourselve... is this salary meets his production?  $7 million for 500 yard receiver?

[Ruff]

I will miss his passion. It will be weird seeing him somewhere else, but all good things mist come to an end.

I don't disagree, but there's a certain way things should be handled. This is not that way.

What makes matters even more infuriating, to me, is that Gettleman is sitting behind a desk, not returning phone calls. He's scared of the media right now.

[Care-Oh-Linuh]

We bitch now...and I hate it that smith is gone, but would you rather complain now about cutting him, or complain in 4 months when 'we have no WR's except smith!!!!' when its time?

Unless DG pulls money out of his ass to sign nicks. That's the only way this can be fixed.

And in the end, smitty still gets the shaft. Not the way I want it, but it's clear now that he's playing in another uni next year.

[Mage]

Seriously, what the heck does restructuring the contract of a soon to be 35 year old receiver accomplish?

It is delaying the inevitable and Smith will only be even more useless as he ages.  Do you guys think Gettleman is a dummy?  He's restructured a good amount of players on this team.  If that was truly a viable option with Smith, don't you think he would have? 

There is a reason Smith's agent said RESTRUCTURE and not PAYCUT.  There is a huge difference.

[LinvilleGorge]

Smitty needs to take a pay cut not a restructure. Restructure not really helpful.

Not sure why his agent would say this other than to make the Panthers FO to be the bad guy.

 

Well, if he's trying to make the F.O. look bad, Gettleman has made his job extremely easy.  It doesn't matter what anyone thinks of this move from a football perspective, I think everyone can agree that Gettleman has royally butt fuged the pooch from a PR perspective on this one.

[ickmule]

Watch him end up in NE. 

[neverlosethefeeling]

There is a huge difference between restructuring and taking a pay cut. Fox made no mention of Smitty being approached to take a pay cut. If Smitty had, in fact, been approached to do so Fox would stand nothing to gain from revealing that because it'd be clear that Smith refused. His MO is to work for his client and in this case that means pitting his client against the organization.

 

Could this have been handled better? Definitely. But the bottom line is Steve isn't worth his contract anymore.

[MichaelNewtonII]

AT LEAST TRADE HIM. DONT RELEASE HIM! I KNOW WE CAN GET AT LEAST A

5TH ROUND PICK FOR HIM

Sent from my SGH-T399 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[Cary Kollins]

This ain't your Marty Hurney's Panthers no mo

[Captroop]

When Smith leaves we'll have lost three captains. Gettleman seems to have no clue about what teams consider to be leadership.

 

Well to be fair, all the players that elected them captains were also let go or retired.

[teeray]

I don't disagree, but there's a certain way things should be handled. This is not that way.

What makes matters even more infuriating, to me, is that Gettleman is sitting behind a desk, not returning phone calls. He's scared of the media right now.

Well nothing officially has even happened yet. I am sure it will be addressed in due time

[Panthro]

Where will we ever replace his production?