How did we miss this little gem from Scott Fowler? / Top Dawg: Admit G-man fuged up so that we can move on

[top dawg]

For those of us who don't stay in Charlotte or read the Charlotee Observer, Scott Fowler makes a pretty good case that we screwed up by firing Steve Smith.  The opening is literally perfect:

 

Steve Smith’s signature move was spinning the football after a first-down catch for the Carolina Panthers. It was phenomenal how long that ball would stay on its tip, laces twirling like a miniature merry-go-round in the grass, after Smith walked back toward the Carolina huddle.

 

You could say that ball spun for 13 years, really, staying upright as Smith became the Panthers’ best and most dazzling player ever.

 

Last year, the ball started to wobble.

 

And now, finally, it has come to a stop – not because there was no spin left, but because Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman put his hand on top of it and took it away.

 

 

Wow, man. Now that's some great writing.

 

 

The Panthers have badly mishandled this situation from both a professional and personal standpoint. Gettleman was almost perfect in his first season as the Panthers’ GM. But he whiffed on this one.

 

Look, it was never going to be easy to part with Smith, no matter when it occurred. Something was probably going to get messy. He is a complicated man – family-oriented, egocentric, charming, religious, wonderful to children and prone to anger with any adult who opposed him. 

 

Smith has done as much or more charitable work in our community as any Panther ever has. He also punched out two of his own teammates in anger during his Panthers career.

 

He could be a jerk. But hey, he was our jerk.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, we knew what we had, and for the most part people loved and accepted the total man for what he is. Enter Gettleman, now all of a sudden Smitty was the Devil that could do no right, and Gettleman was the god that could do no wrong.  Laughable! 

 

And then you have the Gettleman apologists trying to rationalize the situation by saying what a bad man Steve is, and how he didn't deserve what now amounts to a measly seven mil a year, even though he was never asked about taking one for the team (i.e., a cut in pay). They also just conveniently skip over the fact that the FO intimated that it was never even about the money, it was that G-man just didn't appreciate what Steve Smith still brought in regards to his play, and his leadership---never mind the fact that he was still producing at a higher level than many on the field while still being a leader in the community.

 

Yes, Smith has morphed from a deep threat into a possession receiver – one best suited to the slot role. He is no longer incredibly fast.

 

But remember what Ricky Proehl was to the Panthers in the 2003 Super Bowl season? That’s what Smith could have been for the next couple of years---at least that and likely more.

 

 

 

Yeah, old Gettleman popped that dream of Panthers fans finally seeing Smitty tear it up in the slot with two capable receivers on both sides (or either side, really) just like an over-inflated tire.  Ravens fans will get that treat. 

 

 

You can use nicer words if you want – releasing him, parting ways, whatever – but that’s what this is. This is Gettleman saying, “We can do better than Steve Smith at wide receiver, and he’s making too much money anyway.” This is Gettleman betting heavily on himself – that he can lure a couple of free agents into the fold and draft a couple of guys and get Newton some weapons who are better than Smith.

 

But you know what? It doesn’t make sense. Wide receiver was one of the team’s weakest positions last season. And you take away the best player from that position? And one of the team’s hardest workers? When your No. 2 and No. 3 receivers from 2013 are already free agents?

 

Yes, the Panthers say. No, I say. That’s simply over-thinking it. I think Smith would have grumbled but ultimately accepted a reduced role on the team. He is not a No. 1 NFL wide receiver anymore, and he won’t be that anywhere else, either. But he’s a darn good No. 2 and a game-breaking No. 3.

 

 

Perhaps Smith would have grumbled, but he has been saying for years that it was time for him to step back.  Yet, you still have people suggesting that he didn't really mean it, although the guy has always been a true straight shooter.  

 

 

 

Lastly, now all of a sudden it's about the money, as if Steve Smith already had it planned to get a pay raise in B-more.  Yeah, he put a gun to Ozzie Newsome's head so that he could fulfill this Machiavellian plot that he had planned all along. Never mind the fact that he was obviously as perplexed as anyone with G-man's hollow words at the Combine which were just a facade for his real feelings and the fact that his mind was already made up in regards to getting Smitty out of Carolina at all costs (because G-man couldn't handle Smitty's attitude).  G-man is the one that flipped the script, not Smitty. 

 

Stop trying to rationalize it. G-man fuged up in the eyes of most fans (Panthers, and otherwise), most analysts, and most pros in the NFL---from the players to the front offices---by being dismissive, and ultimately dismissing Steve Smith.  

 

Just admit it. Give 89 the respect that he is due, and admit that G-man totally fuged up the situation.

 

 

Smith will spin the football somewhere else in 2014. And no matter how the Panthers try to spin that news, it is not a good thing

 

 

 

Admit it!  This is therapy motherfugers! Admit it!

[stirs]

Life

 

Get one

[Khaki Lackey]

Only when you admit you need to change the broken record. Blah blah blah blah

[IGSaint]

I prefer a emotionless GM like gettleman than a GM like hurney.

[JJman]

I prefer a emotionless GM like gettleman than a GM like hurney.

I say fug them both

[AceBoogie]

I can't wait until August

[CPcavedweller]

Life

Get one

The OP actually uses great syntax. I'd be willing to be the has a great life outside of the huddle(professionally anyway). Unless he is Scott Fowler tooting his own horn.

[panthers55]

Lets say that Gettleman should have handled it better.  Where does that leave us now?  Do we continue to complain about the past or look to the future?  What happens to Smitty is done and all the coulda shoulda woulda won't bring him back.  As a Panther fan you better hope Gettleman is right and has a plan to right the ship whether he screwed up or not.  Hoping bad things for him is the same as hoping bad things for the Panthers.  And if that is the case how about going to the ravens message board.  I for one am already tired of the fighting and we have months before we even start training camp and see what this year's team will look like.  It is going to be a long couple of months.  Oye vay..........

[JJman]

Life

Get one

In order to put someone down you must be below them.

[MtnJax]

OP, if you want Hurney back as GM just come out and say it. that's what your tl;dr post pretty much says

[PantherPhann89]

YES, Gettleman screwed the pooch. There was absolutely no benefit to cutting the greatest Panther in team history only to rely on rookies at his position. This is the only time since 95 I've felt like this. I was upset when Rivera cut Kasay, surprised when Gettleman cut Beason but Kuechly softened the blow on that one, but I'm still p o'ed about Smith........

[IGSaint]

I say fug them both

 

Considering we just came off a 12-4 season. I say fug your opinion. People acting like we've been dwelling in mediocrity with gettleman and this offseason was the last straw. Stop please.. 

[t96]

 

For those of us who don't stay in Charlotte or read the Charlotee Observer, Scott Fowler makes a pretty good case that we screwed up by firing Steve Smith.  The opening is literally perfect:

 

 

Wow, man. Now that's some great writing.

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, we knew what we had, and for the most part people loved and accepted the total man for what he is. Enter Gettleman, now all of a sudden Smitty was the Devil that could do no right, and Gettleman was the god that could do no wrong.  Laughable! 

 

And then you have the Gettleman apologists trying to rationalize the situation by saying what a bad man Steve is, and how he didn't deserve what now amounts to a measly seven mil a year, even though he was never asked about taking one for the team (i.e., a cut in pay). They also just conveniently skip over the fact that the FO intimated that it was never even about the money, it was that G-man just didn't appreciate what Steve Smith still brought in regards to his play, and his leadership---never mind the fact that he was still producing at a higher level than many on the field while still being a leader in the community.

 

 

 

Yeah, old Gettleman popped that dream of Panthers fans finally seeing Smitty tear it up in the slot with two capable receivers on both sides (or either side, really) just like an over-inflated tire.  Ravens fans will get that treat. 

 

 

Lastly, now all of a sudden it's about the money, as if Steve Smith already had it planned to get a pay raise in B-more.  Yeah, he put a gun to Ozzie Newsome's head so that he could fulfill this Machiavellian plot that he had planned all along. Never mind the fact that he was obviously as perplexed as anyone with G-man's hollow words at the Combine which were just a facade for his real feelings and the fact that his mind was already made up in regards to getting Smitty out of Carolina at all costs (because G-man couldn't handle Smitty's attitude).  G-man is the one that flipped the script, not Smitty. 

 

Stop trying to rationalize it. G-man fuged up in the eyes of most fans (Panthers, and otherwise), most analysts, and most pros in the NFL---from the players to the front offices---by being dismissive, and ultimately dismissing Steve Smith.  

 

Just admit it. Give 89 the respect that he is due, and admit that G-man totally fuged up the situation.

 

 

 

 

Admit it!  This is therapy motherfugers! Admit it!

 

 

This is absolutely perfect. Genius. Nobody could say it better. I'm at a loss for words. Thank you.

[top dawg]