Steve Smith To Miss First Two Games (1 Viewer)

[kremenull]

First off, I believe Steve Smith's actions were cowardly if the sucker-punch report is accurate. Actions like this must be punished in some sort of fashion. However, this is not college or high school ball, a steep fine and some mandatory counseling would better serve S.smith as well as the team. To suspend arguably your best player for the 1st 2 games for a practice fight (internal matter) will put this season in jeopardy, IMO. With Fox on the hot seat, can you really take that chance? And now I have to question the organization's commitment to winning, or at least the methodology of how they are going about it. It seems that they put quite a bit of emphasis on this one season by mortgaging a 1st Rd next year for Otah and bringing in a few mid-level free-agents, so taking this action (suspending Smith) does not seem to correlate with the offseason focus. Like I said, this isn't college, as missing games in the NFL is much more costly than missing a game vs. N.Texas St and Northrup in early Sept.

Again, in no way am I condoning the actions of Smith, but suspending him for an internal matter does not serve either him or the team's best interest.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

I applaud Fox's efforts to hold his players accountable for their actions and hope that he makes sure the 2-game suspension sticks, despite any actions on the NFLPA's part to get it reduced. Of course, I'm a Bears fan and love the fact that he would miss the game in Week 2. Maybe Smith can attend some anger management classes on those Sundays he'll be sitting - it appears he still needs them.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Good news for us Eagles fans. The more games they lose, the better their first-rounder is for us.

 

[Yenrub]

welcome to 0-2 carolina

I think they can beat the Bears at home without him1-1

 

[The Romosexual]

Any chance the suspension gets reduced to a single game if Smith cleans up his act for the duration of camp, or is the 2 games locked in?

 

[sholditch]

Wow. He should be energized when he returns.

I hear his first TD celebration planned involves jumping a random fan in the stands. Hope it's not a home game.

 

[jurb26]

Any chance the suspension gets reduced to a single game if Smith cleans up his act for the duration of camp,

No.

 

[BassNBrew]

Nice knowing you John Fox, thanks for the memories.

Welcome to town Bill!

 

[sholditch]

First off, I believe Steve Smith's actions were cowardly if the sucker-punch report is accurate. Actions like this must be punished in some sort of fashion. However, this is not college or high school ball, a steep fine and some mandatory counseling would better serve S.smith as well as the team. To suspend arguably your best player for the 1st 2 games for a practice fight (internal matter) will put this season in jeopardy, IMO. With Fox on the hot seat, can you really take that chance? And now I have to question the organization's commitment to winning, or at least the methodology of how they are going about it. It seems that they put quite a bit of emphasis on this one season by mortgaging a 1st Rd next year for Otah and bringing in a few mid-level free-agents, so taking this action (suspending Smith) does not seem to correlate with the offseason focus. Like I said, this isn't college, as missing games in the NFL is much more costly than missing a game vs. N.Texas St and Northrup in early Sept. Again, in no way am I condoning the actions of Smith, but suspending him for an internal matter does not serve either him or the team's best interest.

gotta disagree there. You have to punish this type of thing or the entire team melts down. To make a fine hit it would have to be close to a mill.

 

[BigRed]

Again, in no way am I condoning the actions of Smith, but

Sorry, a token fine for a multi-millionaire is a joke, as is token counseling. I'm not even overwhelmed by a 2 game suspension either, but at least it has SOME teeth. You have to make them feel the pinch and a "star" player sitting out games is a step in the right direction.

 

[2007browns]

another bum player!

goodell should ban these ####### #####!

long live goodell!

 

[kremenull]

Again, in no way am I condoning the actions of Smith, but

Sorry, a token fine for a multi-millionaire is a joke, as is token counseling. I'm not even overwhelmed by a 2 game suspension either, but at least it has SOME teeth. You have to make them feel the pinch and a "star" player sitting out games is a step in the right direction.

A star player sitting out games is college-esque, and also a (potential) lost season, i.e., no playoffs. Losing one game in the NFL, when you possibly could have won, is not an alternative. The difference between winning and losing in the NFL is very minimal, 1 game here or there can cost you your season. And I believe without a doubt, that at this level, winning is the ultimate goal. I feel sorry for fans of organizations who don't totally grasp that concept. If you want to teach players' lessons in life and all, then go the route of Bobby Petrino, back to school. This is a grown man's game and a billion-dollar business where winning is all that matters. There are rules and conduct codes, sure, but in the heat of the moment tempers flare and Smith's reaction was uncalled for and way out of line, but essentially conceding at least one game (opener vs S.D. is a loss, for sure now) is not how you should handle THIS matter in the NFL. Trade him if you really have a problem with him, but to (potentially) sacrifice the season based on a player's action, then blame the player after the fact, is just not a good organizational move......Think big, not small. (Potentially) Win now with Steve Smith contributing in a big role, and trade him later if you like. This is a very bad sign for Carolina this year, IMO. Just don't blame Smith....Just W-I-N Baaaaaaby!

 

[fatness]

Panthers WR Steve Smith has admitted he has an anger problem, and it began further back than his days in Carolina. Smith’s fight and subsequent two-game suspension for punching CB Ken Lucas in between plays at a training-camp practice Friday was the latest chapter for a man who has a soft, charitable side but also one who has struggled to keep his emotions in check when playing the game he loves the most.

In an exclusive interview with PFW on Sunday morning, Smith said: “I feel horrible. That’s the thing I don’t think people realize, is how remorseful I am and how, in five or six seconds, five or six years has come crashing down. That’s the consequences of my actions. But I won’t let it be the last thing people remember me by as far as a player and as a person.”

Lucas suffered a broken nose, and his availability is unclear, although he’s not expected to miss major time.

“I lost my cool,” Smith told PFW after the fight. “It started with words and escalated from there.”

Smith plans on facing the media, but he didn’t want to issue a statement to the media at large before addressing his teammates Sunday night back in Spartanburg, S.C. Smith was sent home to suburban Charlotte on Friday after the incident took place. Before he left the field, Smith went over — escorted by WR Muhsin Muhammad — to apologize to Lucas.

“It was a mistake,” Smith said. “I have to work toward gaining that respect back from my teammates and from everyone else it has affected.”

PFW

 

[riverrat]

When I first looked at the schedule, I predicted 1-1 after 2 games. Lose to the Chargers, win over the Bears. Even with Smitty gone, I think that will still be the case.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Panthers WR Steve Smith has admitted he has an anger problem, and it began further back than his days in Carolina. Smith’s fight and subsequent two-game suspension for punching CB Ken Lucas in between plays at a training-camp practice Friday was the latest chapter for a man who has a soft, charitable side but also one who has struggled to keep his emotions in check when playing the game he loves the most.

In an exclusive interview with PFW on Sunday morning, Smith said: “I feel horrible. That’s the thing I don’t think people realize, is how remorseful I am and how, in five or six seconds, five or six years has come crashing down. That’s the consequences of my actions. But I won’t let it be the last thing people remember me by as far as a player and as a person.”

Lucas suffered a broken nose, and his availability is unclear, although he’s not expected to miss major time.

“I lost my cool,” Smith told PFW after the fight. “It started with words and escalated from there.”

Smith plans on facing the media, but he didn’t want to issue a statement to the media at large before addressing his teammates Sunday night back in Spartanburg, S.C. Smith was sent home to suburban Charlotte on Friday after the incident took place. Before he left the field, Smith went over — escorted by WR Muhsin Muhammad — to apologize to Lucas.

“It was a mistake,” Smith said. “I have to work toward gaining that respect back from my teammates and from everyone else it has affected.”

PFW

What I'd be comcerned about as a Smith owner isn't so much the 2-game suspension as what kind of impact will this episode have on his psyche after he returns?That swagger and "edge" that are leading some people to call him a punk and a thug is what fuels his greatness at WR. If he loses that edge, maybe in remorse for the incident or in "gaining that respect back from my teammates", it could negatively affect his play upon his return.

Of course, it could go the other way and inspire him to work even harder and reach even greater heights to somehow "make up" for the incident.

I guess my point is that there's more to projecting Steve Smith than simply subtracting two games and moving forward. His preseason performances should be scrutinized a little more than normal.