For Carolina Panthers all-time leading receiver Steve Smith Sr., Jake Delhomme and Cam Newton were special to him in their own of ways.
Smith Sr. was joined by current Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson on a recent episode of his “Cut To It” podcast. The conversation, thanks to some intrigue from Shaq, ventured into which Carolina quarterback was Smitty’s favorite.
Here was his answer:
“I grew into an NFL wide receiver with Jake Delhomme. I lost and participated in a Super Bowl with Jake Delhomme. And most importantly, we grew together and got paid together . . . with Jake Delhomme. And I had, I believe, seven years with him.
“I’m not a person about brands. I’m loyal to people. And so, if I have a relationship in which our kids had birthday parties together—my kids had a birthday, his kids had a birthday party, our wives went to dinner together, we had events, we did things together for six, seven years and we got paid together.
“For me to say that Cam is my favorite [quarterback] when playing football with Cam for [three] years . . . I didn’t experience a Super Bowl with Cam. At the time, I was 30-something years old. I was in my 20s. So for me, it’s Jake Delhomme is my favorite quarterback because I also have the most tenure with Jake Delhomme.”
Delhomme and Smith Sr. played together from 2003 to 2009—a seven-year run that included an NFC championship, three Pro Bowl nods and a triple crown for the latter. So, it’s not surprising that Jake is Steve’s personal favorite.
He did, however, have his own distinction for Newton.
“Who’s the best quarterback I’ve ever played with on the Carolina Panthers? Has to be Cam. I’ve never seen a more athletic quarterback,” he added.
“With Cam, I’ve never seen a guy—6-foot-4, 6-foot-5, 230, 250 pounds—run right and throw across his body. Flick of the wrist like you’re pitchin’ quarters.”
Newton pitched quarters to Smith Sr. for three years. Between 2011 and 2013, he reeled in 216 balls for 3,313 yards and 15 scores from Cam.
Anyway, on a totally unrelated note, is anyone else hungry for some chicken and biscuits . . . ?
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