Tag: Steve Smith Sr.

NFL legend Steve Smith Sr. heaps praise onto new Browns’ WR Jamari Thrash

New Browns wideout Jamari Thrash has a big fan in Steve Smith Sr.

The Cleveland Browns have added to their wide receiver room, selecting Louisville’s Jamari Thrash with the 156th pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

And one former NFL legend is a big fan of the new Browns’ wideout as he transitions to the next level. On his YouTube show “Cut to It” two weeks ago, former Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens standout Steve Smith Sr. heaped praise onto Thrash:

“Very, very, very smart. … Pro Day was explosive. When I was at his Pro Day, they had him run a little jerk route. He runs, settles his feet, goes the opposite way, and I believe he actually came out faster once he restarted than he did when he started. He can run. Fluid, sinking his hips well, caught the ball and he was smooth, adjusted to some of the bad throws and adjusted some of the good throws.”

Smith did not stop raving about Thrash there, adding even more hype to the name of the Louisville standout:

“He understands exactly where he is on the field,” Smith said. “He knows exactly who he is, and if you draft him, you need to know who he is: He is an XY receiver. Not just a guy with speed, but he also has routes. Usually with a guy was speed, you say he only runs three or four routes. This guy, he could run every route in the route tree. He’s still a young kid, but he’s exceptionally smart. I loved his Pro Day and I love what I saw. He is definitely a chain mover and a deep threat on your offense once you draft this kid.”

Smith also went viral last season for the harsh things he had to say about another Cleveland Browns receiver. It’s just one man’s opinion, but the words of Smith set a high bar for the Browns’ fifth round pick.

Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. asked if he’s ‘all in’ on Bryce Young

Steve Smith Sr. on Bryce Young’s disappointing rookie season: “A smart kid can look dumb if he’s around a lot of dumb people.”

Around this time last year, Carolina Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. hitched his wagon to Bryce Young. But after a rough rookie season for the 2023 No. 1 overall pick, is the wagon still attached?

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III asked him that on Thursday’s episode of RG3 and The Ones. And while he didn’t give a definitive answer, Smitty offered some interesting insight.

“Well, I liked Bryce Young initially,” he replied. “Right? We have to pick a guy. That’s our job. We have to pick a guy. Because I picked Bryce and said we should go with Bryce, that doesn’t mean that I think C.J. [Stroud] can’t play. I said, just like other people reported, Bryce’s processing was faster than C.J.’s.

“But at the end of the day, a smart kid can look dumb if he’s around a lot of dumb people. And a dumb kid, or a smart kid, can be really smart if he’s around a lot of smart people. And what I’m sayin’ is — you’re only as good as your company, and your company can only heighten and elevate you.”

Unfortunately, that company didn’t do much to heighten the 5-foot-10 quarterback. Between his wide receivers struggling to separate and his offensive line allowing the second-most sacks in the NFL, Young turned in a sour first season.

Young, who also lost his head coach after 12 weeks and experienced multiple changes at the offensive coordinator position, threw for just 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions while averaging 179.8 passing yards per game. The other quarterback Smith mentioned, by the way, averaged a league-high 273.9 passing yards a contest, made the Pro Bowl and captured Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

But hopefully for Young, he’ll be hanging around some more smart people in 2024.

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20 Valentine’s Day cards for the special Panthers fan in your life

Spread the love with our 20 Panthers-themed Valentine’s Day cards!

Still looking for that special something for that special Carolina Panthers fan in your life?

Well, look no further.

Let’s spread the love this Valentine’s Day with 20 Panthers-themed cards that friends, family members and/or significant others will absolutely fall for!

Julius Peppers: Steve Smith should already be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Soon-to-be Pro Football Hall of Famer Julius Peppers thinks former Panthers teammate Steve Smith Sr. is past due for Canton.

Hopefully, former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. will soon join fellow franchise legend Julius Peppers in Canton. But it’s Peppers who believes that he should be the one having to join Smith Sr.

This past weekend was certainly a memorable one for Peppers, who was just named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his very first year of eligibility. The NFL’s fourth leading sack artist of all-time also made time to appear at Allegiant Stadium for Super Bowl LVIII, where he ran into his old teammate on the sideline.

And while catching up on the congratulatory messages he’s received in the past few days, Peppers made sure to catch us up on his thoughts about Smitty’s Hall of Fame candidacy . . .

Smith Sr., a semifinalist in each of his three bids, has been eligible since 2021. But he has yet to advance into the finalist group.

If you ask Peppers, that’s no place for his pal—who is eighth all-time in receiving yards and 12th in receptions. And if you ask us, he’s right.

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Panthers greats Julius Peppers and Steve Smith Sr. reunite at Super Bowl LVIII

20 years after sharing a Super Bowl sideline, Panthers greats Julius Peppers and Steve Smith Sr. reunited at the biggest stage of the game.

In 2004, the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers gave us one of the most thrilling games in Super Bowl history . . . or at least one of the most thrilling second halves in Super Bowl history. And now, 20 years later, two of that night’s biggest stars reunited on the biggest stage of the sport.

Although they weren’t a part of the action, Panthers legends Julius Peppers and Steve Smith Sr. crossed paths at Allegiant Stadium during Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday:

The fella on the left, of course, was in Las Vegas to claim his selection into the Pro Football Hall of Fame while the fella on the right, now an NFL Network analyst, was busy at work . . .

Unfortunately, their fingers were not adorned with Super Bowl rings when they met up. They were extremely close to that jewelry back on Feb. 1, 2004—where Peppers, Smith and the Panthers fell short in a heartbreaking 32-29 defeat.

But maybe they’ll reunite again in the near future, when both have busts over in Canton, Ohio.

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Best photos from Super Bowl XXXVIII

38 photos from the Panthers’ trip to Super Bowl XXXVIII

One of the greatest Super Bowls in history took place 20 years ago. But unfortunately for the Carolina Panthers, it didn’t end with the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy.

As we get ready for the biggest game of the year, let’s look back at the best shots from Super Bowl XXXVIII:

6 Panthers greats who could follow Julius Peppers into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Now that Julius Peppers has officially been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which fellow franchise greats could be next?

On Thursday night, Carolina Panthers legend Julius Peppers was granted his rightful and well-deserved access into Canton, Ohio—as he was named as one of the seven members for this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

So, who’s next?

With a little help from Pro Football Reference’s Hall of Fame Monitor, here are six fellow franchise greats who could join Pep in football immortality:

Every Pro Bowl selection in Panthers franchise history

Let’s take a look back at every Pro Bowl selection in Panthers franchise history

It took a bit longer than it should’ve, but defensive tackle Derrick Brown rightfully became the latest Pro Bowler in Carolina Panthers history.

So, as we gear up for the rest of the festivities this weekend, let’s look back at Brown and every other Panther who has been selected as an all-star.

Julius Peppers named Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist

Panthers legend Julius Peppers has been named one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2024 class.

Carolina Panthers great Julius Peppers continues his fast track to Canton.

As announced on Wednesday night, Peppers has been named one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2024 class. The legendary pass rusher, who retired after the 2018 season, is in his first year of eligibility for the game’s highest honor.

Peppers played 10 of his 17 pro seasons in Carolina, a two-stint tenure that sandwiched stops for the Chicago Bears (2010-2013) and the Green Bay Packers (2014-2016). Those 17 years yielded an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, four First-team All-Pro selections, three Second-team All-Pro selections, nine Pro Bowl nods and spots on the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.

Along with former teammate Muhsin Muhammad, Peppers was inducted into the Panthers Hall of Honor back on Oct. 29. We’ll find out if the fourth-leading sack artist of all-time is headed for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the NFL Honors show during Super Bowl week.

Unfortunately for another old teammate and fellow franchise great, Wednesday night marked the end of another shot at immortalization.

For the third straight year, former wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. did not make the cut into the group of finalists. Smith Sr., a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, ranks eighth all-time in receiving yards.

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Steve Smith Sr. named to North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame

Panthers legend Steve Smith Sr. has been named one of 11 members for the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame’s 2024 class.

Steve Smith Sr. is a legend around these parts, and that’ll be a certified fact come this spring.

As announced on Tuesday morning, the Carolina Panthers great has been named to the 2024 class of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Smith Sr. and 10 others will officially be enshrined at the Charlotte Convention Center during the Hall’s 60th annual induction banquet on May 10.

Dr. Jerry McGee, president of the Hall’s Board of Directors, stated the following in the Hall’s official release:

“This year’s class joining the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame is dynamic in many ways. Not only are they part of a milestone group, given that this is the sixtieth Induction Celebration, they are representative of the reach throughout the Charlotte community, the state of North Carolina, the United States, and beyond.”

Smith Sr. still stands as the franchise’s all-time leading receiver. He spent 13 of his 16 NFL seasons in Charlotte—a tenure that yielded three All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowl nods, an NFL Comeback Player of the Year award and a receiving triple crown.

Hopefully for Smith Sr., he’ll also soon be able to add Canton to the list of cities where his legacy is honored.

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