Tag: Steve Smith

Watch: Steve Smith comments on the Panthers’ quarterback situation

While Bridgewater is definitely the starter for now, not everyone is convinced he’s the franchise QB of the future.

The Carolina Panthers made some massive changes at the quarterback position this offseason. Cam Newton has been released and replaced by Teddy Bridgewater, Kyle Allen was traded and replaced by P.J. Walker and Will Grier’s position seems to be tenuous at best after a bombed rookie season.

Whether or not the team will pick a quarterback in this week’s draft is a hot topic of speculation. While Bridgewater is definitely the starter for now, not everyone is convinced he’s the franchise QB of the future. Include former Panthers great Steve Smith among them. Here’s what he said about Carolina’s quarterback situation on ESPN’s First Take.

We’re pretty sure teams aren’t supposed to get prospects’ social security numbers, but Smith is right about Bridgewater.

Teddy’s previous experience with Joe Brady makes him as good of a fit to run the Panthers’ offense as any quarterback not named Drew Brees. However, his contract indicates the team isn’t sure about making him their QB1 for the long run.

Bridgewater signed a three-year, $63 million deal that qualifies as a reasonable bargain for a respectable starter in this era. If they really believed Bridgewater was their guy they would have given him more than three years, though.

So, don’t be shocked if the Panthers pull the trigger and draft a quarterback. Trouble is, there are only two prospects who are truly safe bets when it comes to finding success at the next level. Since Carolina can’t trade up for Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa probably won’t fall to No. 7, it puts the team in a bind if they’re set on taking a QB.

The front office has shown interest in two others, though. Marty Hurney flew out to see Justin Herbert throw at his Pro Day and the team has reportedly done some “serious research” on Utah State’s Jordan Love. They both have attributes that could help them become quality quarterbacks in the NFL. They also both have some serious limitations.

If the Panthers are going to gamble on a QB prospect this year, we think they should wait until at least the third round and then roll the dice on Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts. Otherwise, they might as well wait and try again in 2021.

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Watch: Steve Smith wants the Panthers to retire his jersey

Watch Smith replace his Baltimore helmet with a Carolina one on NFL Network and ask team owner David Tepper to retire his jersey.

All wounds heal with time. It seems Steve Smith and the Panthers are slowing rebuilding the bridge that got burned when he left the team and finished his playing career with the Ravens. Watch Smith replace his Baltimore helmet with a Carolina one on NFL Network and ask team owner David Tepper to retire his jersey.

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Steve Smith explains what would heal his relationship with the Panthers

If Carolina wants continue to ease tensions, this decision is a no-brainer.

Steve Smith is ready to go back to the Carolina Panthers — with one provision. Smith had essentially disowned the Panthers after he departed the team in 2014 when he signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

Smith spent 13 seasons with the Panthers, but his relationship with the organization got icy cold when they released him in March 2014.

Since he retired in 2016, his relationships with the Panthers has steadily improved, with Smith and owner David Tepper sitting down for dinner. So what’s the final step to heal Smith’s relationship with his franchise? Well, Smith explained on NFL Network that he wants Carolina to retire his No. 89.

It’s not even that big of an ask. It sounds like — to some degree — Smith has already “come home.” But if Carolina wants continue to ease tensions, this decision is a no-brainer.

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Steve Smith rips Ron Rivera for early decisions with Washington

Ron Rivera is no longer a part of the Carolina Panthers. Naturally, that won’t save him from the withering criticism of its most popular player of all time.

Ron Rivera is no longer a part of the Carolina Panthers. Naturally, that won’t save him from the withering criticism of its most popular player of all time.

Rivera was recently hired as the new head coach of the Washington Redskins. Former Carolina superstar Steve Smith Sr. seems unimpressed with some of the early decisions that he’s made. Smith called into WFNZ yesterday and blasted Rivera for removing the Redskins’ ping pong table in the locker room and for hiring Scott Turner as his offensive coordinator.

Here’s what Smith had to say, per NBC Sports.

“Coach Rivera goes up to Washington, what does he do? Takes away the ping pong table. . . Come on now, really. That’s the biggest impact we’re going to make? Really? The ping pong table and the shuffleboard?”

Smith was much harsher about Rivera’s decision to bring Turner with him to Washington, though.

“You’re going to hire the same weak-ass offensive coordinator that you had in Carolina?”

It seems petty for Smith to rip Rivera over a ping pong table. Perhaps there’s some lingering resentment he’s harbored for Rivera from their time together with the Panthers. The more likely case is that Steve Smith is just a petty and disrespectful individual by default and people love him for it anyway.

As for Turner, Smith’s perception of him might be over-influenced by what happened in December. It’s true the Panthers didn’t score a lot over the last month of the season (they averaged just 15 points per game). It’s important to remember the context, though. Turner was working with two backup quarterbacks who combined to throw two touchdowns and 10 interceptions in the last four games. The team’s long-standing issues in pass protection didn’t help matters, either.

In any case, Turner faces another tough task trying to turn around a Washington offense that ranked last in scoring this season. He is one of several Carolina coaches joining Rivera’s new staff.

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Former Panthers receiver Steve Smith has harsh words for Ron Rivera

Smith played for years in Carolina, and he called into a radio show to openly question a few of Ron Rivera’s decisions in Washington.

It appears that former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith has a few thoughts on the Washington Redskins new coach, Ron Rivera.

Smith, who played for several years under Rivera in Carolina, called into The Clubhouse with Kyle Bailey, a sports radio show in Carolina, and had a lot to say about his former head coach. According to Bailey, the host of the show, Smith questioned Rivera’s decision to remove the ping pong tables in the locker room, as well as his hiring of former Panthers’ QB coach and interim offensive coordinator, Scott Turner.

Smith played for 13 years in Carolina, a couple of which were under Rivera, and he was named to five Pro Bowls during that time. Rivera was also the coach of the Panthers when Smith was released by the team. He is now an analyst for the NFL Network.

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Best Ravens moments of the last decade

With a new year underway, we here at Ravens Wire take a look back at the last decade to find some of the most meaningful franchise moments

The big ball has dropped, confetti has rained from the sky and final kisses with loved ones were had to signify the 2010s are officially over. It’s been a great decade for the Baltimore Ravens, who have won 98 regular-season games, made the postseason six times and won Super Bowl XLVII. But there have been many defining moments in Ravens history over this last decade and plenty of key memories for fans.

To help ring in the new decade, we here at Ravens Wire take a quick look at the best moments for Baltimore over the last one.

Matthew Stevens:

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Joe Flacco’s historic playoff run

Fans might not remember it now but the Ravens were not exactly known for great quarterback play prior to Flacco. They had gone through a list of names even the most diehard of fans would be hard-pressed to remember. From Tony Banks to Jeff Blake and Stoney Case, it was rough sledding for Baltimore until Flacco was drafted in 2008.

But even leading up to their Super Bowl run in 2012, most pundits were still doubtful Flacco could even be a consistently mediocre quarterback, much less an “elite” one. So it felt like beautiful vindication when Flacco heated up in the postseason to put together a historically impressive run.

Over three games in the playoffs, Flacco threw for 853 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions to get the Ravens into Super Bowl XLVII. There against the San Francisco 49ers, Flacco threw for another 287 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions to win the Super Bowl MVP.

While Flacco had put together an amazing number of wins in his career prior to this playoff run, it was still too easy for pundits to take credit from Baltimore’s quarterback and place it on their defense or the whole team. But his 11 touchdowns and no interceptions tied NFL great Joe Montana for postseason stats, which couldn’t be ignored or brushed away. For at least a little while, Flacco was legitimately the league’s best quarterback.

Though some fans have been quick to dismiss Flacco’s meaning to the franchise with Lamar Jackson’s emergence, this was a key moment in Baltimore’s franchise history and put them on a road to continued success.

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Steve Smith provides explicit evaluation of Jalen Ramsey’s brutal blown coverage

Steve Smith definitely brings the shock factor to TV.

Steve Smith seemed to stun his fellow analysts during a postgame show after the San Francisco 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams, 34-31, in Week 16.

Smith was describing a blown coverage on a 49ers’ third-and-16 conversion in the final minute of the game. Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey meant to hand off 49ers receiver Emmanuel Sanders to safety Taylor Rapp. But Rapp wasn’t there. That left Sanders wide open for an easy 46-yard reception. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was getting pressured as he threw, but he delivered a strike to Sanders. That put the 49ers in field goal range, and kicker Robbie Gould hit it the game-winner a few plays later.

Smith was in disbelief. Here’s what he had to say about the play.

Here’s a look at the play.

Ramsey explained how the courage broke down so severely.

“It wasn’t me and Eric. E-Dub was on the other side. It was me and Rapp,” Ramsey told reporters after the game, via ESPN’s Linsey Thirty. “We as in a form of two-man. We had an adjustment check to it because they was condensed splits. I played my technique, trusting that he was going to be over the top. And he wasn’t. That’s just what happened.”

The play — and ensuing game-winning field goal — knocked the Rams out the playoffs. And it’s ironic that it should come at the hands of Ramsey, even if he wasn’t entirely at fault. L.A. traded two first-round picks to land Ramsey in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It seemed to be their all-in effort to make the playoffs this season, while working toward acquiring more stars for the future. Alas, Ramsey’s efforts weren’t enough to get the Rams past the 49ers, so L.A. will miss the playoffs after making a Super Bowl appearance last postseason. The Rams’ stock is falling.

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Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins draws comparisons to Panthers greats Muhsin Muhammad, Steve Smith

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians says Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins plays like former Panthers WRs Muhsin Muhammed and Steve Smith.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians has been coaching at the NFL level since 1989, and he has a deep well to draw from when making comparisons.

According to the two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year, Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins is a mix between two Carolina Panthers legendary receivers, Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith.

“For a fast guy, he’s probably one of the more physical guys in the league,” Arians said Tuesday in his press conference. “Physicality, he’s like a Muhsin Muhammad, but he’s faster. He’s a combination of Muhammad and Steve Smith.”

Muhammad established himself as the leading receiver for the expansion Panthers as a 1996 second-round draft pick from Michigan State. Using his ability to “box” defenders throughout his routes, Muhammad caught 696 passes for 9,255 yards and 50 touchdowns in his 11 seasons in Carolina, earning two Pro Bowl selections in the process.

Smith played alongside Muhammad and eventually took over the No. 1 role. The former 2001 third-round pick from Utah used his speed, fire and play-style that was far bigger than his 5-9, 195-pound frame. Smith went to five Pro Bowls, tallying 14,731 yards and 80 touchdowns.

“He’ll beat you up and just take the ball,” Arians said of Hopkins. “It’s his ball, he’s going to take it. And Deshaun is going to throw it to him because he knows he’s going to catch it.”

Though honorable comparisons, Hopkins has built his own legacy in the NFL. With four Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro selections to date, Hopkins is well on his way to a Hall of Fame career, recording 627 receptions for 8,579 yards and 54 touchdowns through his first seven seasons in the NFL.

In 2019, Hopkins has given defenses fits, recording the second-most receptions on the year with 99. He has turned that into 1,142 yards and seven touchdowns. The Buccaneers should have trouble defending him on Saturday, as all defenses have since 2013.

Panthers Highlights: Christian McCaffrey sets new franchise record with TD run

Christian McCaffrey is having one of the most special seasons any Panthers player ever has.

Christian McCaffrey is having one of the most special seasons any Panthers player ever has. With this one-yard touchdown run, he set a new franchise high for most all-purpose yards in a season, passing Steve Smith’s previous record of 1,995. That was McCaffrey’s 17th score of the year.

Carolina still looks pathetic trying to stop the run, though and Donte Jackson’s coverage issues have carried over from last week. They trail the Seahawks 13-7 early in the second quarter.

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