Carolina Panthers: One Last Good-Bye
The Carolina Panthers have their last scheduled meeting with Steve Smith tonight in Baltimore.
For the Carolina Panthers, tonight’s game against the Baltimore Ravens is the final time they will likely see Steve Smith in action if they see him at all. The only other option would be if Smith and the Ravens met the Panthers in the Super Bowl at the end of the year.
With this being the last time the team shares a field with Smith, it would not be surprising to see the team make some sort of presentation to Smith either publicly or privately. Smith was once the face of the Panthers’ franchise and still holds the most important receiving records. He did those things while being a 5’9” guy with a lot of speed and a lot of heart.
The rise and fall of Smith was often the rise and fall of the team as a whole. His breakout 2003 season mirrored the team’s Super Bowl run. His leg injury against the Packers in 2004 led to a missed season and the Panthers falling out of the playoff picture. His return in 2005 took the team back to the NFC Championship Game.
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Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium
He was just good and he managed to stay good beyond the time of his contemporaries. Though Chad Johnson was flashier at his peak, Smith remained relevant longer than his JUCO teammate. Andre Johnson is looking to catch on with a team while Smith is still an important part of the Ravens. Smith is probably the player with the best to chance to enter the Hall of Fame as a Panther.
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His exit from the team was unfortunate, and he torched the Panthers in his only game against them. If he plays any time tonight, then he will have honor of introducing Panthers rookie cornerbacks to the league. That was something he used to do every training camp. Ask Josh Norman if that Redskins money comes through without Smith.