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Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith Retires On His A Game

By John Woodcock

Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Fans display their signs for Baltimore Ravens receiver Steve Smith (not pictured) after the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-10. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Fans display their signs for Baltimore Ravens receiver Steve Smith (not pictured) after the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-10. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Carolina Panthers star Steve Smith retired from professional football after sixteen seasons.

While the New Year brought with it the end of the Carolina Panthers season, it also brought about the end of something bigger. Steve Smith Sr. retired from football after the Baltimore Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday. Smith was drafted by the Panthers way back in 2001 and spent most of his career with the team. The team cut him in 2014 because of potential issues between the receiver and quarterback Cam Newton.

Smith is walking away from the sport near the top of his game. He netted seventy catches for eight hundred receiving yards for Baltimore. He was arguably the top target on their team with the departure of Torrey Smith last off season.

Smith had a career where he outmatched his size and no one could outmatch his spirit. Occasionally that second part brought him into conflict with other players or teammates. DeAngelo Hall, Anthony Bright, Ken Lucas, and others ended up in confrontations with Smith that were not beneficial much. He was just as likely to bait as be baited.

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Yet the dark side of Steve Smith is not why he should be a Hall of Famer sometime in the future. Smith would outwork people. He had to at his size. He went to five Pro Bowls, once as a returner and four times as a receiver.

Smith scored on his first return before we knew what he would become. By 2003 he was a mainstay starter alongside Muhsin Muhammad. He was part of the big Super Bowl run that year. It was Smith who beat the Rams in overtime. It was also Smith who helped spark a comeback with a long touchdown against the Patriots.

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He was knocked out of action in game 1 of 2004, but he responded to that by becoming the best receiver in football in 2005. He led the league in catches, yards, and receiving touchdowns that year. He was the target for Jake Delhomme during that era. Although he did not return much anymore, Smith took the field against the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game and brought a punt back for a score. Unfortunately that was just about all the scoring the Panthers had.

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Then you can add the parts where Smith is a good family man and active in the community. There is a good chance he will appear in the Ring of Honor at Bank of America Stadium sooner rather than later. Or you can just take 1031 catches, 14,731 yards, and 81 touchdowns.

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