Several NFL players have spoken out against domestic violence in recent weeks, in the wake of the Ray Rice and Greg Hardy situations. And the latest to take a stance--via Twitter--is Steve Smith, who's in a rather unique position. See, Smith is a former Carolina Panthers player, as you know, and former teammate of Hardy; and he currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens, which was Rice's team until they cut the running back last week after the now-infamous inside-the-elevator video was released.
I'm not digging in the weeds here on the NFL's domestic violence crises because it's being reported on around the clock on major news networks and publications. But I wanted to share Smith's tweets, in case you haven't seen what he posted last night. And in true Mr. Ice Up Son fashion, he didn't back down from smack talk from other tweeters. Click here to read the full thread.
You know its not that hard get!!!! Keep your damn hands off women!!!! God made women for you to Lean on them Not beat on them
#RealTalk
In addition to the blog post I wrote, I went on a little bit of a rant these last couple of days on Twitter and Facebook and in person to my friends about how the Carolina Panthers mistreated their best player ever: Steve Smith.
After No. 89 was officially released from the Panthers Thursday, a group of fans protested outside of Bank of America Stadium.Credit: @GoCarolinas
A lot of us lifelong Panthers fans are angry and, actually, we probably feel more like young Gavin here. But I'm guessing Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman wants us to have the same outlook as little Sophia, Gavin's sister (that we should be happy because we have young stars in Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly). Watch the video below.
Meanwhile, Charlotte radio station Channel 96.1 FM put together a great tribute to Steve yesterday, blending Aloe Blacc's "The Man" with audio clips from some of No. 89's game highlights and press soundbites. It's very fitting because Steve Smith is The Man; it's just that now he'll be the man for some other team.
This morning, Mr. Ice Up Son tweeted that he teared up from the tribute.
@channel961 wow.... thanks guys. Teared up.. overwhelmed by how much support I've received. .. #iceupson u guys are the best
— Steve Smith (@89SteveSmith) March 14, 2014
But don't think for a minute that Smitty is softening up. He's still one of the toughest, most fearless wide receivers to ever play the game, which we witnessed for 13 years on and off the field. And as he reminded us yesterday when he called into Charlotte's WFNZ "The Fan" 610 AM, and spoke about what the 2014 season will be like for him once he lands with a new team and if he ends up playing against the Panthers:
“They’re going to get the best, in-shape 35-year old guy that they can get. And if that happens to run through Bank of America Stadium, put your goggles on because there is going to be blood and guts everywhere.”
NFL free agency started this week, so that's why you're seeing several reports of pro football players being signed, re-signed, traded, or released. The Carolina Panthers rarely do anything exciting during free agency--sometimes they hand out big contracts to keep important players intact, but the team doesn't usually bring in a star during this period. And maybe they don't have to. But what they have to do right now is keep Steve Smith.
There are all these different media reports about Smitty's fate, and what could take place this week between him and the Panthers (just Google Steve Smith right now and read). The two most-predicted scenarios are that the team will either trade him or release him. I understand how professional sports work. The players are treated like family, but when they start to age and become less productive, they're reminded that pro sports, especially the NFL where contracts aren't guaranteed, is a business. We've seen countless players play their entire careers with one team, earning many accolades and breaking records along the way, only to be pushed out once they reach their mid-30s. Steve turns 35 in May.
But here's why the Steve Smith/Carolina Panthers situation is different. To put it plainly, the Panthers don't have the resume to get rid of Steve. As my grandma and 'em used to say, they're smelling themselves, meaning they think they're more than what they are. Now, allow me to elaborate.
The Panthers are a relatively young franchise--2014 will be the team's 20th season. During those first 19 years, the Panthers have never had back-to-back winning seasons. Their all-time regular season record is a losing one: 144-160.
For several years, Steve was one of the only bright spots on the team. He gave us reasons to watch, when he made spectacular catches, amassed huge yardage, celebrated in the end zone, and snatched cornerbacks up by the collars during countless scuffles.
And let's not forget the abysmal 2009 and 2010 seasons, between the end of Jake Delhomme's tenure as the Panthers' starting QB and before Cam Newton's. Steve stuck with the team, when he was in his prime and could've asked to be traded for the chance to play for a Super Bowl contender.
Steve's stats may have been down during the 2013 season, but he still led the team in catches and receiving yards.
He's played all 13 seasons of his NFL career so far with the Panthers. The way the league is now, with the over abundance of trading, the Panthers will likely never have another wide receiver play that long for them. So I think it's safe to say his team record of 836 receptions and 12,197 yards will never be surpassed, except by him if he is allowed to continue playing for the Panthers.
Steve is currently 19th on the NFL's all-time career receiving yards list. Only 600 yards separate him from the 15th spot held by Irving Fryar. So basically, if Steve plays in 2014, he should finish the season ranked 15th or 16th all-time--Andre Johnson, another active, top-notch receiver, is currently ranked two spots above him and would likely rise several more spots, therefore pushing everyone he surpasses down one. The Panthers will likely never have another top-15, or top-20 for that matter, all-time receiver again.
When his playing days are over, Steve will eventually make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, making him the first career-long Panthers player to do so. It would be so much sweeter on that fateful day if No. 89 is able to say he only wore black, white, and blue his entire NFL career.
I know many within the Panthers organization are looking ahead to the future and are excited about the possibilities. The team has a star quarterback in Cam Newton and a star linebacker in Luke Kuechly. Cam turns 25 years old in May and Luke turns 23 in April, so these two have the potential to be the dominant faces of the franchise for the next decade.
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera has been with the team three years and general manager Dave Gettleman one year. They're the two, especially the GM, who'll have the most say on what happens with Steve. Let's hope they realize how valuable he is to not only lifelong Panthers fans, but also future ones.
The annual Steve Smith Football ProCamp is taking place June 10-11, 2013, and Showmars is giving away four spots to the camp with the Carolina Panther great. The camp is for children in grades first through eighth, and parents can enter to win a free registration for their child by filling out an entry form at any of the 28 Charlotte-area Showmars locations. Winners will be contacted on May 24.
The Steve Smith Football ProCamp, which takes place at Ardrey Kell High School and costs $149 to attend, is sold out. So this contest is one of the only ways you can get your kid in at this point. The features of the camp, according to the website, include: learning from and interacting with the 12-year Panthers veteran, a limited edition Steve Smith Football ProCamp T-shirt, autographed camp team photo with Steve, opportunity to participate in contests and win prizes, fun and educational experience
stations and fundamentals, and more. In past years, Steve's teammates, like Cam Newton and DeAngelo Williams, have joined him at the camp, to the delight of the youth.
The "This Is SportsCenter" commercials by ESPN have been some of the best television show promos over the past decade (check out one guy's compilation of more than two dozen). The newest 30-second spot, released yesterday, features Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. It's okay, but I would've liked to have seen something funnier, more creative.
It's been three years since a Panthers player has been featured in a SportsCenter commercial, which was wide receiver Steve Smith in 2009. I really liked his.
Long before Charlotte set its sights on hosting the 2012 Democratic National Convention, it focused on other lofty goals like landing an NFL franchise. As you know, the city accomplished that when the Carolina Panthers were born in 1995. On this day, July 29, of that year, the Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL's other expansion team, played each other in each team's first-ever preseason game. That contest was the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio and the Panthers won 20-14. In honor of this day, NFL Films put together a great video recapping that game (click here to watch -- it wouldn't allow me to embed). It also digs back into the vaults to include footage of the NFL commissioner announcing that the Carolina Panthers had been unanimously selected as a new franchise, how Charlotteans rejoiced, and shows team owner Jerry Richardson thanking all of the people in Charlotte and the Carolinas who bought those 40,000 PSLs (personal seat licenses) for the inaugural season.
The 1995 Carolina Panthers.
If you want to do some more reminiscing on that inaugural Panthers team, click here to read the article I wrote two years ago for the "Where Are They Now?" August 2010 issue of Charlotte magazine. I gave updates on all 25 starters and the head coach of that 1995 team.
Now as for the current Panthers team, they play their first preseason game of the 2012 season on Saturday, August 11, at 7 p.m., against the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium. A week earlier, on Saturday, August 4, the Panthers host their annual Fan Fest. The all-day event is free and open to the public, and will feature the Blue 5K Road Race, interactive games, face painting, visits by the TopCats and Sir Purr, and a team practice with your favorite players like Cam Newton, Steve Smith, and Jon Beason.
NFL Draft analysts don't know what they're talking about. The 2012 NFL Draft is three months away, and leading sports reporters are beginning to publish their mock drafts (NFL.com, Bleacher Report, ESPN, HuffPost Sports). They'll update their lists over the next several weeks after more factors become certain, such as how the remaining four teams finish in the playoffs (teams draft in the first round based on how they finish the previous season, from worst drafting first to best drafting last) and how draft prospects perform in the NFL Scouting Combine (February 22-28). The only thing that's probably not likely to change is the analysts' assertion that the Indianapolis Colts will draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick.
But here's why I say NFL Draft analysts don't know what they're talking about. Most of them are suggesting that the Carolina Panthers will draft a defensive tackle or defensive end with the No. 8 or 9 pick in the first round (next month, a coin flip between the Panthers and Miami Dolphins will determine who drafts eighth and who drafts ninth). The Panthers' most important needs are on defense, analysts say, pointing to the fact that the team allowed franchise records in points, touchdowns, total yards, and passing yards this past season. The Panthers will likely draft defensive end Quinton Coples from North Carolina, defensive tackle Devon Still from Penn State, or cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick from Alabama with their first-round pick, analysts say.
Well, I disagree. The Panthers' defense will automatically become better in 2012 because starting linebackers Jon Beason (injured week one and missed remainder of season) and Thomas Davis (injured week two and missed remainder of season) will be back. And other defensive needs can be addressed in the second and third rounds and through free agency.
In the 2011 draft, when the Panthers had the No. 1 overall pick, despite them coming off of a 2-14 season that featured horrible quarterback play by Jimmy Clausen and others, analysts were suggesting they should pick a defensive player like Von Miller from Texas A&M, Marcell Dareus from Alabama, or Nick Fairley from Auburn. Every time the conversation came up last winter and spring, which it did often because it was a hot topic around Charlotte, I would say the Panthers should draft Cam Newton. "The Panthers need to put an exciting offense on the field, even if it takes a little longer to win," I said. "Fans will be patient with the team rebuilding if the team is fun to watch, because they were a bore to watch during the 2010 season."
Fortunately, the Panthers listened to me and drafted quarterback Cam Newton in the first round. And what did he do in his first NFL season?:
Broke the rookie record for passing yards in a season (4,051).
Broke the single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (14).
Broke the rookie record for most touchdowns accounted for in a season (35; 21 passing + 14 rushing).
Led the Panthers from being ranked dead last in total offense at 32nd in 2010 to being ranked 6th in 2011, as the team scored 210 more points.
Now, in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft in April, the Panthers should keep the offensive momentum going and draft wide receiver Alshon Jeffery from my alma mater, the South Carolina Gamecocks. Alshon's productivity dropped in 2011 from the monstrous season he had in 2010, but that was because USC's quarterback situation was less stable (the starting quarterback got kicked off the team midway through the season). Still, Alshon is one of the best two or three receivers coming out of college, and because of his size he will make the biggest impact.
The Panthers should draft Alshon to further intimidate defenses. He's 6-4, 230 pounds, so when you pair him with Cam, who's 6-5, 248 pounds, they'll have a one-two passing attack that's larger than half of the players defending them. Speaking of one-two, both Cam and Alshon wear jersey No. 1. If Alshon becomes a Panther, he should wear No. 2 (give it up, Jimmy Clausen).
The Panthers should draft Alshon because there have been too many seasons with Steve Smith not having another wide receiver to complement him--not since Muhsin Muhammad. Not during the 2005 to 2007 seasons when Muhammad played for the Bears (he played 11 of his 14 seasons for the Panthers) and not since he retired from the Panthers after the 2009 season. Cam revitalized Smitty this past season, as No. 89 caught 79 passes for 1,394 yards and is playing in next week's Pro Bowl for the first time in three years. (Cam could also play in the Pro Bowl if Eli Manning advances to the Super Bowl; Cam is the NFC's first alternate at quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.)
The Panthers should draft Alshon because they need to start grooming a successor to Steve. He'll be 33 years old when the 2012 season begins and I believe he's capable of having at least two more highly productive seasons like he had like this past one. But not many NFL teams have a 33-year-old as their number-one receiver.
And finally, the Panthers should draft Alshon because look at what the New York Giants have done this season. As I wrap up typing this blog post, the Giants vs. 49ers NFC Championship game has just begun. One of the main reasons the Giants are one win away from playing in the Super Bowl is because Eli Manning had two top receivers to throw to this season: Victor Cruz (1,536 yards) and Hakeem Nicks (1,192 yards). Hakeem is a Charlotte native and Independence High School grad who I blogged about three years ago: "Hakeem Nicks Is Making A Mistake." I'm glad to see he's proved me wrong.
But, about Alshon Jeffery, I am right. (I also mentioned this briefly two weeks ago on 282.)
As a Gamecocks fan, I'm admittedly bias. But I've also watched Alshon play in nearly every game during his three-year college career. So I know what he's capable of, just like the cornerbacks and free safeties who will fear him in the NFL. Watch this Alshon Jeffery Career Highlights reel a fan put together on YouTube, but you might want to mute it due to explicit lyrics.
In looking through the photo gallery posted by The Charlotte Observer, this one, particular photo sums up the frustration Panthers players have with this one-win season. Observer photographer David T. Foster III snapped shots of the players heading to the tunnel after losing to the Seattle Seahawks yesterday. Looks like Steve Smith let his emotions get the best of him as he leaps in attempt to snatch down a Seahawks fan's sign, which read, "NICE FIRST HALF CAN'T FINISH."
Before.
After.
Click here to see more than 30 Observer photos from yesterday's game.
I like this new ESPN/NASCAR TV commercial, titled "Invincible" ("Cause it's racing"), that began airing a few days ago. In showing the passion and danger of the sport, the ad creates the kind of drama and excitement NASCAR could really use right now (with sagging TV ratings and attendance). It's a great contrast that they're using slow motion to create imagery for a sport that moves at 200 mph. This looks a lot like the high-resolution, super slow-motion cameras the NFL used in many of its commercials last season, including the one featuring Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith ("Steve Smith in Slow-Mo"). And not that it matters much, but the guy doing the voice-over sounds a lot like the voice from the Miller High Life commercials.
See the ESPN/NASCAR commercial in the video below.
You know those “If you want the NFL, go to the NFL” commercials that have been running to promote the NFL brand (tickets, TV network, website, apparel)? Well, today during a commercial break during the Cowboys-Eagles game I saw the coolest one yet. It stars Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith, diving for a touchdown catch. But it's the way the clip is captured that makes this so appealing.
The Smith commercial is one of a series of ads that began running at the beginning of the season, featuring football players filmed with a Phantom HD digital video camera. Made by Vision Research, the camera shoots a thousand frames per second and creates high-resolution, slow-motion imagery that is 10 times as slow as any slow-motion video shot by most NFL cameras.
I don't know how I didn't see this commercial when it originally started airing late last year, but now ESPN is showing it again since football season is back upon us. In fact, I've seen it about five times a day the past couple of days. The SportsCenter commercials are always funny and clever and this one with Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith ranks right up there with some of the best. Smitty is fast, but I don't think this fast. See YouTube video below.
We don't usually have superstar actors holding movie premieres here, but Will Smith is appearing in Charlotte Thursday for a special premiere of his new movie, Seven Pounds. More importantly, the event is serving as a food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank. Smith will be donating 300 turkeys, and if you want the chance to see the movie all you have to do is bring a non-perishable food item (and be one of the first 1,000 people to do so).
You'll be able to trade your food item for a movie pass beginning at 2 p.m. The screening begins at 7 p.m. (Smith will do a brief introduction). And before that, at 6 p.m., there will be a red-carpet presentation with Carolina Panthers Steve Smith and Julius Peppers, NASCAR legend Richard Petty and 18-year-old hot shot driver Joey Logano, Mayor Pat McCrory, and other local celebrities. The red carpet event is open to everyone.
This all goes down at Regal Stonecrest Cinemas 22, 7824 Rea Road. Seven Pounds opens in theaters December 19, so if you get in Thursday you'll be able to see it a week before everyone else. And don't tell the movie--it's supposed to be suspenseful.
Charlotte is certainly an interesting choice of cities to not only hold this premiere but also for Smith to make an appearance. In September, it was announced that his wife Jada will be taping a pilot for a new TNT series called Time Heals. It was reported that the show will be based in Charlotte (I blogged about it then, but no new info has been released since). Whatever the reason for their new affinity for Charlotte, I like it.
There's a new Bojangles' television commercial airing that's causing a little bit of controversy. I say it's much ado about nothing. The commercial in question shows Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith celebrating a touchdown by jumping into the stands and eating a piece of fried chicken from a fan. Some critics, including this opinion piece in the News & Observer, are saying that the commercial plays into racial stereotypes because Smith is black. I say those critics should find something better to do with their time.
For several years now, Smith and quarterback Jake Delhomme have done funny TV commercials for Bojangles'--together and separately. This one should be viewed no differently. It's meant to be funny and has nothing to do with race. If anyone has a right to complain it should be Delhomme. Most of his commercials make him look like he's not the brightest bulb in the pack. But I'm sure Delhomme has a great sense of humor and doesn't take himself so seriously. I hope others will follow suit.
Carolina Panthers Steve Smith and Ken Lucas got into a fight this morning during practice.
I've met both of these guys before. I had the privilege of interviewing Smith a couple of years ago for a magazine cover story. They're both nice guys off the field.
Here's an excerpt of the story being reported by The Charlotte Observer:
Punches were thrown between receiver Steve Smith and cornerback Ken Lucas in a sideline fight this morning that broke out while the Carolina Panthers were working on special teams practice.
Neither player was wearing a helmet. Lucas was taken to a tent for treatment and later was carted off the field with an ice pack over his left eye. Smith was pulled away from the fight by linebacker Jon Beason. Smith was escorted to the tent by receiver Muhsin Muhammad, and Smith leaned down to speak to Lucas.
"Steve was probably a little remorseful for what happened and was trying to apologize," said Muhammad.
There's a new reality show that I'm a fan of: Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love. I just finished watching the fifth episode. It airs Tuesdays, 10:30 p.m. on Oxygen. (I can watch a show on Oxygen when it features a great former athlete. Man Law.) The show stars Deion and Pilar Sanders and their three children who are all seven and under (there are also periodic appearances by Deion's two older children from his first marriage). This show is another in the new trend of reality shows portraying families from the hip-hop generation, which I'm happy to see. Those include shows with Salt & Pepa, Snoop Dogg, and Rev. Run. But this is the first one that I'm aware of that stars an athlete.
Rather than elaborate on what I like about the show, I'll just say a few things: Deion is as charismatic and funny as you'd expect him to be; Pilar is hot—so hot that it's hard to believe she has three kids; their house is ridiculously big—so big that Deion rides around it on a scooter (it also seems to be because he has bad knees); the show is a little scripted, as are most reality shows, but not nearly as scripted as Snoop Dogg's Fatherhood.
Now, here's a list of Charlotte celebrities and their spouses who I think would make for good reality television:
Steve and Angie Smith: The Carolina Panthers star has three young children and seems to have mellowed over the last couple of years. It would be interesting to see how things are around his house, especially when his team is struggling.
Larry and Shelly Brown: The new Charlotte Bobcats head coach and his wife will be treated like royalty, at least for now, as they settle in to their new home in Charlotte.
Anthony and Tarsha McMillan Hamilton: The soulful R&B crooner is a family man who loves his hometown. Cameras following him around would find him at places you wouldn't expect to see a celebrity of his stature. It would also be fun to see him in the studio with A-list artists and his wife, who's a singer as well.
Ric and Tiffany VanDemark Flair: Now that the Nature Boy is "retired," he should have more time on his hands to run around places yelling wooooooo!
Jeff and Ingrid Vandebosch Gordon: NASCAR drivers are known for having hot wives, and Jeff's model spouse takes the checkered flag.
Perhaps I should start pitching these shows to networks.
Rather than elaborate on what I like about the show, I'll just say a few things: Deion is as charismatic and funny as you'd expect him to be; Pilar is hot—so hot that it's hard to believe she has three kids; their house is ridiculously big—so big that Deion rides around it on a scooter (it also seems to be because he has bad knees); the show is a little scripted, as are most reality shows, but not nearly as scripted as Snoop Dogg's Fatherhood.
