Tempers Flaring

[ohara]

Wow. I know you often hear of skirmishes, but it's getting ugly. Brayton and Otah was not bad, but Smith whipped up on Lucas and may get a suspension. It's one thing to fight, but another to hurt your teammate and therefore hurt the team. I hope Lucas did not suffer something to cause him to miss any regular season games.

Of note, there was a post somewhere else from a Panther fan who was at the practice. He said Lucas got in Smith's face, and Smitty walked away. But Lucas would not let it go, kept hounding after Smith, and Smith finally just erupted on his butt. If so, Lucas has just got to be smarter. But then again, Smitty got in the business of a certain ex-Falcon now a Raider, and caused him to lose his cool also. But that was someone from another team, not a teammate.

[ohara]

Well, the team acted fast. Smith suspended the first 2 regular season games without pay. The cost to Smith will be a couple hundred thousand $, but without him on the field it could cost the Panthers more. That first game is a road game in San Diego.

[Rooster]

Link for the suspension:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8406298?MSNHPHMA

[ohara]

Thanks Rooster. I should have put out the link - my bad.

I have been hearing good things about D. Jarrett in training camp. Supposedly he has worked hard at learning the playbook, something that kept him on the bench so much last year. He'll likely get a bit more time with Moose and Hackett in the first 2 games. I'd love to see him pick it up and play like we need him to play.

If you have SERIUS radio, the NFL on 124 will be at Panther's Training Camp on Monday 8/5/08 to do their 3 hour show. Should be a good listen. They talk with players and coaches and give you good insight on who is looking good in training camp.

[leo6287]

Am real upset with Smith and Lucas actions but even more so at the Panthers of suspending a top tier WR 4 the 1st 2 games.. I think a fine and in house punishment would be more than enough.. Seems to me this is a rebuilding year 4 the panthers well boys I think we can compete

[ohara]

Leo:

I understand your frustration. I agree that this team can win this year, and still believe they will. But suspending Smith 2 games was necessary. It is one thing to skirmish with a teammate. But Smith went too far and hurt Lucas. Thankfully it is only a broken nose, but that will keep him out of physical contact scrimmages for a while which will effect his readiness to play come regular season. That hurts the team as a whole, and that cannot go unpunished. Anything less than costing him 2 games and game checks would be looked at as coddling to our superstar. And that could have been disasterous.

I happen to believe that this will actually bring the team closer together. I think Moose and Hackett and Jarrett know that they will be looked towards to provide the extra effort needed to cover for Smith while he' out, and they could just surprise people. Like I mentioned earlier, word is that Jarrett is looking quite good in practice so far and seems to have learned the playbook - thankfully!

[Rooster]

ohara, no problem, I just stumbled across that link so I figured I'd post it.

I can't argue with the suspension. Just because he's a good player doesn't mean he's above discipline. What would an in-house punishment have been? IMO this was in-house, because it came from the team instead of from the league office.

The Panthers are deep at WR anyway. Heaven forbid they suspend a QB or MLB...

And I agree, the Panthers can definitely win some games this season. Last season was a total letdown. The key is just staying healthy - it reminds me a lot of that Bears team from a few years ago that was really good (13-3?), had injury upon injury after that, and then had another great season that went as far as the Superbowl.

[fatlever]

time to start paying attn to football....

lucas and smith both handled the post-situation with great class. 2 games seems fair enough. san diego was going to be hard w/ smith. i think we should still be able to handle chicago at home. maybe moose will go **** against the bears.

[fatlever]

maybe this jason carter kid will get a few weeks to make an impression while smith is away. plus ryne is also hurt. been hearing lots of good things about carter.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/423/story/109169.html

[ohara]

I agree about Carter. I've heard a few good things about him. He might just make the cuts and be productive for us. Everyone needs a surprise player who makes a difference for the team.

[Rooster]

Thanks for that, fatlever. Great article.

On Carter:

I don't even see why defensive backs try to cover him, I really don't.

I can't wait to see this guy play.

Gotta love Gary Gibson, being a financial consultant. I love when athletes prove their intelligence.

[Rooster]

So Delhomme isn't too concerned:

http://football.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ ... _panthers/

ESPN - Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme doesn't believe that the fight between Steve Smith and Ken Lucas will slow the Panthers this season, according to The Associated Press.

"Guys talked; Steve knew he did wrong. But the biggest thing out of all of them was Ken Lucas. For Ken Lucas to get up here, guys could really release a lot of emotions about listening to Ken and feeling how he felt," Delhomme said.

Delhomme hinted that Smith plays his best when on edge.

"I know the question you're saying. But when Steve came out of his mom, he had that edge," he added. "I truly believe that. Guys feed off Steve when Steve plays -- offensively, defensively, everybody feeds off Steve. That is just my opinion. I know when the lights come on he will still be the same Steve."

Gotta love the bolded part.