PFT fun. (Smith faking?)

SMITH HAS CAROLINA BLUE FLU?

As Panthers receiver Steve Smith continues to miss more and more time due an injury to one hamstring early in camp and the other one the week before the first game of the regular season, league insiders are beginning to wonder whether there's a connection between Smith's health and his contract.

Though we've yet to hear from anyone who has any specific information that Smith is embellishing his physical condition as a statement of dissatisfaction with his financial condition, folks are starting to think that maybe, just maybe, this is Smith's way of making it known that he wants more money.

There were reports during the summer that talks were occurring regarding a contract extension, but no deal was ever finalized.

Smith signed his current deal in March 2004, after helping the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII -- and after having a breakout game in the narrow loss. It was a five-year extension of his rookie deal, which would have expired after the 2004 season.

Under the contract, Smith received a $7 million signing bonus and a $2 million option bonus. It averages $4.4 million over the life of the deal, and $5.08 million over the first three years. He'll earn $1.85 million this year via salary, roster bonus, and workout bonus.

Other receivers have contracts with average values much higher than $4.4 million, including Chad Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and (most recently) Deion Branch.

Even David Givens' contract, at $24 million over five years, has a higher average annual value than Smith's deal.

On one hand, it was prudent for Smith to do his extension in March of 2004, because he suffered a broken leg early in the first game of the 2004 season and did not return. It therefore would have been difficult for him to get $9 million in bonus money on the open market in March 2005.

With that said, his numbers exploded during the 2005 season -- and some league observers believed that he should get consideration for league MVP.

So this could be another example of a guy who took the money early, with no obligation to pay it back if he played poorly, wanting more money now because he has "overperformed" his contract.

The Panthers have the upper hand on this one, since Smith is under contract for the next four seasons. But if there's a connection between Smith's hamstring and his purse strings, the team needs to decide whether it's willing to adjust his contract to reflect his performance in 2005 -- or whether to risk having a malcontent in their midst for 2006.

 

I now fully appreciate Collin's disdain for PFT.

 

I do think Smith's being too cautious with his injury, and he's defensive about it. I don't know that it's related to money, though. If he bitches about money every year he does good, fuck him.

 

I promise you Mags, its the coaching staff being cautious with him. Smith wants to play.

 

Yeah really. They even picked the Panthers to win the Super Bowl.

 

What, like I'm supposed to be surprised? Seriously, if anyone and I do mean ANYONE reads PFT for anything more than entertainment value, you're a fucking moron. I don't mean you might be, I mean it is proof of your own stupidity.

 

I read it because Ambien does not work...

 

I don't believe that for a second.

edit: I do believe he's being cautious team or no, but agree with the reasoning.

 

pft = national enquirer

 

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