Steve Smith Expects Trade

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith actions say that he expects to be trade sometime soon and this was even before the lockout was lifted. ProfootballWeekly reports that Smith was spotted cleaning out his locker and suite prior to the lockout. It wasn’t the usual end of your cleaning either; apparently he removed ALL of his belongings.

Smith’s locker had several personal effects, including his All-Pro award from 2005, the majority of which had remained intact for several years. He also cleared out his luxury suite at the stadium the same day. As part of Smith’s contract, he receives use of one of the Panthers’ boxes for home games. It had been adorned with photos of Smith throughout his football career. (ProfootballWeekly)

In my opinion, for a veteran like Smith that’s a very telling sign. Smith has been a lifer in Carolina which means his locker is HIS locker; it’s the same one year after year. If he leaves things like his All-Pro award behind then he fully expects it to be there. So for him to remove things like that and his pictures in his own personal suite, then well he must not expect to be back in Carolina in 2011.

Let’s also not forget that Smith’s home outside of Charlotte, North Carolina has been on the market for a while. When the house initially hit the market it was said to be so his kids could grow up around kids their age. With the news of him cleaning out his belongings from Bank of America Stadium you have to wonder if that was true. Also take note that Smith has recently dropped his asking price from $2.9 to $2.3 million.

There’s no word on whether or not Smith has requested a trade from General Manager Marty Hurney but you’d have to think he did. He has to know he has no chance of winning a Super Bowl if he finishes his career in Carolina. As a player whose about to turn 32 and made a boatload of money that has to be the only thing left he wants.

I mean really what else is there left to accomplish?

He’s been to the Pro Bowl four times and been named to the All-Pro 1st team twice. He’s won a Comeback Player of the Year award in 2005. That year he also led the league in receptions and yardage. He’s probably accomplished just about everything he wanted to do as an individual, which is far more then anyone else can dream of.

So again the only thing left for him is a Super Bowl, which he knows won’t happen in Carolina.

The Panthers are a very young team, years away from the big game. So far away, that 2010 was Smith’s worst season as a professional since his rookie year when he was primarily used as a returner.

A change in scenery probably won’t bring him back to Pro Bowl level as he has been in decline over the past few seasons but he could be a huge asset to a contender.

Someone like a New England Patriots, maybe??? Hmmmm.

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Tags: Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, NFL, Steve Smith