Steve Smith might not know whether he will be ready for Carolina’s season opener, but coach John Fox sounds a lot more certain.
“I’m sure he’ll be ready (to play) at some point in the preseason,” Fox
said. “Whether we play him in not in the preseason I don’t know that.”
And if Smith is ready for the preseason, Fox obviously expects Smith to give Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel all he can handle in Week One.
“Yeah, he’s day-to-day, not week-to-week or out
for the season or anything like that,” Fox said.
Assuming Fox is being forthright, the main concern for the Panthers will be to prevent the injury from happening again. Smith hurt the same shoulder during last year’s training camp, but he was able to play all season after he returned from a team-mandated two-game suspension.
Playing without Smith in the preseason obviously isn’t a huge concern. Playing without him in the regular season would be a scary proposition for a passing game that lacks other downfield weapons.
No Superman = Stack the Box and stop DeAngelo.
Not good.
The Cowboys in week 1?
Im sure the secondary on his team feels a little safer knowing they wont get popped in the nose with their helmet off during camp….
“No Superman = Stack the Box and stop DeAngelo.”
Panthers went 2-0 to open the 2008 season without Steve Smith playing.
Dude. Carolina doesn’t play Dallas until “Week 3″ of the regular season.
yeah they went 2-0 without him against SD and CHI last year. This year the first 2 are PHI and a ATL, a little more daunting, but then again, everyone had them marked at 0-2 this time last year because SD and CHI were trendy SB picks just like PHI or ATL this yr
TE Dante Rosario is still on the roster and can make another heroic TD catch. Lightning strikes twice! Yeah, right.
I think Gary Barnidge will be making the catches this year for the panthers.go louisville!!
Smitty will be just fine, he’s tough as nails!
Falcons head coach Mike “Smitty” Smith will be just fine. He is tough as nails.
He stood a better chance when Florio was putting him up against Newman. Look for an Asante pick-six.