Steve Smith’s biological clock, like the time clocks of many with the Panthers, is ticking.
After watching his team torpedo seasons with twin 2-8 starts under Ron Rivera, Smith knows his team doesn’t have time for a similar beginning.
“I’m more at the point now where if I was a female and 35, I’m looking to get pregnant and married tomorrow,” Smith said, via Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer. “So sense of urgency is an understatement.”
Smith’s gone from an angry and impulsive kid to the old man on the Panthers roster, and he’s gained a certain wisdom (which can be colorfully expressed) along the way.
But he knows that if the Panthers don’t do something differently this year, many things are going to change.
“Slow starts will get you fired, cut and [bring] change real quick for everyone,” Smith said.
The Panthers have a decent base of talent, and young leaders in Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly. But if they’re slow out of the gates this year, they might not all make it to the end of the season, and the offseason overhaul by the new General Manager (Dave Gettleman) who didn’t hire this coach or pick most of these players figures to be extreme.