The buzzards circling the carcass of the Carolina Panthers have shifted their gaze from running back DeAngelo Williams to wide receiver Steve Smith.
Jay Glazer of Fox reports teams are calling the Panthers about the possibility of trading for Smith, but the Panthers have turned the inquiries down at this point.
After the firing of general manager Marty Hurney, teams are naturally (and perhaps correctly) perceiving panic and trying to buy pennies on the dollar.
Multiple sources inside the Panthers organization suggest a trade of a star player would be considered unlikely, with any move of substance (i.e. trading Smith or Williams) having to be run past owner Jerry Richardson first.
Head coach Ron Rivera had his Al Haig moment last week, saying the buck stopped with him on personnel moves, but when asked about rumors of a Williams trade Monday, deferred to Brandon Beane, who was Hurney’s right hand man who handled all the organization’s logisitics and is being referred to as an interim GM.
Smith’s one of Richardson’s favorites, and after Smith came off a previous trade demand, was given a contract extension that should carry him to the practical length of his career.