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August 04, 2008
Harris: Lucas is a 'standup guy'
Strong safety Chris Harris said teammates have accepted Steve Smith's apology for punching Ken Lucas, but Harris was vague when asked if he could support Smith being a team captain.
"It's all actions," said Harris. "Actions speak louder than words. (But) we're putting this in the past. We're not holding any grudges."
Harris likened the way the team must handle the incident to a defensive back who has to forget a bad play so it doesn't hinder his ability to make the next play.
"That was a little speed bump during this training camp," said Harris. "The car's in drive. We're not going backward.
"All teams deal with adversity and that's just one of those. We can't let that hinder our season. We've accepted Steve's apology and that's where we are."
Harris praised Lucas' handling of the situation. "Luke is a standup guy," he said. "There are a lot of guys in this league who could not have done the things Luke has done. For him to show up at Fan Fest was huge for us.
"I commend Luke for everything he has done in this whole ordeal. "We're all behind Luke 100 percent. And we're behind Steve. He's one of ours."
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on August 4, 2008 at 07:15 PM | Permalink
Comments
I have been a PSL holder from the very begiinning, when we played our first game in Clemson. My wife and I have followed the games and are very interested on the outcome of the team. It's been wonderful for us to be involved. Our daughter and her familey have also been PSL owners for the same period of time.
I have had about enough with Steve Smith and his our of control actions. We have three Grandchildren and I can'think of what they must think of the behavier of someone as a role model as Steve Smith.
I just can't help but wonder if anyone is keeping a close eye on his family. With an out of control temper as he has,is anyone keeping an eye on his children being taken care of, does anyone know for a fact that he has not harmed them in anyway.
Jim Combs & Lois Combs
89-2 Knight Circle
Pawleys Islamd, SC 29585
jcombs90996@sc.rr.com
Posted by: James Combs | Aug 4, 2008 8:37:32 PM
Wow, thats a little bit over the line there Mr. Combs. Getting heated at practice and turning to a physical action is different then being at home. Smith is a family man. He doesnt go to bars with the guys, but instead stays at home with his family. He also is big with charity and doing camps for kids. I stand behind Steve Smith because of these actions he has shown over and over. I do not condone fighting with your team but however it is football, a very physical sport demanding a physical attitude. I think it is very much so over the line once again for you to even mention his family like he is some kind of monster. Maybe you sir need to check your self before making comments like this.
Posted by: Josh | Aug 4, 2008 9:08:37 PM
People are becoming brave enough to speak out for what is right as they stand up for what they believe. Jim Combs & Lois Combs are fine examples of that. Thank you both.
It's time we took the face of what Carolinians actually are away from the immature and the intellectually challenged along with their cyber microphones and game day hysteria.
Charlotte is a new city. Charlotte has not, as yet been built. It is the only major city in the nation now under initial construction. The same goes for the residents. The norm is now being set.
Let's do it right. Let's stand for something of value of which we can all be proud. We can either be a city of scum or of class. A city of value worth or a city worth nothing of value.
Be proud.
Charles Bright
Garden City Beach, SC
Posted by: Trainwasher | Aug 4, 2008 9:15:02 PM
People are becoming brave enough to speak out for what is right as they stand up for what they believe. Jim Combs & Lois Combs are fine examples of that. Thank you both.
It's time we took the face of what Carolinians actually are away from the immature and the intellectually challenged along with their cyber microphones and game day hysteria.
Charlotte is a new city. Charlotte has not, as yet been built. It is the only major city in the nation now under initial construction. The same goes for the residents. The norm is now being set.
Let's do it right. Let's stand for something of value of which we can all be proud. We can either be a city of scum or of class. A city of value worth or a city worth nothing of value.
Be proud.
Charles Bright
Garden City Beach, SC
Posted by: Trainwasher | Aug 4, 2008 9:28:16 PM
ESPN is saying that the panthers are fed up with smith and are secretly trying to trade him. They say that dallas is the most likely destination. I think it's a load of crap, can one of our resident bloggers try to see if this is legit.
Posted by: Clay | Aug 4, 2008 9:34:38 PM
Wow... are you people serious? Implying that Steve Smith is beating his kids just because he's had two fights in training camp is completely irresponsible and shows complete narrow-mindedness. Training camp is a difficult time for players. It's hot, players are being pushed hard by their coaches, players are trying to earn or protect their jobs... it's why there are fights amongst teammates in every training camp, every year.
Maybe I should wonder about Mr. Combs's behavior--throwing disgusting allegations at a person who he doesn't even know and whose personal life he knows nothing about. Maybe someone should check that Mr. Combs isn't harming his grandchildren.
Posted by: Jeff | Aug 4, 2008 10:01:02 PM
right on, jeff!
combs, WTF is wrong with you?!?!?!
getting in a fight at training camp and beating your kids are leagues apart. that is beyond assumptive, and approaching libel.
go back to SC you fascist yuppies.
Posted by: D$ | Aug 4, 2008 10:30:24 PM
ummmmm...right OFF jeff. steve smith being pushed hard by coaches???? Trying to protect his job???? dumbest thing I have ever heard!
Posted by: tj | Aug 4, 2008 10:50:27 PM
This fight is all over the media right now. I know that the suspension will cost Smith $205,882. My question is will Lucas sue Smith as did Anthony Bright in 2002?
Posted by: matt | Aug 4, 2008 11:01:35 PM
Mr. Combs,
"We have three Grandchildren and I can't think of what they must think of the behavior of someone as a role model as Steve Smith."
That was a pretty disturbing statement. Their parents and you should be the role model for your grandchildren, not a football player. Judging by your baseless allegations you're probably not a good candidate for the job.
Posted by: J Thomas | Aug 4, 2008 11:45:52 PM
gotta go with the Combs on this one;
anyone who thinks that Smith and players like him who have a volcanic temper on the field don't have the same incendiary one off the field is a d**n fool;
i've gone to a college four years where a pro football team was camped out and it was basically like an invasion of a gargantuan horde of Visigoths in various stages of manic depression;
they drank like fish, drove around campus like bats out of h**l, roared like elephants over pool table games when they took over the student union and saw most of the coeds as their private turf they continually openly tried to lure into their fancy overpriced European sports cars--and those were the best of days during their 3-6 week stay;
to try to ameliorate Steve Smith's violence when even a sport that worships it is becoming tired of by saying he's a "family man" is laughable at best;
what father here would feel his daughter safe in the company of such a man in any capacity? his grandchildren?
no, i think it's time to get rid of Smith before he becomes another Bryant Westbrook or Chad Johnson or TO or spit-in-your-face LB or child-smothering lineman;
anyone who has witnessed such rage go unchecked knows it will only escalate each time into something worse and even harder to correct, on or off the field;
Posted by: windwalkerr | Aug 5, 2008 7:55:19 AM
Clay,
That's how false rumors get started. I watch ESPN continually and there hasn't even been so mucn of a hint of what you are suggesting. Can you provide an online link to ESPN.com where this has been mentioned? Sounds to me like something "somebody" pulled out of thin air.
Per Coach Fox, Smitty has been given very strict guidelines that he must abide by. You don't suspend a guy, give him guidelines and then trade him. It's not going to happen unless he does something like this again. He got the correct punishment and it's been 6 years since his last incident. IMO, he slipped up big time, but trade him? No way that's going to happen.
Posted by: CS | Aug 5, 2008 8:58:37 AM
Steve Smith is the best football player this franchise has ever had and you "fans" want to get rid of him? The man suckerpunched his teammate and he is suffering the consequences for it, why on earth would you release him or trade him?
Posted by: matt | Aug 5, 2008 9:51:08 AM
Generalities have been spawned consequently, not by spontaneous combustion. As a matter of fact, the face of this planet has been changed by mankind's ability to observe and analyze patterns. I may have started the wife-beating comment, and I did so because of patterns. NFL players go from a great high to overnight (what seems like to them) nothingness. They go home to families that are not used to having them around all the time and therefore treet them like they are invading their space (in their very own homes). Life after the NFL is very hard to cope with, especially for someone who thrives on it like Steve Smith does. You couple that with the fact that he has had a rough upbrining and that could spell disaster. This can be avoided with outside help, and it seems like he's been getting just that. But maybe he got complacent because he is on top of the world and cut off his support systems. Whatever, that's his business. The fact is that despite having it all, he let some verbal assault turn him into a crazed madman. The end result could have ended a career (yet again). It could have changed the landscap of the Panther season, consequently costing others their career. But, the worst thing of all is the youth who already are lost in this nation look up to this man. They all aspire to be like him (I teach many myself). If they see him end a career and only get a one game or two game suspension on a regular basis (which is pretty much getting away with it) then what is American youth going to believe?
Like Lucas is saying, their is a greater purpose here and Smith corporate scripted apology filled with rants about he will bow down to no one for any reason does not really so much for him, his character and his personal future. These are facts that he can be blamed for, not me or anyone else that agrees with them. And for those of you who are defending his actions, you have just as much integrity as Steve Smith does. Maybe you should stop being as impressionable as adolescents and consider the real meaining of the things you are saying.
That being said, I'm glad things are getting back to normal for the rest of the team.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Aug 5, 2008 10:00:55 AM
Here you go CS...
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfceast/0-2-22/Smith-to-the-Cowboys-.html
Posted by: Kev | Aug 5, 2008 10:01:55 AM
Steve Smith is a role model and if you want someone for your grandchildren to look up to then show them the news conference with smith apologizing, because that is how a man accepts responsibility for his actions and humbly asks for forgiveness. I'm not saying what he did was OK or that because he gave a good apology we should just forget about it, but obviously he has an anger problem, that he's been seeking help for, and he made a misstake. I'm sure that you Mr. Combs have never done anything that you have struggled with or would be ashamed to tell your grandkids about, but for the rest of us who make bad judgements from time to time, we should take note of how Smith handled the situation. And for you to accuse the man of beating his kids is totally outrageous and ridiculous. If you want to talk about resposibility and values, then how responsible is it to make such accusations and judgments without any support of facts. I'm sorry but even though you've watched him on TV and read about him in the paper, YOU STILL DONT KNOW THE MAN. Steve Smith made a horrible misstake that he will have to pay for in many different ways, but its people like you who have the real problem.
Posted by: Matt J | Aug 5, 2008 10:34:42 AM
i do not need to be told dynamite is okeh to shake so long as you don't light a fuse;
i've never met a shark, but don't need to be told not to pet one;
i don't need a lot of apologists and defenders to tell me that a pit bull is nothing more than a four-pawed handgun that is no more domestic than a wolf yet is totally worthless even in the wild;
i tell you, i spent four years virtually nose to nose with about 80-100 variations of Steve Smith for 3-6 weeks every summer, so i KNOW what a spiralling out of control manic depressive looks, acts and thinks like;
apologists can offer up the pitiful excuse that i don't know Steve Smith, but that's like saying its okeh to kiss that rattler because i know it and not the next one;
yes, there is a dirty underside to the NFL and Septein, Chmura, LT, Ernie Holmes, Underwood, Romanowski, TO and others are it;
those who will bother to check will see they all at some point in their careers exhibited the same characteristics Steve Smith is now;
how many times are you gonna shake a stick of dynamite before it blows up in your face?
Posted by: windwalkerr | Aug 5, 2008 12:12:54 PM
Wow--
There are some folks in here with some real PROBLEMS. Steve Smith is a human. We all make mistakes and to act "holier than thou" makes you no better than what you claim to be so disgusted with. Make sure when you go to church on Sunday to tell your pastor that you judged a man and are not willing to forgive him when he asked for forgiveness. Make sure you do that before you ask for yours too. It might just hit home then.
People need to understand that Smith is very sorry for what he did. This will make the team stronger and Lucas has forgiven him.
That’s all I need to know.
Windtalker- you have issues and need to see a shrink to take care of that hidden agenda.
I would let Smith watch my kids any day of the week, I can’t say the same for you.
We live in a thing called the WORLD where LIFE happens. It’s not what happens that matters, its how you deal with it.
Posted by: Joe | Aug 5, 2008 12:30:06 PM
Hey, doesn't Dallas have two first round draft picks next year? Theirs and one from Cleveland. I'd trade Smith for those two picks.
Posted by: LyleStyle | Aug 5, 2008 12:34:16 PM
Another thing that you have to think about is, has his team mates REALLY forgiven him or are they just saying what they are suppose to, to the media. If they truly have not forgiven him, then its over. The season is down the drain. They will not play good. I've been on teams where there is one player that everyone dislikes because of his attitude and they way he talks to his teammates and it brings everyone down. As soon as this person left the team, BAM! Everyone was happy and the team played much better without the star player.
I'm the biggest fan of Smith there is, but if it's best for him to move on to another team then I'll be sad to see him go and still cheer for him.
Posted by: LyleStyle | Aug 5, 2008 12:40:56 PM
Well windwalkerr its hard to really comprehend what you are trying to say with your stupid redneck haikus, but in giving it the most charitable interpretation that I can, I assume your trying to express the idea that not all of our judgments and decisions require first-hand experience in order to make them. While that can certainly be true in some situations such as deciding whether or not to shake a stick of dynamite, that by no means qualifies it as an axiom for which we should make all of our decisions. For one, dynamite is an inanimate object for which we can test and predict its reactions to different variables, such as shaking it. Living things, in fact, require much more consideration when trying to determine how to handle them. Sharks, snakes, and pitbulls, for example, can be potentially dangerous to people who do not know how to handle them, but people do actually pet sharks, handle snakes, and own pitbulls. There are probably '80-100 variations' of these animals that would be dangerous to handle, but when people get to know them and learn to understand them, they learn that there are some of these animals that are not part of that group. You see most people understand that human beings, who are much more complex than these other animals, work in a similar manner. Its all part of this strange moral idea that the individual can be judged based on his/her particular characteristics as opposed to those of a group that he or she may look like. You see your comments are precisely the type of logic that leads to bigotry, racism, and indignation, and yet some how you find a way to use that logic in the name of morals, values, or God. Windwalkerr I suggest you open your mind and read a book so that you don't make such ridiculous comments any more. You see I don't know you, but I'm sure that you are a very intelligent person, so I wouldn't want people to make poor judgments about you just because you did one stupid thing.
Posted by: Matt J | Aug 5, 2008 2:21:24 PM
James Combs,
I don't know who the hell you think you are or what makes you think you have the right to throw out those accusations, but you are way out of line. You seem to think because you and your daughter are "PSL" owners that you are divine, committed, and can say whatever you think. Who gives a shit that you or anyone in your family are a PSL owner? You've had enough?...well I've had enough reading this garbarge on here from all the self righteous people who think they are judge and jury. The man made a mistake and apoligized for it. GET OVER IT. To sit there and suggest his children are in jeopardy is far fetching at best and utterly ridiculous. You shoulbe be ashamed of yourself!
And SYRPIS, get over yourself will you? I am so sick of seeing you on these posts and have, sadly, succumb to the need to address you. Quit crying about not getting an autograph from Steve Smith years ago and jumping on his back when he's down. The only pattern I see is you bashing Steve Smith for making a mistake and trying to be self righteous and all knowing. Yes, the situation is bad and he over reacted, but to say and suggest he beats his children or wife is ridiculous. You both, I'm sure, are the same hypocrites who screamed joy when Steve Smith scored a touchdown. The man plays football and is not a self proclaimed "saint" as you two are trying to protray. Leave judgement to the only person who has earned the right and paid the ultimate price to give.
Posted by: Carolina Wild | Aug 5, 2008 9:05:29 PM
James Combs...I would rather let a man like Smith who can admit that he is wrong babysit my kids than a man like you who not only slanders others, but can't forgive a man when the very person he harmed can...Try smoking meth for three days straight and then chant at a crystal before you post...It seemed to work for Charles Bright...You guys live near each other maybe he can hook you up...Windwalkerr...Were you picked on by that football team you mentioned?...damn...And Syrpis...when was the last time you wrote anything positive?...Are you on meth too?...get over yourselves and be happy you have a team...There are 79 other guys you could be happy about right now but all your doing is bitching and trying to relive something that is over and done with...move on...talk about something else or go read something by Eckhart Tolle...you all need too...Go Panthers.
Posted by: mackleT. | Aug 6, 2008 3:24:07 AM
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