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September 15, 2008
Steve Smith returns
Panthers receiver Steve Smith returned to Bank of America Stadium on Monday morning after serving a two-game suspension for punching teammate Ken Lucas in training camp.
At his mid-day news conference, coach John Fox said he spoke to Smith on the telephone but didn't see him. Monday and Tuesday are days off for the Panthers this week. Smith will practice for the first time on Wednesday.
"I talked to him but didn't see him," Fox said of Smith. "He's excited to be back."
The Panthers won both games without Smith -- 26-24 at San Diego last week and 20-17 on Sunday against Chicago -- and play at Minnesota this week.
The Panthers will have to cut a player by Wednesday afternoon to make room for Smith on the roster.
Also from Fox's news conference:
-- Aware that he could face a league fine, Fox wouldn't comment on the apparent late hit Sunday on quarterback Jake Delhomme by Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs, but hinted the Panthers will send tape of the play to the league. "We'll address it, look at it and go on from there," he said.
-- There didn't appear to be any injuries coming out of Sunday's game and Fox had no updates on Monday. If there are, they'll be reported Wednesday. Key players who missed the Bears game were guard Travelle Wharton (knee) and receiver/returner Ryne Robinson.
-- Next up for the Panthers are the winless Minnesota Vikings and star running back Adrian Peterson. Said Fox: "He's a great back, with size and great vision. He's got the ability to make you miss."
-- David Scott
Posted by Observer Sports on September 15, 2008 at 12:59 PM | Permalink
Comments
We will see you later Mark Jones
Posted by: Billy | Sep 15, 2008 1:12:57 PM
I have a better idea, cut James Anderson. The guys brings nothing to the table.
Posted by: Steven | Sep 15, 2008 1:19:34 PM
Do we really want to to go down the path of Gamble returning punts in that place again?
Posted by: Steven | Sep 15, 2008 1:20:55 PM
Can we cut Danny Crossman instead?
Posted by: swiznami | Sep 15, 2008 1:29:58 PM
The only good thing about Special Teams is Jason Baker. The guy did an amazing job with the punts, he even tried to get a couple of flags by flopping once or twice but thats ok in my book. The block was the result of Nick Goings completely whiffing on a block that Sportscenter made a mockery of. Crossman might just be the biggest problem on the team. I was shocked that he was even still apart of the team coming into the season but has been even worse game by game.
Posted by: JV | Sep 15, 2008 1:56:04 PM
I'm all in favor of firing Danny Crossman. I can't believe he kept his job after last year!
Posted by: Phillip | Sep 15, 2008 2:01:32 PM
Unless they're going to use Smith to return punts, Mark Jones will stay until Ryne Robinson is ready to go. And given that Ryne's healing up pretty fast, he may be good for the Minnesota game anyway. If so, I believe we'll have to cut two to make room for him and Smith.
Posted by: NSpicer | Sep 15, 2008 2:01:36 PM
Robinson is already on the 53 man roster, you only have to cut one for both Smith and Robinson
Posted by: Steven | Sep 15, 2008 2:17:44 PM
Mark Jones did have that nice return to set up our first FG...if not for that I think he'd be a shoo-in (or out) to be the guy we cut for Smith. I still think he's the top candidate to be cut though, Robinson should be back this week. And NSpicer, we don't have to cut anyone to bring Robinson back. He's on the roster, he's just been inactive for the first few games. All we have to do to bring back Robinson is to put someone else in his spot on the inactives list. So only one cut is necessary (for Smith)
Posted by: DB | Sep 15, 2008 2:17:47 PM
I actually think Donte Curry will be the one cut, but I highly doubt it will be Jones until Fox is certain the Robinson has fully recovered AND proved it on gameday.
Posted by: mike | Sep 15, 2008 2:23:29 PM
Glad to hear it, DB and Steven. I still don't see that one cut being Jones just yet. But if Ryne is ready to return as well as Smith, then it's much more likely it'll be him. They brought Jones in with a low salary so they could do exactly that.
Posted by: NSpicer | Sep 15, 2008 2:35:15 PM
Even if Robinson's healthy, the Panthers might not want to bring him back to play on the artificial turf in Minny with a sketchy knee. Smith could return punts for one game.
Or they could let Gamble give that Minnesota across-the-field lateral another go.
Posted by: dogear | Sep 15, 2008 2:43:57 PM
Other than the punt of the leg against SD, Jones has done a really nice job. I hate to see him cut. Curry must stay over Anderson. Anderson gives you nothing on ST or defense. Curry is a good gunner and helps the coverage teams
Posted by: Steven | Sep 15, 2008 2:51:32 PM
Fox: suck it up, speak your mind, and pay the fine.
Posted by: matt | Sep 15, 2008 3:10:21 PM
can we not get the transcripts of these interviews?
Posted by: matt | Sep 15, 2008 3:15:56 PM
JV, Landon Johnson totally blew the secondary block on the punt, though. That's the whole point of the last guy before the punter.
And matt, they're available on Panthers.com. It would be redundant to just post them in their entirety here.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Sep 15, 2008 3:21:24 PM
I know it would be expensive, but I'd almost like to see us get rid of Landon Johnson. Just going off the preseason and the first 2 regular season games, I am NOT impressed.
Posted by: James | Sep 15, 2008 3:29:37 PM
I would think charlotte.com would rather their traffic be on their site as opposed to another site.
Posted by: matt | Sep 15, 2008 3:35:59 PM
No Procton it was Goings assignment. Johnson protects the rushers coming through the middle of the line and the guy that blocked it was on the outside and the only one goings had to or even attempted to block hence the pause and highlighting, and calling out of him on NFL Primetime, sportscenter and post games shows. Thank you and please try again to find something to criticize someone on you loser.
Posted by: JV | Sep 15, 2008 3:43:00 PM
Yeah, in my mind, it was definately a blown block by Goings
Posted by: matt | Sep 15, 2008 3:45:00 PM
You get 10 years on a return as a Panther and that's a solid return in our booK! Our special teams is absolutely pathetic when it comes to returning kicks or punts. Preventing the run, we're good... and well, we're decent at all of it but just pathetic at blocking for punts and returns. I wish Michael Bates was still available or hell, "He Hate Me". I have no clue why this team under Fox struggles to return the ball. Sheesh
Posted by: Danny | Sep 15, 2008 3:49:40 PM
Isn't it Sam Jones, Billy?
Posted by: harrydog | Sep 15, 2008 3:50:40 PM
You mean, "yards"? haha 10 yards? haha
BUT I agree 110% with you.
Posted by: meme | Sep 15, 2008 3:50:50 PM
Hey, call Goings out all you want. Johnson could have taken ONE step to his right and chipped enough to get the punt off. He wasn't needed to do anything else.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Sep 15, 2008 3:55:11 PM
Danny, it's not about Fox, and it's not about the returners themselves. It's about O'Brien vs. Crossman. Since O'Brien "retired" to go coach in Denver, the blocking has just sucked out loud, which says scheme to me.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Sep 15, 2008 3:56:21 PM
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