Panthers' Smith not worried about what others think about him

By Darin Gantt - daringantt@carolina.rr.com

CHARLOTTE -- Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith knows he's been one of those guys; used to be just as bad as the Chad Ochocincos and Terrell Owenses, if not worse.

But the 30-year-old wideout — who drew attention to himself last Sunday with his “no longer an asset” quotes — just shrugged when asked about the nature of his position.

Smith knows that most minds were made up about him years ago, and while he's no longer fighting teammates, he's no longer fighting the perception, either.

“I'm a crybaby, you know? That's what they say,” Smith said last week when asked about his image. “Some days, it is (frustrating). I hear it all. OK, I'm a prima donna, I'm this, I'm that. Or ‘He needs to remember where he comes from.' A lot of people don't even know where I come from, and they ain't never been and ain't visiting. I'm a thug, I'm a punk. ... You know, there's a lot of titles that comes with being a receiver good and bad. That comes with the territory. And I'm learning, that's just what comes.

“Some days, I like to be a thorn in people's sides. Some days, I play up to it. Some days, I don't want to and speak how I feel. I'm not a follower, never have been and never will be. If that's a good attribute, it's a good attribute; if it's a bad attribute, it's a bad attribute. I'm not a follower, never will be.”

Smith's acknowledged all year that he's doing more thinking about his image and his legacy. That he turned 30 this offseason is no coincidence, as the changing of decade has forced some self-inspection and reflection onto him.

Last week's remarks on the heels of a one-catch, 4-yard output in the win at Tampa Bay — which were delivered very matter-of-factly, with no vehemence — brought the attention back to Smith.

He's muttered before when the ball doesn't come his way, but he's never gone the full-blown Keyshawn Johnson “Just Give Me the Damn Ball,” route.

“You know, I've never had issues with Steve,” Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme said. “He's a win-at-all-costs guy. We play Chicago in November in '05, we lose and he catches 14 passes (for 169 yards in the 13-3 loss). He was furious after the game. It was truly, ‘I don't care, we didn't win the game.' He truly cares about winning. It's not about getting this endorsement, getting his name out there, getting seen, seen, seen.

“To me, that's what I see in him. You care about winning. He'll get frustrated, we all will. I think something about him, I don't think he does it to be seen.”

Smith was hesitant even discussing the topic last week, on the heels of a great conglomeration of cameras and microphones on Wednesday, looking for him to expound on last Sunday's remarks.

Approached the following day, he hedged even in a one-on-one setting.

“Me speaking on this, people will say I run to the media,” he said, shaking his head.

“As a receiver, I go out and practice all week, and I've got to hold up my end of the bargain and vice versa. So when you practice and you play, especially if you're winning, you want to be a part of it too.

“It's not that I need to catch 9,000 balls. I want to be a part of the win. If you're not in it, any player would say they're happy, but you want to be involved. That's human nature; you want to feel like you're part of it.”

Smith also knows he's put himself in the crosshairs by expressing his frustrations last week.

“There are some negative implications if something doesn't go right,” Smith admitted. “If you run your mouth, and then you drop every ball for the next 10 games, then whose fault is it? That's the confidence a receiver has. I'm going to ask or demand something, well then you've got to fulfill the request.”

Mostly, Smith's able to laugh about it now, knowing that the people who don't like him probably never will. The chip on his shoulder's still there, and he uses every slight — real or imagined — as fuel to his fire.

“Whatever,” he said with a laugh. “Draw your conclusions, but come out on Sunday and line up, and see how well you do against the little punk.”